There are cases where it is appropriate that the Public Guardian and Trustee (PGT) administers estates when the circumstances do not permit the beneficiary, intestate successor, executor or other eligible person to serve in that capacity. When that occurs, the PGT can agree to an appointment as executor. However, when these situations arise, it’s important to understand that the PGT … Read More
Unruly heirs? Welcome to the estate administration world
Sometimes the administrators of estates have to deal with demanding and unpleasant heirs and beneficiaries. If they are really unlucky, they may even be related to them by blood or marriage. In cases like that, the best strategy is learning how to best manage these types of people. Often their disagreeable behaviours stem from a lack of control over what … Read More
We can help when there is no will
If you have been named as administrator of an estate where there is no will, your job will be more complicated than it would be if the decedent had legally spelled out his or her intentions. These kind of cases are often best dealt with by legal professionals who are well-versed in the estate laws governing British Columbia residents. Retaining … Read More
What are the main duties of a trustee of an estate?
At some point during the probate of an estate, the estate’s personal representative ceases to act as the executor and becomes the estate’s trustee. This usually happens once all of the personal representative’s duties have been met. Trustees are responsible for maintaining the assets of the decedent’s estate once all legitimate debts have been paid. According to the Law of … Read More
Do I really have to pay off my deceased dad’s debts?
When spouses, parents or others die, their heirs may have concerns about any responsibility they may have to pay the debts the deceased accrued over a lifetime. In short, the answer is that they have no responsibility. However, just as with many of the complex aspects of estate administration and probate, there are exceptions, and they include: Joint debts where … Read More
What happens when there is no money in an estate?
One of the problems that estate administrators can encounter during the probate process is dealing with an insolvent estate. This occurs when the decedent owes more to creditors than the estate is worth. An insolvent estate presents a unique set of challenges to estate administrators. By definition, an “insolvent estate” is one that doesn’t have sufficient funds to pay the … Read More
Can I administer my Mom’s estate without killing my siblings?
If you are the administrator of your parent’s estate and you have at least one sibling, chances are good that you have first-hand experience with frustration. There’s something about parental inheritance that turns otherwise pleasantly civil siblings into the snarling and scrapping toddlers they once were. When the estate administrator is also an heir, he or she might have to … Read More
Can a corporate executor lighten the probate load?
People tend to seek out the most trusted friends and relatives they have to serve as estate administrators of their estates after they die. After all, who best to carry out one’s wishes but a trusted loved one? Actually, in many cases, the administrator, while trustworthy and well-intentioned, is not the ideal person for the job at hand. Perhaps they … Read More
How can I minimize my liability as executor during probate?
When accepting the responsibility of being the executor of a decedent’s estate, one also accepts any liabilities. According to one senior will and estate planner in Newfoundland, the primary risk to executors is the last will and testament. Many people draft wills that are quite vague and fail to specify important information about bequests to heirs and beneficiaries. For example, … Read More
Understanding the Probate Process
In March of 2014, British Columbia enacted the Wills, Estates and Succession Act, which modernized estate law and made the probate process easier. Whether probate is necessary or not depends upon the policies of the financial institutions or agencies that hold any assets that are part of a decedent’s estate. Some agencies require that executors apply for representation grants so … Read More