An estate planning lawyer you can trust
Estate planning is an extremely important exercise. An estate planning lawyer at Westcoast Wills can help you choose and customize the appropriate combination of documents, possibly including a will, trust, power of attorney, and representation agreement. We also thoroughly review all your personal and financial circumstances as part of the estate planning process to ensure:
• Your assets will pass to the people you choose with the least amount of disputes, costs and delay.
• Your minor children are cared for by people who you choose.
• You have control over your health care and finances in the event that you become incapacitated.
Why Choose Us
Flat Fees
95% of our clients are charged predictable flat rates.
Specialization
We focus only on estate planning, probate, tax and corporate law.
Respected
With awards won and hundreds of 5-star reviews, we’re well known for our top-quality advice and friendly service.
Charitable
We donate 1% of all revenue to charity.
How We Can Help
Westcoast Wills & Estates provides a number of services related to estate and incapacity planning:
- Wills
- Powers of Attorney
- Representation Agreements
- Trusts
- Deeds of Gift
- Bare Trusts
- Prenup Agreements (Marriage Agreements and Cohabitation Agreements)
- Life Insurance Designations
- Living wills / Advance Directives
- Nominations of Committee
Wills
Creating wills is an essential part of the estate planning process, but all too many people mistake it for being the only step.
Trusts
The wills and trust lawyers at Westcoast Wills can guide you through the complex world of trusts in an easy to understand way.
Representation Agreement
A representation agreement allows someone you choose to make personal and health care decisions for you if you have lost the capacity to do so yourself.
Power of Attorney
A power of attorney is a legal document where you authorize someone else to act on your behalf in regards to your financial affairs.
Committeeship
Our committeeship lawyers can apply to court on your behalf for an appointment of committee of estate. This is most often needed when a person becomes incapacitated and they have not already given a power of attorney over their finances to someone else.
Alter Ego Trusts and Joint Partner Trusts
Our trust lawyers can help you create an alter ego trust or a joint partner trust. Independent advice is also provided by a tax lawyer as part of the cost to ensure that the trust is the most tax efficient and beneficial to you. You should get tax advice before setting up and alter ego trust or a joint partner trust, as there are often tax consequences.
Why Get a Will?
This is our resource on why you should get a will in BC. You should always seek legal advice to ensure you make the right decision.
Estate Planning FAQs
Here are some of the most common questions that our lawyers routinely hear.
A will is a basic document that everyone should have because it says what happens with your assets after you die.
Westcoast Wills is available to meet from anywhere, using videoconferencing. Our estate planning lawyers also have four convenient offices: on Lonsdale in North Vancouver, on West Broadway in Vancouver, on Production Way in Burnaby, and next to the Sea to Sky Highway in Squamish. We also know of estate lawyers in other areas of the province and would be happy to share their names.
Estate planning lawyers are different than more generalized lawyer because we focus on estate planning only. Generalized lawyers who draft wills and notaries who draft wills tend to focus only on that – drafting a will. At a typical 15 to 30 minute meeting with them, they go straight into questions like “who do you want as your executor” and “who do you want to give your assets to?.” Creating an estate plan before getting to the will often saves you money on taxes, eliminates disputes after you die and eliminates the need for probate. A meeting with a proper estate planning lawyer should take between 1 and 2 hours.
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Our estate planning lawyers speak English, Cantonese, Hindi and Vietnamese, and offer flexible appointment times to fit your schedule. We’re just a phone call away.
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