Why It Matters

Why does an estate planning law firm have a family lawyer? Well, sometimes having a marriage agreement or a cohabitation agreement in place can mean the difference between a successful estate plan and one that fails.

One of the reasons for this is because in BC, spouses and children have the right to contest your will if they don’t feel adequately provided for. In such cases, judges look for preexisting prenuptial agreements to limit spousal claims on an estate. With proper estate planning including a family law agreement, you can rest assured that your wishes will be carried out the way you planned.

If you pass away before your separation agreement or divorce is finalized, your executor will have to negotiate on your behalf, leaving a mess for them to clean up.

Why Choose Us

Flat Fees

95% of our clients are charged predictable flat rates.

Specialization

We focus only on estate planning, probate 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

Our family lawyer in Vancouver routinely helps couples with spousal agreements. For separating spouses who want a cost effective alternative to court, we can draft consensual separation agreement followed by an uncontested divorce. For couples entering into a new relationship who want to set monetary boundaries from the start, we can prepare marriage agreements and cohabitation agreements.

With a prenuptial agreement in place, you set up your new relationship for success, with both parties knowing what they are entitled to should the relationship end. Such an agreement can solidify an estate plan from attack after you die.

If you are interested in a family law agreement, call our family lawyer to chat.

Client Reviews

Our Clients Love Us

Don’t just take our word for it; here’s a sample of what clients are saying about us.

  • “Sadly I have lost three family members over the last 4 years, and have had to take on executor duties. West Coast Wills helped me, first during the COVID lockdown phase when everything was extra difficult, and more recently with both unexpected and expected deaths of my parents. Their advice about asset management and planning actually saved tens of thousands of dollars for my father’s estate which I very much appreciate. My wife and I also did our wills with them which has given us peace of mind.”

  • “We hired West Coast Wills & Estates after a less than satisfactory experience with another law firm. We have been very pleased the the professionalism, responsiveness, and good customer service. As an attorney myself, I would not hesitate to recommend the firm to anyone seeking professional advice on trusts and estates issues.”

  • “My wife died in late January and I turned to West Coast Wills & Estates to assist me with probating her will. Aron Chitsaz was the lawyer that I dealt with. He was very understanding, competent and patient with me throughout this emotional and , sometimes, frustrating procedure. I received prompt and excellent service both in answering my inquiries and in completing the necessary documentation for the probate. I was impressed that from the time that the probate documents were filed to the time a settlement request was received was only about six weeks. This illustrates that Aron was thorough in the preparation of the necessary documents for probate. I was also pleased that Westcoast Wills charged me a fixed cost for completing the probate rather than having an open ended arrangement. I was very pleased with the service that I got from Westcoast Wills and Aron Chitsaz. I will use them again to complete my own will.”

  • “The people at Westcoast Wills and Estates were extremely kind, informative and responsive. During such a difficult time these attributes were most appreciated. Thank you so much for all your help and patience.”

Family law resources

Read below to learn more about what our family lawyer in Vancouver can do for you.

Family Law FAQs

Here are some of the most common questions that our family lawyer in Vancouver routinely answers.

If you are wondering about your family law rights under provincial legislation, you are considered to be spouses if you have lived together in a “marriage-like” relationship for two years, or if you have a child together. Under the BC Family Law Act, a spouse is entitled to certain rights upon separation.

It is helpful to note that under certain federal legislations, you are considered to be living common-law if you are living in a conjugal relationship with a person for one year.

You are considered to be separated when you communicate to your spouse the intention to separate permanently, or if you take any action that can demonstrate your intention to separate permanently.

Although it is typical for at least one of you to move out of the shared home when the relationship ends, separation can occur even if you continue to live under the same roof.

To formally divorce from your husband or wife, a court order from the Supreme Court of British Columbia is required. If either spouse has been a resident of British Columbia for at least one year, you can apply for a divorce order by submitting the required court documents to the BC Supreme Court registry.

In most cases, the court will only grant the divorce if you have been separated for at least one year.

More FAQs

We answer common questions in our general FAQs.

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