Estate Planning Lawyer in
Terrace, BC



Wills, Enduring Powers of Attorney and Representation Agreements — coordinated so your assets pass as intended and your family has clear guidance.

If you’re looking for an estate planning lawyer in Terrace, BC, we can help you put the right documents in place — Protect tomorrow. Enjoy today.

Do I need an estate plan?

Estate planning is the process of choosing who will make decisions for you if you can’t, and who will inherit what you leave behind. It brings your financial and personal affairs together into one clear plan. It’s especially important if you own a home, have a spouse or children, or want your assets pass smoothly to loved ones with minimal delay and avoid unnecessary probate.

Estate planning also protects you during your lifetime — so if you become ill or incapable, someone you trust can step in. A complete plan typically includes:

  • Will: names your executor (and backup) and directs who inherits
  • Enduring Power of Attorney: appoints someone to make financial and legal decisions if you need help or become incapable
  • Representation Agreement: appoints someone to make health and personal care decisions if you need help or become incapable
  • Title and Beneficiary coordination: ensure the plan actually works (home, bank accounts, investments, registered plans, insurance)

The three core documents

  • Set out what happens with everything you own when you pass away.
  • Names an executor and backup to carry out your instructions.
  • If you have minor children, names a guardian and creates trusts for them.
  • Directs who receives assets held in your name alone, including specific gifts and the rest of your estate (called the residue).
  • Does not control assets that transfer by joint tenancy or beneficiary designation.
  • Lets you choose someone you trust — your attorney —to make financial and legal decisions if you are unable.
  • Can include paying bills, managing bank accounts and investments or selling property.
  • Takes immediate effect when signed by you and your attorney and continues (“endures”) even if you later lose capacity, ending only when revoked (cancelled) or when you pass away.
  • Lets you choose someone you trust to make, or help you in making health and personal care decisions
  • It can cover medical treatment, care-facility decisions and day-to-day personal care
  • British Columbia has two types of Representation Agreements:
  • Section 7: may be suitable if capability is diminished.
  • Section 9: best made before any health issues occur — for those able to understand the nature and consequences
Request an Estate Planning Consultation

How estate planning works with Aspiring Law

Request your appointment through our online form or by phone.

Complete our estate planning intake form so we can make the most of your time. Or bring all of the information that we will need to take your estate planning instructions such as full legal names of your executor, alternate executor, the people who will inherit and know what you own and how you own it.

We review your goals, explain your options, outline our flat fee pricing and provide you with our engagement agreement for your review at home.

Once we receive your signed engagement agreement and retainer, you will receive your draft estate planning document — typically within two weeks — along with a checklist to guide you through any beneficiary or ownership updates.

After you have reviewed and approved your drafts, we meet at our office to sign your estate-planning documents. You will receive your original signed copies for safekeeping, along with a guide to help care for and review your estate plan in the future.

Frequently asked questions

If you die without a Will, BC’s Wills, Estates and Succession Act sets out who inherits your estate. Someone, typically a family member may also need to apply to the court to be appointed as administrator before they can deal with your home, bank accounts, vehicles and other assets.

Learn more: Dying Without a Will in BC

Yes. Even if most things are jointly owned, you never know who will pass away first — the survivor will then own everything in their name alone. Also, if one of you later loses capacity, you may no longer be able to give instructions for a Will.

Even if you don’t feel like you own very much, having a Will is still important. If you have minor children, the most important reason to make a Will is to name a guardian, so you decide, rather than the court (or family disagreements), who will care for your children if something happens to you.
 
A Will also ensures that whatever you do own — such as a vehicle, personal items or a bank account — is handled by someone you trust. Without a Will, British Columbia law decides who inherits your estate, tracing family relationship to find your next of kin. That could end up being someone you never intended.

Any time — especially after major life changes such as marriage, separation, children, home purchase, business changes or retirement. It’s important to put documents in place while you’re capable of giving instructions. 

Ready to put your plan in place?

Request an estate planning consultation get a clear and coordinated estate plan

Request an Estate Planning Consultation
Call our Office

Aspiring Law — Estate planning lawyer in Terrace, British Columbia
We provide clear, coordinated estate-planning services, including Wills, Enduring Powers of Attorney, and Representation Agreements, to help you protect your family and your future.

Serving families across Northwestern British Columbia — including Terrace, Kitimat, Prince Rupert, Hazelton, Haida Gwaii, Stewart, Dease Lake, Atlin and Smithers — with virtual appointments available for clients throughout British Columbia.
 
Protect tomorrow. Enjoy today