Touchstone Law Group LLP
#208 – 1664 Richter Street
Kelowna, B.C., V1Y 8N3
Office Tel: (250) 448-2637
Toll Free: 1 (855) 889-2637
Direct Fax: (778) 484-7101
info@touchstone.law
18
FEB
2020

Incapacity Planning

  This article discusses three commonly used incapacity planning documents: Power of Attorney, Representation Agreement and Advance Directive. Power of Attorney A Power of Attorney (“POA”) is a legal document that allows you to give legal authority to a trusted person (yo...
03
FEB
2020

Introduction to Wills Variation Claims

  Under the British Columbia Wills, Estates and Succession Act (“WESA”), a spouse or child has the right to challenge the distribution of assets set out in a deceased’s will.  This is called a “wills variation claim”, and the right to bring such a claim is...
16
DEC
2019

What Happens If a Property Owner Loses Capacity?

  A person must have “capacity” in order to enter into a legally binding contract with respect to land. Two of the most common contracts with respect to real estate include a Contract of Purchase and Sale which is used to purchase or sell real estate or a Residential Tenancy...
04
MAR
2019

What is a Life Estate?

When helping clients create their customized estate plan, we are often dealing with the scenario of a blended family.  A blended family is a family where the couple’s children (or some of the children) were born from a previous relationship. A blended family can face some tough...
09
JAN
2019

Beneficiary Designations

The Wills, Estates and Succession Act, S.B.C. 2009, c. 13 (the “WESA”) was enacted in March 2014.  The new Act, WESA, helps to simplify and codify the rules affecting wills and estates.  Prior to this legislation, the rules were scattered over various pieces of legislation and in...
17
DEC
2018

Your Estate Planning Bucket List

The passing of a friend or family member is a difficult and emotional time for all. However, there are a few things that you can do during your lifetime to ensure that the administration of your estate is as smooth as possible for your loved ones. In this article, we will discuss...
13
DEC
2017

Do-It-Yourself Will Kits

Occasionally, we see wills that have been created with Do-It-Yourself Will Kits found online or at various retail stores.  While these “DIY wills” may seem like a good idea to quickly and cheaply draft a will, they often create more problems than they solve. Firstly, DIY wills...
16
JAN
2017

New Year Review

I don’t know about you, but by the 3rd week of January the turkey effect (and chocolate effect) has finally started to wear off and I become motived and energized to start preparing for the new year.  What do I want to accomplish this year? What can I accomplish this year?  What...
22
NOV
2016

Don’t Forget About Your Pets in Will

Have you considered naming your pet as a beneficiary in your will?  One of the most controversial and high-profile cases of putting a pet in a will was in 2007, when U.S. billionaire Leona Helmsley left her dog, a white Maltese named Trouble, a $12-million (U.S.) trust fund. Her...
27
JUL
2015

Are Estate Planning Documents Executed Outside of BC Effective Here?

Did you know that estate planning documents (such as a will, power of attorney, representation agreement, etc.) executed outside of BC may not be effective in BC? The good news is that whether you moved to BC last week or 10 years ago, it is not too late to review your estate...