Wills and Estates Planning
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If you are meeting a lawyer to prepare a will in British Columbia, the quality of that meeting depends on what you bring. A well-prepared will appointment can save time, reduce legal fees, uncover risks early, and help your lawyer draft a will that actually fits your family, your assets, and your goals.
This guide explains what to take to your lawyer for a will in BC, what decisions to make before the meeting, and which issues often require extra planning, especially for blended families, minor children, business owners, and people with foreign or digital assets.
A will is not just a list of gifts. In British Columbia, a properly drafted will has to fit into a broader legal framework that includes intestacy rules, probate realities, beneficiary designations, family law issues, and potential variation claims by a spouse or child. The more accurate the information you bring, the better your lawyer can tailor the will to your situation.
Good preparation also helps your lawyer identify which assets may pass outside the will, which gifts may create tax or administration problems, and whether a trust, explanatory memorandum, or more advanced estate planning structure should be considered.
You can think of your preparation in two categories: information and instructions. Information tells your lawyer what exists. Instructions tell your lawyer what you want done with it.
Bring government-issued identification and a written summary of your personal and family details, including:
This is one of the most important parts of a BC will meeting. In British Columbia, a spouse or child may have rights to seek variation of a will in some situations. Your lawyer needs the family picture before drafting distribution terms.
Bring the name, city of residence, relationship to you, and contact details of the person you want to appoint as your executor, plus at least one alternate. You should also think about whether that person is practical, organized, trustworthy, and willing to act.
If you are considering multiple executors, discuss whether they are likely to cooperate well. If one proposed executor lives outside Canada, mention that to your lawyer, because cross-border issues can affect administration, taxation, and practical management of the estate.
If you have children under 19, bring the names of the people you would want caring for them if you die while they are still minors. Also think about backup choices.
It helps to provide:
Your lawyer may also ask whether funds should be held in trust for the children and at what age a child should receive an inheritance outright.
Bring a rough list of your assets. It does not need to be perfect, but it should be reasonably complete. Estimated values are helpful.
Your list should include:
Just as important as the asset itself is how it is owned. Tell your lawyer whether each asset is held:
Many people assume their will controls everything they own. It does not. Some assets may pass outside the estate depending on title and beneficiary designations.
Bring a list of your major debts and legal obligations, such as:
Your lawyer should understand not just what you own, but what your estate may owe.
Bring copies of any existing documents that could affect the drafting of your new will, including:
These documents often change how a will should be drafted and may reveal conflicts, restrictions, or obligations that should not be overlooked.
Your lawyer will need clear instructions, even if they are still tentative. Before the meeting, think about:
If you want to exclude or significantly reduce a spouse’s or child’s share, do not assume that is a simple drafting decision in BC. That is the kind of issue that requires careful legal advice
Some facts make estate planning more sensitive. Tell your lawyer if any of the following apply:
These are not side notes. They often determine whether a simple will is enough or whether more advanced planning is needed.
Digital assets are now a routine part of estate planning. Make a list of important online accounts and digital property, such as:
Do not put raw passwords into the will itself. Instead, discuss with your lawyer the safer way to document access and authority.
If you own a company or professional practice, bring the relevant corporate documents. At minimum, this usually means:
Business assets can create major delays and disputes if they are not integrated into the estate plan properly.
When preparing for a will in British Columbia, remember these practical points:
These points are exactly why a BC-specific will appointment should be prepared carefully rather than treated as a simple form-signing exercise.
If you want a one-page version, take this to your lawyer:
Book legal advice promptly if any of these apply:
No. A reasonable estimate is usually enough for the first meeting. Your lawyer mainly needs a complete picture of what you own and how it is held.
Usually not for a basic first appointment, unless your lawyer specifically asks for them. A written list is often enough to start.
Yes. Bring any prior will, codicil, or related estate planning document so your lawyer can review what already exists and whether anything conflicts.
Bring your proposed guardian choices and think about whether your children should inherit at age 19 or at a later age through a trust.
Bring your proposed guardian choices and think about whether your children should inherit at age 19 or at a later age through a trust.
Yes. Digital assets now matter in many estates, especially where there are financial accounts, business accounts, domains, cloud storage, or cryptocurrency.
Some people do, but that is not always appropriate. If you have a spouse, children, business interests, foreign assets, or any risk of dispute, legal advice is strongly recommended.
Not always. Joint ownership and beneficiary designations can cause property to pass outside the will. Your lawyer needs to review the ownership structure.
Yes. These documents are often reviewed together as part of a broader estate and incapacity plan.
If you are wondering what to take to your lawyer for a will in BC, the answer is simple: bring a clear picture of your family, your assets, your obligations, and your intentions. The better the information, the better the will.
A will appointment is not only about signing papers. It is a legal planning meeting that can affect your family’s administration costs, timing, and risk of conflict after death. Proper preparation gives your lawyer the tools needed to draft a will that is practical, legally informed, and tailored to British Columbia law.
Contact our office if you need help preparing a will in British Columbia, reviewing an existing will, or building a more complete estate plan with powers of attorney and incapacity documents.
Disclaimer: This article is for general information only and is not legal advice. Estate planning outcomes depend on the facts of each case, including family structure, asset ownership, and related legal documents. Speak with a BC lawyer or notary about your specific circumstances.
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