WILLS & ESTATES
WILLS & ESTATES
WILLS & ESTATES
Squamish: 604.892.5254 Whistler: 604.932.3211
Wills & Estates Lawyers
Protecting Your Assets and the People Who Matter Most
Estate planning is a key part of protecting your assets and providing for your family’s future. Whether you are preparing a will, planning your estate, or administering the estate of a loved one, clear legal guidance helps avoid costly mistakes and unnecessary complications.
The wills and estates lawyers at Coast Mountain Law work with individuals, families, and business owners across Squamish, Whistler, Vancouver, the Sea-to-Sky Corridor, and through-out British Columbia. From straightforward wills to more complex estate and succession planning, our team provides practical, cost-effective advice to help ensure your wishes are carried out and your assets are properly managed.
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How Our Wills & Estates Lawyers Can Help
Estate planning involves more than simply drafting a will. It requires a clear understanding of how your assets are structured, how decisions will be made if you become incapable, and how your estate will be administered.
Our lawyers assist with wills, powers of attorney, representation agreements, trusts, and estate administration. We also help identify potential issues, such as how assets are held, business or investment structures, and beneficiary designations to ensure your estate plan is complete, effective, and aligned with your overall financial picture.
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Reach out to us today for a consultation to discuss your legal options by filling out the contact form or by calling us at | Squamish: 604.892.5254 | Whistler: 604.932.3211 |
Our Wills & Estates
Lawyers
Our wills and estates lawyers advise individuals, families, and executors across British Columbia on all aspects of estate planning and administration. With experience in wills, probate, trusts, and estate disputes, the team focuses on protecting assets, identifying potential issues early, and ensuring estates are structured and managed effectively.
Eddie Carter
PARTNER
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Sholto Shaw
PARTNER
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Kelly Fortune
ASSOCIATE LAWYER
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Amanda Welton-Hagen
ASSOCIATE LAWYER
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Wills and estates matters involve more than distributing assets. They require careful planning to ensure your estate is structured properly and can be administered efficiently. Small mistakes in how assets are held or how documents are prepared can lead to delays, additional costs, or unintended outcomes.
Our lawyers provide practical guidance across all aspects of estate planning, administration, and disputes, helping clients put the right structures in place and avoid common pitfalls.
Wills & Estates Services
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A comprehensive estate plan ensures your wishes are clearly documented and your assets are protected. It typically includes a combination of legal documents that work together to address both your estate and your decision-making during your lifetime.
Key components often include:
→ Wills
→ Powers of attorney
→ Representation agreementsEffective planning helps reduce uncertainty, avoid disputes, and ensure your affairs are handled according to your intentions.
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A will is a foundational part of any estate plan, but it is only one piece of the overall structure. It outlines how your assets will be distributed, appoints an executor, and provides clear direction for your estate.
Working with a lawyer helps ensure that:
→ Your will is properly drafted and legally valid
→ Your assets are structured in a way that supports your intentions
→ Potential issues are identified before they create problemsMany issues in estate administration arise not from the wording of the will itself, but from how assets are held or decisions made in advance. Careful planning helps prevent these challenges.
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Planning for incapacity is an essential part of estate planning. Powers of Attorney and Representation Agreements allow you to appoint trusted individuals to make decisions on your behalf if you are unable to do so.
These documents can cover:
→ Financial and legal matters
→ Health care and personal decisions
→ Living arrangements and long-term careHaving these documents in place ensures your affairs are managed responsibly and in accordance with your wishes.
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Probate is the legal process that confirms the validity of a will and gives the executor authority to manage and distribute the estate.
Estate administration typically involves:
→ Identifying and securing assets
→ Paying debts, taxes, and expenses
→ Distributing assets to beneficiariesThe process can be complex, particularly where there are multiple assets, incomplete records, or family disagreements. Proper guidance helps executors fulfill their responsibilities efficiently and avoid unnecessary delays.
Estate Planning
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A complete estate plan involves more than a single document. It is a coordinated set of legal tools that work together to address your personal, financial, and legal affairs.
Most estate plans include a will, a Power of Attorney, and a Representation Agreement. Each document serves a distinct purpose. A will governs the distribution of your assets after death, while Powers of Attorney and Representation Agreements address decision-making during your lifetime if you become incapable.
When these documents are properly prepared and aligned, they provide clarity, continuity, and a framework for how decisions are made and how your estate is managed.
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Estate planning helps ensure your wishes are carried out while reducing the likelihood of complications for your family. Without proper planning, estates can be subject to delays, additional costs, and outcomes that may not reflect your intentions.
A well-structured estate plan can help:
→ Reduce The Risk Of Disputes Among Beneficiaries
→ Ensure Assets Are Distributed According To Your Wishes
→ Provide Clear Guidance During A Difficult Time
→ Prepare For The Possibility Of IncapacityBy addressing these issues in advance, you create certainty for your family and help ensure your estate is administered efficiently.
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Many problems that arise during estate administration are not caused by the wording of a will, but by how assets are held or how planning decisions were made in advance.
For example, assets that are jointly held, improperly designated, or not aligned with your will can lead to unintended outcomes. In some cases, this can result in delays, increased costs, or disputes between beneficiaries.
Working with a lawyer allows these issues to be identified and corrected early. It also ensures that your estate plan is not only legally valid, but also practical and capable of functioning as intended when it is needed.
A comprehensive estate plan ensures your wishes are clearly documented and your assets are protected. Effective planning considers both how your estate will be distributed and how your affairs will be managed during your lifetime if you become unable to make decisions.
A will is a central part of your estate plan, providing clear direction for how your assets will be distributed and who will be responsible for administering your estate.
Wills
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A will sets out how your assets are to be distributed after your passing. It allows you to appoint an executor to manage your estate and ensures that your intentions are clearly documented.
In addition to distributing assets, a will can also:
→ Appoint Guardians For Minor Children
→ Provide For Specific Gifts Or Charitable Donations
→ Establish Trusts Where AppropriateBy clearly outlining your intentions, a will helps guide your family and reduces uncertainty during what can be a difficult time.
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Preparing a will involves more than drafting a document. Legal advice helps ensure that your will is structured properly and reflects your broader financial and personal circumstances.
A lawyer can identify issues that may not be immediately obvious, such as how your assets are held, whether your plan aligns with tax considerations, and whether your will meets all legal requirements.
Many complications in estate administration arise from avoidable mistakes, including incomplete documentation or poorly structured plans. Professional guidance helps reduce these risks and ensures your will is both valid and effective.
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Your will should be reviewed periodically to ensure it continues to reflect your current circumstances. Changes in your personal life or financial situation can significantly affect how your estate should be distributed.
Common reasons to update a will include marriage, separation, the birth of children or grandchildren, or significant changes in assets or business interests.
Keeping your will up to date helps ensure your intentions are accurately reflected and reduces the likelihood of complications during estate administration.
Planning for incapacity involves more than preparing a single document. It requires careful consideration of how your financial, legal, and personal matters will be managed if you are unable to make decisions for yourself. Without the proper documents in place, families can face delays, uncertainty, and the need for court involvement.
Powers of Attorney & Representation Agreements
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A Power of Attorney is a legal document that allows you to appoint someone you trust to manage your financial and legal affairs on your behalf.
This can include responsibilities such as managing bank accounts, paying bills, overseeing investments, and handling property or business matters. An Enduring Power of Attorney can remain in effect if you become incapable, ensuring continuity in how your affairs are managed.
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A Representation Agreement allows you to appoint a trusted individual to make personal and health care decisions on your behalf if you are unable to do so.
These decisions can include medical treatment, living arrangements, and personal care. By setting out your wishes in advance, you provide clear guidance to your representative and reduce uncertainty for your family.
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Without these documents in place, your family may need to seek court approval to manage your affairs, which can be time-consuming and stressful.
Having Powers of Attorney and Representation Agreements ensures that decisions can be made efficiently and in accordance with your wishes. It also provides reassurance that both your financial matters and personal care will be handled appropriately if circumstances change.
Probate & Estate Administration
Administering an estate involves more than completing legal steps. It requires careful management of financial, legal, and practical responsibilities in accordance with the law. Executors are responsible for handling assets, settling debts and taxes, and ensuring the estate is distributed properly.
Coast Mountain Law provides guidance throughout the process, helping executors manage their responsibilities, avoid common issues, and ensure the estate is administered efficiently and correctly.
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Probate is the legal process through which a will is formally validated by the court and the executor is given authority to manage the estate.
This authority allows the executor to deal with financial institutions, collect and manage assets, and ultimately distribute the estate to beneficiaries. While not all estates require probate, it is often necessary where there are significant assets or where institutions require formal confirmation of authority.
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An executor is responsible for managing the estate from start to finish. This includes gathering assets, paying debts and taxes, and distributing the estate according to the will.
Executors must also maintain accurate records and act in the best interests of the estate at all times. These responsibilities can be complex, particularly in larger or more detailed estates.
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Estate administration can involve a number of challenges depending on the circumstances. These may include delays in identifying or collecting assets, unclear documentation, or disagreements between beneficiaries.
In more complex estates, issues such as business interests, multiple properties, or tax considerations can add additional layers of complexity.
Legal guidance helps ensure that these challenges are addressed properly and that the estate is administered efficiently and in accordance with legal requirements.
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A trust is a legal arrangement where a trustee holds and manages assets for the benefit of one or more beneficiaries.
Trusts can be used to provide structure and control over how assets are distributed, particularly in situations involving minor children, complex family dynamics, or long-term planning objectives.
When properly structured, trusts can provide flexibility, protect assets, and ensure that distributions are made in accordance with your intentions.
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Estate disputes can arise when there are concerns about the validity of a will, how an estate is being administered, or whether beneficiaries have been treated fairly.
These disputes often occur during emotionally difficult times and may involve disagreements between family members or concerns about the actions of an executor or trustee.
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Resolving estate disputes requires a clear understanding of both legal rights and practical considerations. In many cases, disputes can be resolved through negotiation or mediation, allowing parties to reach an agreement without going to court.
Where necessary, court proceedings may be required to resolve the matter and provide clarity on legal obligations.
A thoughtful and strategic approach helps protect the estate, minimize unnecessary conflict, and work toward a fair and practical resolution.
In some situations, additional planning tools or legal support are required to ensure assets are managed effectively or to address disputes involving an estate. More complex financial structures, family dynamics, or disagreements between beneficiaries can introduce challenges that require careful handling.
Trusts & Estate Disputes
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Whether you are facing a family dispute, employment issue, real estate transaction, or estate matter, our team is here to help.