Estates
North Vancouver and Area Wills and Estates Planning Lawyers
Our North Vancouver estate lawyers assist both executors and persons who have been named as beneficiaries in a will, as well as the surviving family members of persons who have died without making a will.
When someone close to you dies, sorting out the money and property can be daunting and distressing. Let us help you through this period.
Vancouver Wills and Estates Planning Lawyers
Ratcliff has been assisting families in British Columbia deal efficiently with estates for the last 60 years. Our broad range of experience enables our Estates Lawyers to provide you with practical, cost-effective advice and we can shield you from unnecessary liability and paperwork.
Ratcliff Estates Lawyers have extensive experience in a wide range of probate matters, including contested estate litigation and passing of estate accounts.
Where necessary, our lawyers at Ratcliff can assist you in dealing with estate issues that cross over to other areas of law, such as business law, employment law and family law.
Objective Advisors to Executors and Estate Administrators
Based in North Vancouver, our Probate lawyers can assist executors and estate administrators with complex tasks, answer questions, and help manage dealings with the estate beneficiaries. We can provide support with a variety of estate administration duties, including:
- Reviewing the deceased’s important papers.
- Reviewing insurance policies to ensure adequate coverage is in place.
- Obtaining the appropriate Court Order – Letters Probate or Letters of Administration, if required.
- Notifying the Public Guardian and Trustee if there are any children under the age of 19, or any disabled beneficiaries.
- Transferring Title of all real property to the name of the executor.
- Obtaining releases from beneficiaries required to complete the distribution of the estate.
- Obtaining signed releases from the beneficiaries releasing the executor from claims.
- Preparing detailed accounts for the approval of the beneficiaries, or arrange for passing of accounts in Court if there are any disputes amongst the beneficiaries (or if any of the residuary beneficiaries are under 19).
