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A will is the one document that lets you decide, in your own words, what happens to everything you have worked for. At Ambassador Law, we help Abbotsford and Fraser Valley families put a clear, properly executed will in place so that decision stays yours, not the court’s.
We keep our will-drafting process simple and personal:
Most straightforward wills can move from initial appointment to signed document in a short timeframe. More involved estates, such as those with a family trust, multiple properties, or a business, take longer because there is more to consider, and our fees reflect that added complexity rather than a flat rate for every estate.
A will is not a one-time task. We recommend our clients revisit theirs whenever life changes in a meaningful way, including:
As a general rule, we suggest a review every few years even without a major life event, just to confirm your wishes have not changed.
Having a will gives you control over where your assets go after you pass away. If you have young children, a will also lets you appoint a guardian for them. Without a will, the court has authority to appoint a guardian, and your assets are distributed under the intestate estate provisions set out in BC law. Those provisions may not match your wishes and can add complications and cost to settling your estate.
If you die without a valid will in British Columbia, your estate is distributed under the intestacy rules in the Wills, Estates and Succession Act, not according to your own wishes. If you have a spouse and no children, your spouse typically inherits the entire estate. If you have a spouse and children together, your spouse keeps the household belongings and a preferential share of the estate, with the remainder split between your spouse and your children. If you have children but no spouse, your estate is divided among your descendants. If you have neither, the estate passes to your closest surviving relatives, working outward from parents to siblings to more distant family. Dying without a will also means the court, rather than you, decides who is appointed guardian for any children under 19. A will lets you settle every one of these questions in advance, in your own words.
Your executor is the person who administers your estate after you pass away. Your estate is delivered to your named executor to be held in trust, and, in simple terms, your executor pays off outstanding debts and then delivers what remains to the beneficiaries named in your will. Choose someone you trust to act capably and responsibly; an executor does not need to be your spouse or a relative, and many of our clients choose a close friend instead.
If you have young children under the age of 19, appointing a guardian in your will is one of the most important decisions you can make. Doing so lets you choose the person or people who will care for your children if both parents pass away, rather than leaving that decision to the court system and the Public Guardian and Trustee.
Any asset held in your name, where you are the beneficial and legal owner, falls under your estate and is distributed through your will. Some assets fall outside your estate: property held jointly with others, such as a joint bank account, real estate, or vehicle, passes directly to the surviving joint owner through right of survivorship. Plans with a named beneficiary, such as an RRSP or TFSA, pass outside your estate as well, unless your estate itself is named as the beneficiary.
The cost depends on how complex your estate is. A straightforward will for a single person or couple with a simple estate costs less than a plan that includes trusts, a business, or multiple properties. When you come in for your initial appointment, we can give you a clear sense of cost once we understand your situation.
We recommend reviewing your will every few years, and immediately after any major life change such as marriage, separation, the birth of a child, or a move to a new province. A will that reflects your current circumstances is the best way to make sure your estate is settled the way you intend.
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