Canadians must be over the age of majority in each province to write a legal will. In British Columbia, you must be a resident of the province and aged at least 16 years to write a will. What’s more, the will-maker must be of sound mind and freely agree with what the document states upon signing.
Without a doubt, dying without a will is remiss to loved ones left behind. The importance of writing a will at any age cannot be overstated. Simply having faith in someone distributing your possessions and honouring your last wishes almost guarantees none of your desires will be met.
Comparable to a visit to the dentist, writing a will is not something most people anticipate. However, it’s an important responsibility for anyone with assets and possessions.
Nonetheless, people rationalize delaying a will for countless reasons.
- There is no right time. Individuals avoid writing a will because they’re waiting to have their lives settled. However, life changes all the time. People get married, have children, get divorced, and purchase (then sell) a home. There are no guarantees in life and may never be a point when possessions and personal circumstances are written in permanent ink. Writing updates in a will rather than waiting for the perfect moment to write one is a better strategy.
- You don’t have enough money or assets. No matter how little you possess, you should have a will. A will declares your wishes to family left behind, making your passing a little less traumatic. For example, you can state whom you trust to care for your pets. In addition, people don’t realize how much they’re worth after they’re gone. Someone may be held liable for your accidental death and that spells money paid to your estate. Your spouse may be awarded money that can help pay for funeral expenses and care for dependents.
- It’s too late to write a will. If you feel you’ve spent all your money and have nothing left for family, you may be burdening them unnecessarily with your funeral expenses. No matter your age, everyone has treasured possessions and assets that can assist family. You can guarantee that by stating it in a will.
- You feel you can’t afford to hire a lawyer. There is no doubt that legal fees can be costly. However, the modern age has brought will kits online to make writing a will affordable for everyone. You can also get referrals from family to a trusted law firm that will not take advantage of your faith (or pocketbook).
- You assume your money will go to a charity of your choice. If you’re a senior with no family, you may have a charity you’re passionate about. However, if you don’t have a legal will, who knows what will happen to your money. You need to specify in a legal document which charity is to receive your funds—a worthy legacy to leave behind.
- You believe you haven’t been married long enough to have a will. This is simply not true. In fact, if you don’t have a will, your spouse may not receive any of your assets upon your untimely death. He or she may or may not inherit your valuable items; this should not be left up to chance.
- You only have one child that will inherit everything. But what if you have more children down the road? Without an updated will, the courts may decide who gets what and who will ultimately care for your children. If you want everything divided up equally among your offspring, you need a legal will.
With over 25 years of serving the Saanichton and Greater Victoria area, we understand the unique challenges and opportunities that residents of this beautiful corner of Vancouver Island encounter every day. You can trust in the expertise and local knowledge of our team as we help you with whatever legal issues you need resolving.
The lawyers at Saanichton Law Group are here to help you in all of your corporate law needs, as well as employment agreements, power of attorney, real estate law, mortgages and estate law. Call us at (250) 544-0727 or email us at info@saanichtonlaw.com for more details on how we can assist you.
