This is a summary of British Columbia's new Wills, Estates, and Succession Act, which is expected to come into force in early 2012. The new Act repeals the Estate Administration Act, Probate Recognition Act, Wills Act, Wills Variation Act, and sections of the Law and Equity Act, and Survivorship and Presumption of Death Act.

Whether you are young, old, healthy, or sick, leaving a will is an important task that should be done by all individuals. Granted, it can be stressful to think about what should happen in the case of your death, whether sudden or expected. But leaving a valid will can give you peace of mind and unburden your loved ones who are sure to face legal complexities should you pass away without a will.

If you are the executor or administrator of an estate, taking account of the assets of a recently deceased loved one can get very complicated. Moving residences prior to death or incomplete financial records can mean hidden assets where you, as the executor, might not expect them.

After the loss of a spouse, an older parent may rely on a grown-up child to look after his or her routine banking chores. To make it is as easy as possible for the child, the parent may change a bank account that's in his or her name alone into a joint account with the child. This simple arrangement, called a joint account of convenience, can work well while the parent is alive, but what happens to the money in that joint account when the parent dies?

Imagine for a moment you have been appointed executor of someone’s estate, and he or she passes away. Do you know what to do? Where will the deceased's things go? Where do you even start? Or, perhaps you are writing your will and you need to decide who to appoint as executor; here are some things to consider regarding this important post.