Vancouver, BC -- (ReleaseWire) -- 06/21/2018 --Through the Wills Estates and Succession Act ("WESA"), estate litigation lawyers have many new resources at their disposal when assisting their clients with estate issues. One of the more interesting aspects of WESA is section 58, which permits an applicant to seek an Order from the Court curing a deficiency in a will.

For more, go to: http://www.kushnerlaw.ca/curing-deficiencies-in-a-will-part-1/

In other words, it's now possible to have the Court determine whether a written document that does not conform to the requirements of a will should be considered to be binding and representative of testamentary intent.

In the decision of Skopyk Estate, 2017 BCSC 2335, the Honourable Madame Justice Forth was asked to determine whether an unsigned written document from the Deceased was sufficient to represent his intentions to replace or alter a valid will drafted in 1995. In considering whether the document provided sufficient testamentary intent, the Court set out the test in determining an application under s. 58 as follows:

[18] Section 58 of WESA authorizes the court to order that a document that does not comply with the requirements of WESA be fully effective as though it had been made in compliance with those requirements. To make such an order, the court must be satisfied that the document represents the testamentary intentions of the deceased.

[19] The Court of Appeal has interpreted s. 58 to require that the document must be "a deliberate or fixed and final expression of intention" as to the disposal of property upon death: see Hadley Estate (Re), 2017 BCCA 311 at para. 36 [Hadley]. The factors relevant to the determination of whether a document represents such an expression of intention are context specific: Re Lane Estate, 2015 BCSC 2162 at para. 33. Extrinsic evidence of testamentary intent is admissible on the inquiry as to whether a non-compliant document embodies a deceased's intent. This may well include extrinsic evidence of events that occurred before, when and after the document was created: Hadley, at para. 40.

Part two of the blog will discuss Madame Justice Forth's judgment. Anyone with questions on will variation or estate litigation in Vancouver BC is advised to contact the Kushner Law Group at 604-629-0432 or online to schedule a consultation.

About The Kushner Law Group
The Kushner Law Group was founded on the principle that a small law firm should be able to offer the same level of legal advice as a big firm at an affordable cost. A unique combination of legal experience and creativity allows the professionals at Kushner to come up with creative and practical solutions for a variety of legal problems.

For additional information, please visit http://kushnerlaw.ca/ or call 604-629-0432.

Kushner Law Group
Lars Kushner
Phone 604-629-0432 Fax 604-689-4451
Company website: http://kushnerlaw.ca/
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