Foxglove · British Columbia
Settling an estate in British Columbia?
A plain-language guide to the British Columbia process — every step, the costs and deadlines, and the vetted local professionals you may need. Free to use.
Get the complete British Columbia executor's checklist:
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The Complete Executor's Guide →
Every step explained in plain language — read through, then the checklist makes sense.
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How Long Does Probate Take? Timelines Across Canada and the US
The honest 6–18 month range, jurisdiction-by-jurisdiction, what slows probate, and how to speed it up.
The Complete Executor's Checklist: Every Task, in Order
The full executor arc as a checklist, grouped by timeframe, with each item linking to its how-to.
The Executor's First Week: Exactly What to Do (and What Can Wait)
What's genuinely urgent in the first days after a death — including who pronounces the death and who to call — and what can safely wait.
Who Pays the Debts When Someone Dies in BC?
The estate pays the debts — not you, and not the family. Here's how to find every debt, notify creditors the right way, and protect yourself before anything gets paid out.
Probate, step by step
How Much Does Probate Cost in BC? Fees, and What You'll Actually Pay
BC probate fees explained ($25k threshold, 0.6% / 1.4% bands, $200 filing) with a worked example, plus what's NOT a probate fee.
Probate in British Columbia: An Executor's Step-by-Step
BC's grant of probate, the $25k line, probate fees, the 21-day Form P1 notice, executor bonds, and the filing steps.
Finding the right help
Can Someone Challenge the Will in BC? Wills Variation Explained
BC's wills variation (WESA s.60): who can claim, the 180-day deadline, what executors must do, and how to find help.
Do You Actually Need a Probate Lawyer? (Or Can You Do It Yourself)
When DIY works, when a lawyer pays off, what they charge, and exactly how to find a probate-experienced one.
Estate Tax Accountant vs. Probate Lawyer: Who Handles What
The two different jobs, who owns what, the Canada/US tax difference, and how to avoid paying twice.
Selling a House During Probate: Finding the Right Realtor
Why a probate sale is different, court-confirmation/overbid, as-is selling, and how to vet a probate-experienced agent.
Selling an Inherited House: Taxes, Timing, and What Actually Happens
Whether you owe tax on an inherited house (step-up/date-of-death value), when you can sell, and how to find the right agent.
What Is an Executor Bond — and When Does the Court Require One?
What an executor/surety bond is, when it's required or waived, what it costs, and step-by-step how to get one.
Common questions
- Can an Executor Live Outside BC?
- Do You Need a Lawyer to Probate a Will in BC? (Lawyer vs Notary vs DIY)
- Does Life Insurance Go Through Probate in BC?
- How Much Does an Executor Get Paid in BC?
- Is There an Inheritance Tax in BC? (What Actually Gets Taxed at Death)
- Can You Access a Deceased Person's Bank Account Before Probate in BC?
- Do Joint Bank Accounts Go Through Probate in BC?
- Do RRSPs and TFSAs Go Through Probate in BC?
- How Long Does Probate Take in BC? (Realistic Timelines)
- Is Probate Required for Small Estates in BC?
- What Happens to a Mortgage When Someone Dies in BC?
- Who Inherits If Someone Dies Without a Will in BC?
British Columbia probate forms, explained
- Form P20 (BC): Notice of Dispute, Explained
- Applying Without a Will in BC: The Grant of Administration, Explained
- Form P1 (BC): Notice of Proposed Application, Explained
- Form P10 (BC): Affidavit of Assets and Liabilities, Explained
- Form P2 (BC): Submission for Estate Grant, Explained
- Form P9 (BC): Affidavit of Delivery, Explained
- Forms P3 & P4 (BC): The Applicant's Affidavit, Explained
- The BC Wills Notice Search, Explained (and Why It's Mandatory)
By city
Vetted British Columbia professionals
Certified Appraiser
- Adlaw Appraisals Ltd.Vancouver, BC · Vancouver-based AACI-credentialed appraisal firm; estate appraisals and date-of-death valuations across BC Lower Mainland, Surrey, and Kelowna
- Aedis AppraisalsVancouver, BC · Vancouver AIC member firm; estate appraisals including personal property; CRA/AACI designations; province-wide coverage.
- D. Fritz Appraisals Inc.Victoria, BC · Victoria firm since 1998; dedicated estate and probate appraisal service; serves Victoria to Nanaimo and the Gulf Islands.
- Garnett Wilson Realty Advisors Ltd.Vancouver, BC · All-AIC-accredited BC real estate appraisal firm serving estates, litigation, and property valuation
- WesTech Appraisal Services Ltd.North Vancouver, BC · AIC-accredited residential appraisal firm explicitly offering estate-planning/probate appraisals across the Lower Mainland
Probate-Specialist Realtor
- Audra Poole (Victoria Real Estate Pros)Victoria, BC · Victoria team with a dedicated probate/estate-property service; helps executors sell before and after probate.
- Donna WeaverVancouver, BC · Certified Probate Real Estate Specialist guiding executors through BC probate property sales from filing to closing
- Lorne Goldman (Macdonald Realty)Vancouver, BC · BCFSA-licensed Vancouver realtor; estate sales a large share of transactions; 100+ estate properties sold; REBGV Medallion Club member.
- Mike Wall (Macdonald Realty)Vancouver, BC · Realtor with a dedicated executor/estate-sale service: evidence-based pricing and a documented process for Vancouver probate sales
- Renata Steele (RE/MAX City Realty)Kelowna, BC · RE/MAX REALTOR serving Kelowna and the Okanagan; publishes a dedicated probate-sale guide for executors.
Estate Tax Accountant
- Bentley Siu Redmond CPAVictoria, BC · Victoria CPA firm with a dedicated trust and estate services team supporting executors with final and trust returns. Link-verified live 2026-06-29.
- Cahill CPA LLPNorth Vancouver, BC · North Vancouver CPA firm serving clients for nearly 40 years; explicitly lists estate tax and estate planning services.
- Cameron Izard Snell LLPVictoria, BC · Mid-sized Victoria CPA firm (est. 2007) recognized for expertise in estates and trusts; prepares final and T3 trust returns for executors. Link-verified live 2026-06-29; confirm email before go-live.
- Chan Choi & CompanyVictoria, BC · Victoria CPA firm providing estate administration, tax advisory and compliance for executors and families. Link-verified live 2026-06-29.
- Louis T. Picco, Inc.North Vancouver, BC · North Vancouver CPA (est. 2000) offering personal, business and estate tax services. Link-verified live 2026-06-29; confirm phone/email before go-live.
- McPhee Tax & Accounting Inc.Duncan, BC · Duncan (Cowichan Valley) accounting firm specializing in personal, corporate and trust returns; handles estate and trust filings. Link-verified live 2026-06-29.
- N.I. Cameron Inc.Vancouver, BC · Downtown Vancouver boutique CPA (est. 1993) offering estate and trust accounting, executorships, and T3 returns.
Executor Bond Broker
- BFL CANADAVancouver, BC · National surety broker; BC surety practice lists executor bonds among commercial products. Confirm estate-bond capability before go-live (page is construction-weighted)
- Bond Connect Inc.Vancouver, BC · Vancouver-based Canadian surety bond brokerage offering commercial and miscellaneous bonds across BC and Canada.
- Bridges International Insurance Services (BIIS)Vancouver, BC · Vancouver firm specializing in fiduciary/court surety bonds for executors and administrators (BC and ON); in-house underwriting.
Probate Lawyer
- Burger Smith & UrdahlCourtenay, BC · Full-service Courtenay/Comox Valley firm; wills and estates law, family, corporate/commercial
- Colby Marie Notary PublicNanaimo, BC · BC Notary Public — Nanaimo; wills, estates, and notary services
- Horne Coupar LLP, Lawyers and NotariesVictoria, BC · Wills, estates & trusts boutique firm since 1944; probate, estate administration, estate litigation; named Canada's Top 10 Trusts & Estates Law Boutiques by Canadian Lawyer 2021-22
- Island Law OfficeVictoria, BC · Boutique Victoria firm; wills & estate planning, probate & administration of estates, real estate; inclusive practice
- Jason Zhang Notary PublicNanaimo, BC · BC Notary Public — Nanaimo; wills, estates, real estate transactions, powers of attorney; services in English and Chinese
- JB Lawyers LLPVictoria, BC · Wills, estates & trusts; estate planning and administration; Victoria firm established 1973
- Johnston Franklin Bishop LawyersNanaimo, BC · Wills, estates, estate litigation, will challenges; full-service firm downtown Nanaimo since 1983
- League and Williams Law CorporationVictoria, BC · Estate planning, estate administration, and estate disputes (contested wills); also personal injury and real estate conveyance
- Legacy Tax + Trust LawyersVancouver, BC · Wills, estates & probate administration
- Levitt Law (Protect My Estate)Richmond, BC · Wills, estates & probate administration
- McLellan HerbertVancouver, BC · Wills, estates & probate administration
- Miller Law CorporationBurnaby, BC · Wills, estates & probate administration
- Parr Business LawVancouver, BC · Wills, estates & probate administration
- Ridgway & CompanyDuncan, BC · Oldest law firm in the Cowichan Valley (100+ years); barristers & solicitors; wills, estates, and broad legal services
- Scion Law LLPVancouver, BC · Wills, estates & probate administration
- T. Dale Roberts Notary Public (Old House Notaries)Courtenay, BC · BC Notary Public — Courtenay/Comox Valley; wills, powers of attorney, representation agreements, advanced health directives, real estate transfer
- Taylor PeltonDuncan, BC · Duncan/Cowichan Valley; estate planning, wills, civil litigation; also ICBC and personal injury
- Westcoast Wills & EstatesNorth Vancouver, BC · Wills, estates & probate administration
Estate Sale Company
- Christine Caroline Estate Services Ltd.Vancouver, BC · 15+ years of estate clearouts and liquidations across Greater Vancouver; supports out-of-town executors.
- Good Riddance OrganizingBurnaby, BC · Family-owned estate-services, downsizing, and liquidation firm serving Greater Vancouver for 20+ years
- Rest Easy RemovalsVancouver, BC · Vancouver estate liquidation and downsizing specialist; online auctions and junk removal across Vancouver, Lower Mainland, and Sunshine Coast
- West Coast Downsizing SolutionAbbotsford, BC · Abbotsford-based; owner is a Certified Personal Property Appraiser; 100+ estate sales; Fraser Valley and Lower Mainland.
Professional Executor
- Coda Trust Company Ltd.West Vancouver, BC · Boutique BC-regulated non-deposit trust company offering executor, trustee, and power-of-attorney services
- CV TrustCo Inc.Vancouver, BC · Regulated BC trust company providing executor, trustee, and multi-family-office solutions for higher-value estates
- Heritage Trust Company Inc.West Vancouver, BC · Independent BC trust company (BCFSA-regulated); executor, trustee, POA, committee and Henson trust services province-wide.
- Solus Trust CompanyVancouver, BC · OSFI-regulated trust company with a BC team; executor, trustee and POA services; affiliate of Raymond James.
- Truvera Trust CorporationVancouver, BC · BC-owned independent trust company since 2005; executor, agent-for-executor and trustee services; Vancouver and Kelowna.