Overview
What a Basic Will Covers
A Basic Will is the right starting point for most single adults in British Columbia. It names your executor, lists your beneficiaries, distributes your assets, and — if you have minor children — appoints a guardian. It is signed and witnessed in compliance with BC's Wills, Estates and Succession Act (WESA) so it survives any challenge based on formal validity.
We use the word 'basic' to describe the price, not the quality. The drafting is done by a lawyer, the language is tailored to your specific situation, and the document handles the standard estate scenarios cleanly: a single beneficiary or multiple beneficiaries, specific bequests of named items, a residual gift of everything else, charitable gifts, and an alternate plan if a beneficiary dies before you.
If your situation is more complex — a blended family, a child with a disability, assets in another country, a private company, or a desire to set up a trust — we'll tell you on the intake call and quote any extra work up front. Most clients fit comfortably within the $800 Basic Will.
Pairing your will with an Enduring Power of Attorney ($375) and a Representation Agreement ($375) gives you a complete plan. Bundle all three as a Single Full Package for $1,300 and save $250.
What is included
- Lawyer drafting tailored to your circumstances
- Executor and alternate executor appointments
- Guardian designation for minor children, if applicable
- Specific bequests and a residual distribution clause
- Alternate beneficiaries if anyone predeceases you
- Plain-language walkthrough of every clause
- Formal signing with two witnesses at our Hastings Street office
- Secure storage of your original and digital copies for your executor
What is not included
- Power of Attorney (available separately for $375)
- Representation Agreement (available separately for $375)
- Trusts within the will (Henson trusts, spousal trusts, etc.)
- Probate after death (quoted based on estate value)
The process
Free intake call
20-minute call to confirm a Basic Will fits your situation and lock in the $800 flat fee.
Questionnaire
We send a structured form covering assets, beneficiaries, executor, and guardian for minor children.
Lawyer drafting
Draft delivered in 7–10 business days. One revision round included.
Sign & store
Signed and witnessed at our office. Original stored securely; digital copies to you and your executor.
Frequently asked questions
Is $800 the total cost?
$800 plus GST is the total fee for a Basic Will, signed and stored. The only extras are if you also want a Power of Attorney or Representation Agreement, or if your situation is genuinely complex (a trust, foreign assets, a business). We tell you on the intake call — no surprise invoices.
Can I include specific gifts to specific people?
Yes. Specific bequests — your car to your nephew, your engagement ring to your daughter, $10,000 to a charity — are part of the Basic Will at no extra cost. Just bring the list to the questionnaire stage.
What happens to my will if I get married or divorced?
Under WESA, a divorce automatically revokes gifts to your former spouse and any appointment of them as executor or trustee — but the rest of the will stands. Marriage does not revoke a will in BC (the old rule was abolished in 2014). Still, we recommend updating your will after any major life event.
Can my common-law partner inherit?
Yes — if you name them in your will. Without a will, BC treats spouses who have lived in a marriage-like relationship for 2+ years as 'spouses' under WESA, but litigation often follows. A clear will avoids the dispute.
Do I need to update the will if I buy a house later?
Usually no. A well-drafted will gives away your 'residue' — everything you own at death — so new assets are automatically captured. You only need a new will if your wishes about who inherits change, not because your assets changed.