HER MAJESTY, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of British Columbia, enacts as follows:

Part 1 — Definitions and Interpretation

Definitions and interpretation

1  (1) In this Act:

"beneficiary" means

(a) a person named in a will to receive all or part of an estate, or

(b) a person having a beneficial interest in a trust created by a will;

"benefit" means a benefit payable under a benefit plan on the death of a participant;

"benefit plan" means

(a) any one or more of the following for the benefit of employees or former employees of an employer, agents or former agents of an employer, the dependants of any of them or a designated beneficiary:

(i) a pension plan or retirement plan;

(ii) a welfare fund or profit-sharing fund;

(iii) a trust, scheme, contract or arrangement,

(b) a fund, trust, scheme, contract or arrangement for the payment of an annuity for life or for a fixed or variable term,

(c) a retirement savings plan or retirement income fund registered under the Income Tax Act (Canada), or

(d) a fund, trust, scheme, contract or arrangement described in the regulations made under this Act,

whether it was created before, on or after this definition comes into force;

"chief executive officer" means the chief executive officer under the Vital Statistics Act;

"court" means the Supreme Court;

"declarant" means a person who makes a small estate declaration;

"descendant" means all lineal descendants through all generations;

"designated beneficiary" means a person to whom or for whose advantage a benefit is payable by a designation;

"designation" means the designation of a designated beneficiary in accordance with section 85 [designated beneficiaries];

"estate" means the property of a deceased person;

"foreign grant" means probate, including letters of verification issued in Quebec, or a grant of administration or other document purporting to be of the same nature issued by a court outside British Columbia;

"foreign personal representative" means a personal representative to whom a foreign grant has been made;

"gift" includes

(a) a beneficial devise or bequest, and

(b) an appointment affecting property other than the appointment of a person as executor of the will;

"instrument" includes a testamentary instrument and other legal documents but does not include an instrument to which the Insurance Act applies except for a will;

"intestate" means a person who dies without a will;

"intestate estate" means the estate of a person who dies without a will;

"intestate successor" means a person who is entitled to receive all or part of an intestate estate;

"land" includes buildings and fixtures, and every right, title, interest, estate or claim to or in land;

"nominee" includes

(a) a committee acting under the Patients Property Act,

(b) an attorney acting under an enduring power of attorney as described in section 8 of the Power of Attorney Act, and

(c) a representative acting under a representation agreement made under

(i) section 7 (1) (b) of the Representation Agreement Act, or

(ii) section 9 (1) (g) of the Representation Agreement Act;

"participant" means a person who makes a designation and, except when the context otherwise requires, includes an attorney or representative who makes a designation under section 85 [designated beneficiaries];

"personal property" means every kind of property other than land;

"probate" means a grant of probate;

"property" means land and personal property;

"registrable charge" means a charge created by an order of the court under section 33 (2) [retention of spousal home] and made effective by registration in a land title office under section 34 [registrable charges];

"representation grant" means

(a) probate of a will in British Columbia, whether made for general, special or limited purposes,

(b) the grant of administration of the estate of a deceased person in British Columbia, with or without will annexed, whether made for general, special or limited purposes,

(c) the resealing in British Columbia of probate of a will or a grant of administration of the estate of a deceased person,

(d) an ancillary grant of probate, or

(e) a small estate declaration filed with a registrar of the court under Division 2 of Part 6 [Administration of Estates];

"security interest" means an interest in property that secures payment or performance of an obligation;

"small estate" means an estate composed wholly of personal property of less than a prescribed value as of the date of death;

"small estate declaration" means a statutory declaration made in the prescribed form respecting a small estate;

"spousal home" means

(a) a parcel of land that

(i) is shown as a separate taxable parcel on a taxation roll for the current year prepared under the Taxation (Rural Area) Act or on an assessment roll used for the levying of taxes in a municipality, and

(ii) has as improvements situated on it a building assessed and taxed in the current year as an improvement, in which the deceased person and his or her spouse were ordinarily resident, owned or jointly owned by the deceased person, and not leased to another person,

(b) a share owned or jointly owned by the deceased person in a corporation whose charter, as defined in section 1 (1) of the Business Corporations Act, provides that a building owned or operated by the corporation must be owned and operated exclusively for the benefit of shareholders in the corporation who are occupants of the building, if the value of the share is equivalent to the capital value of a suite owned by the corporation, in which suite the deceased person and his or her spouse were ordinarily resident and which was not leased to any other person, or

(c) a manufactured home, as defined in the Manufactured Home Act, situated on land not owned by the owner of the manufactured home and in which the deceased person and his or her spouse were ordinarily resident;

"spouse" has the meaning given to it in section 2 [when a person is a spouse under this Act];

"testamentary instrument" means a will or designation or a document naming a person to receive a payment or series of payments on death under a plan or arrangement of a type similar to a benefit plan;

"will" means

(a) a will,

(b) a testament,

(c) a codicil,

(d) an appointment by will or by writing in the nature of a will in exercise of a power,

(e) anything ordered to be effective as a will under section 58 [court order curing deficiencies], or

(f) any other testamentary disposition except the following:

(i) a designation under Part 5 [Benefit Plans];

(ii) a designation of a beneficiary under Part 3 [Life Insurance] or Part 4 [Accident and Sickness Insurance] of the Insurance Act;

(iii) a testamentary disposition governed specifically by another enactment or law of British Columbia or of another jurisdiction in or outside Canada;

"will-maker" means a person who makes a will;

"will-maker's signature" includes a signature made by another person in the manner described in subsection (2).

(2) A reference to the signature of a will-maker includes a signature made by another person in the will-maker's presence and by the will-maker's direction, and the signature may be either the will-maker's name or the name of the person signing.

(3) If there is any conflict or inconsistency between this Act and the Trustee Act with respect to the powers, duties, functions or office of a personal representative, this Act prevails to the extent of the conflict or inconsistency.

Part 2 — Fundamental Rules

Division 1 — Meaning of Spouse, Effect of Adoption and
Construction of Instruments

When a person is a spouse under this Act

Effect of adoption

Construction of instruments

Division 2 — Survivorship Rules

Fundamental rule — when persons die simultaneously

General presumption — disposition of property on simultaneous deaths

General presumption — substitute personal representative

Posthumous births

Survival of beneficiaries

Five-day survival rule

10  (1) A person who does not survive a deceased person by 5 days, or a longer period provided in an instrument, is conclusively deemed to have died before the deceased person for all purposes affecting the estate of the deceased person or property of which the deceased person was competent to give by will to another.

(2) If 2 or more persons hold property as joint tenants, or with respect to a joint account, and

(a) in the case of 2 persons, it cannot be established that one of them survived the other by 5 days,

(i) one half of the property passes as if one person survived the other person by 5 days, and

(ii) one half of the property passes as if the other person referred to in subparagraph (i) had survived the first person referred to in subparagraph (i) by 5 days, and

(b) in the case of more than 2 persons, it cannot be established that at least one of them survived the others by 5 days, the property must be divided into as many equal shares as there are joint tenants or persons holding the joint account, and the shares must be distributed to those persons who would have been entitled to a share in the event that each of the persons had survived.

(3) This section does not apply to the appointment of a personal representative in a will.

(4) Nothing in this section affects the law of resulting trusts.

Priority of Insurance Act provisions

11  This Division does not apply to insurance money to which section 72 [simultaneous deaths] or 109 [simultaneous deaths] of the Insurance Act applies.

Division 3 — First Nations' Final Agreements

Definitions

12  In this Division:

"Nisga'a citizen" has the same meaning as in the Nisga'a Final Agreement;

"Nisga'a Final Agreement" has the same meaning as in the Nisga'a Final Agreement Act;

"Nisga'a law" has the same meaning as in the Nisga'a Final Agreement;

"Nisga'a Lisims Government" has the same meaning as in the Nisga'a Final Agreement.

Will or cultural property of Nisga'a citizens

Will or cultural property of treaty first nation members

14  (1) In this section, "cultural property", in relation to a treaty first nation, has the same meaning as in the final agreement of the treaty first nation.

(2) If the final agreement of a treaty first nation so provides, the treaty first nation may commence and may intervene in an action under this Act in respect of the will of a treaty first nation member of the treaty first nation that provides for the devolution of cultural property.

(3) If the final agreement of a treaty first nation so provides, in any judicial proceeding under this Act in which

(a) the validity or variation of the will of a treaty first nation member of that treaty first nation, or

(b) the devolution of cultural property of a treaty first nation member of the treaty first nation

is at issue, that treaty first nation has standing in the proceeding.

(4) In a proceeding described in subsection (2) or to which subsection (3) applies, the court must consider, among other matters, any evidence or representations in respect of the applicable treaty first nation's laws or customs dealing with the devolution of cultural property.

(5) The participation of a treaty first nation in a proceeding described in subsection (2) or to which subsection (3) applies must be in accordance with the applicable Rules of Court and does not affect the court's ability to control its process.

Notice of application for representation grant respecting
Nisga'a citizens and treaty first nation members

15  (1) If a deceased person was a Nisga'a citizen, an applicant for a grant of probate or administration in respect of the estate of the Nisga'a citizen must, in addition to giving notice under section 121 (1) [notice of proposed application for grant of probate or administration]

(a) mail or deliver a notice of the application to the Nisga'a Lisims Government, and

(b) if the deceased person left a will and the Nisga'a Lisims Government requests a copy of it within 30 days of receiving the notice under paragraph (a), mail or deliver a copy of the will to the Nisga'a Lisims Government.

(2) A court must not grant or reseal probate or administration in respect of the estate of a Nisga'a citizen unless the applicant or the applicant's lawyer, in addition to satisfying the requirements under subsection (1), certifies that he or she has

(a) mailed or delivered a notice of the application to the Nisga'a Lisims Government, and

(b) if the deceased Nisga'a citizen left a will and the Nisga'a Lisims Government requested a copy of it within 30 days of receiving the notice under subsection (1) (a), mailed or delivered a copy of the will to the Nisga'a Lisims Government.

(3) If the deceased person was a treaty first nation member, an applicant for a grant of probate or administration in respect of the estate of the treaty first nation member must, in addition to giving notice under section 121 (1) [notice of proposed application for grant of probate or administration]

(a) mail or deliver a notice of the application to the treaty first nation, and

(b) if the deceased treaty first nation member left a will and the treaty first nation requests a copy of it within 30 days of receiving the notice under paragraph (a), mail or deliver a copy of the will to the treaty first nation of which the deceased person was a member.

(4) If a treaty first nation has standing under section 14 (3) in a judicial proceeding, a court must not grant or reseal probate or administration in respect of the estate of a treaty first nation member of the treaty first nation unless the applicant or the applicant's lawyer, in addition to satisfying the requirements under subsection (3), certifies that he or she has

(a) mailed or delivered a notice of the application to the treaty first nation, and

(b) if the deceased treaty first nation member left a will and the treaty first nation requested a copy of it within 30 days of receiving the notice under subsection (3) (a), mailed or delivered a copy to the treaty first nation.

Service on Nisga'a Lisims Government or treaty first nation

16  An action in respect of the will of a Nisga'a citizen or a treaty first nation member must not be heard by the court at the instance of a party claiming the benefit of Division 6 of Part 4 [Wills] unless a copy of the writ of summons has been served on the Nisga'a Lisims Government or the treaty first nation, as applicable.

Nisga'a citizen leaving small estate

17  (1) If a deceased person was a Nisga'a citizen leaving a small estate and a will respecting all or part of the small estate, a person named in section 109 (2) [small estate — leaving a will] must give, in addition to the notice under section 109 (1) (a), notice to the Nisga'a government of the proposed filing of a small estate declaration.

(2) If a deceased person was a Nisga'a citizen leaving a small estate and no will, a person named in section 110 (2) [small estate — no will] must give, in addition to the notice under section 110 (1) (a), notice to the Nisga'a government of the proposed filing of a small estate declaration.

Treaty first nation member leaving small estate

18  (1) If a deceased person was a treaty first nation member leaving a small estate and a will respecting all or part of the small estate, a person named in section 109 (2) [small estate — leaving a will] must give, in addition to the notice under section 109 (1) (a), notice to the treaty first nation of the proposed filing of a small estate declaration.

(2) If a deceased person was a treaty first nation member leaving a small estate and no will, a person named in section 110 (2) [small estate — no will] must give, in addition to the notice under section 110 (1) (a), notice to the treaty first nation of the proposed filing of a small estate declaration.

Part 3 — When a Person Dies Without a Will

Uniform interpretation with laws of other provinces

Division 1 — Distribution of Estate When There is No Will

Spouse but no descendants

Spouse and descendants

Distribution if 2 or more spouses

No spouse but intestate leaving descendants or relatives

Distribution to descendants

Partial intestacy

Division 2 — Spousal Home

Right to spousal home

Notice by personal representative

Prohibition on disposing of spousal home

Notice exercising right to spousal home

Dispute over value of deceased person's interest

Purchase of spousal home by surviving spouse

Occupancy costs of spousal home

Retention of spousal home

Registrable charges

34  (1) A registrable charge becomes due and payable in the circumstances specified by the court, having regard to prevailing residential lending practices in Canada, but if none are specified, becomes due and payable on the earlier of

(a) twelve months after the date of death of the surviving spouse,

(b) twelve months after the date the surviving spouse ceases residing in the spousal home, or

(c) the completion date of the sale of the spousal home.

(2) If a registrable charge payable under subsection (1) is not paid, the owner of the registrable charge may take any action that a mortgagee of land under the prescribed standard mortgage terms under the Land Title Act may take.

(3) A registrable charge is not enforceable until a form approved by the Director of Land Titles accompanied by a certified copy of the court order under section 33 (2), in relation to the registrable charge, is registered under the Land Title Act.

(4) The owner of a registrable charge, on receipt of payment of the total amount secured by the registrable charge, must deliver to the registered owner of the spousal home or to that person's representative, a release of the registrable charge, in the form approved by the Director of Land Titles.

(5) A registrable charge may be released from the title to the spousal home by filing in a land title office

(a) a release of the registrable charge executed by the owner of the registrable charge in the form approved by the Director of Land Titles, or

(b) a certified copy of a court order releasing the registrable charge.

Circumstances when registrable charge becomes payable

35  (1) In this section, "charge" has the same meaning as in the Land Title Act.

(2) In addition to the circumstances described in section 34 (1), a registrable charge also becomes due and payable if the court, on application by or on behalf of the owner of the registrable charge, orders that it should become due and payable because of the following:

(a) the surviving spouse has not paid an amount required to be paid under or secured by a charge registered against the title of the spousal home in priority to the registrable charge;

(b) a tax or other charge is levied against the title of the spousal home and has not been paid, unless payment has been lawfully deferred;

(c) an action or failure to take action jeopardizes the value of the spousal home to such an extent that it no longer provides sufficient security for the total amount secured by the registrable charge;

(d) the provisions of the registrable charge have not been complied with or an event has occurred pursuant to those provisions by which the amount secured by the registrable charge becomes due and payable.

(3) If a registrable charge becomes payable by order of the court under subsection (2), the surviving spouse has a period of 180 days to sell his or her interest in the spousal home in order to pay, in full, the amount secured by the registrable charge.

(4) After 180 days the owner of the registrable charge may take any action in respect of the registrable charge that a mortgagee of land may take under the prescribed standard mortgage terms under the Land Title Act if the surviving spouse has not sold his or her interest in the spousal home or the owner of the registrable charge has not been paid.

(5) The owner of a registrable charge may, before or after it is registered in a land title office, postpone the priority of the registrable charge to other charges.

(6) The owner of a registrable charge may sell, assign or otherwise dispose of the registrable charge before or after it is registered in a land title office in a form approved by the Director of Land Titles.

(7) If the sale of a spousal home yields sale proceeds that are not sufficient to pay, in full, the amount secured by a registrable charge, the court may order the release of the registrable charge, but may not make any order to recover from the estate, the surviving spouse or the estate of the surviving spouse any shortfall resulting from the insufficiency of sale proceeds to pay the amount secured by the registrable charge.

Part 4 — Wills

Division 1 — Making a Will

Who can make a will

36  (1) A person who is 16 years of age or older and who is mentally capable of doing so may make a will.

(2) A will made by a person under 16 years of age is not valid.

How to make a valid will

Will by members of military forces

38  (1) A member of the Canadian Forces while placed on active service under the National Defence Act (Canada), or a member of the naval, land or air force of any member of the British Commonwealth of Nations or any ally of Canada while on active service may, regardless of his or her age, make a gift of property by will in writing, signed by the will-maker at its end or by some other person in the presence of and by the direction of the will-maker.

(2) If the will is signed by the will-maker, there is no need for a witness to be present to witness or to sign the will as a witness.

(3) If the will is signed by another person, the signature of that other person must be witnessed by the signature of at least one person, who must sign the will in the presence of the will-maker and of that other person.

Clarification of doubt about signature placement

39  (1) A will is conclusively deemed to be signed at its end if the signature of the will-maker is placed so that it is apparent on the face of the will that the will-maker intended to give effect to the will, including in, but not limited to, the following circumstances:

(a) the will-maker's signature is placed

(i) at or after the end of the will, or

(ii) following, under or beside the end of the will,

if it is apparent that the will-maker intended by his or her signature to give effect to the will;

(b) the will-maker's signature does not immediately follow the end of the will;

(c) a blank space intervenes between the concluding words of the will and the will-maker's signature;

(d) the will-maker's signature is placed among the words of a testimonium clause or of an attestation clause or follows or is after or under an attestation clause either with or without a blank space intervening, or follows or is after, under or beside the name of a witness who signed the will;

(e) the will-maker's signature is on a side or page or other portion of the will on which no disposing part of the will is written above the will-maker's signature;

(f) there appears to be sufficient space to contain the will-maker's signature on or at the bottom of the side or page or other portion of the same paper on which the will is written and preceding that on which the will-maker's signature appears.

(2) A will-maker's signature that conforms to this section does not give effect to

(a) a gift or direction in the will that follows the will-maker's signature, or

(b) a gift or direction inserted in the will after the will-maker signed the will.

Witnesses to wills

40  (1) Signing witnesses to a will-maker's signature must be 19 years of age or older.

(2) A person may witness a will even though he or she may receive a gift under it, but the gift may be void under section 43 [gifts to witnesses].

(3) A will is not invalid only because a witness was, at the time the will was signed by the will-maker, or afterwards became, legally incapable of proving the will.

Division 2 — Legal Effect of a Will

Property that can be gifted by will

41  (1) A person may, by will, make a gift of property to which he or she is entitled at law or in equity at the time of his or her death, including property acquired before, on or after the date the will is made.

(2) Unless a contrary intention appears in a will, when a will refers to property, the will, with respect to the property, is to be interpreted as if it had been made immediately before the death of the will-maker.

(3) A gift in a will

(a) takes effect according to its terms, and

(b) subject to the terms of the gift, gives to the recipient of the gift every legal or equitable interest in the property that the will-maker had the legal capacity to give.

Meaning of particular words in a will

Gifts to witnesses

43  (1) Unless a court otherwise declares under subsection (4), a gift in a will is void if it is to

(a) a witness to the will-maker's signature or to the spouse of that witness,

(b) a person signing the will by the will-maker's direction, or the spouse of the person signing, or

(c) a person claiming under a person referred to in paragraph (a) or (b).

(2) The relevant time for determining whether one person is the spouse of another is the time when the will was made.

(3) If a gift is void under subsection (1), the remainder of the will is not affected.

(4) On application, the court may declare that a gift to a person referred to in subsection (1) is not void and is to take effect, if the court is satisfied that the will-maker intended to make the gift to the person even though the person was a witness to the will.

(5) Extrinsic evidence is admissible for the purposes of establishing the will-maker's intention under subsection (4).

Residue of estate

44  If a will does not give or otherwise dispose of all of the will-maker's property, the property that is not the subject of a gift or otherwise disposed of in the will

(a) must be distributed to the persons who would be entitled if that property were an intestate estate, and

(b) if there is no person who would be entitled under paragraph (a), passes to the government and is subject to the Escheat Act.

Gift of land contemplating division

45  If a gift of land in a will to 2 or more beneficiaries contemplates a physical division of the parcel, by subdivision or otherwise, the gift takes effect as a gift to the beneficiaries as tenants in common in proportion to their interests, unless a contrary intention appears in the will.

When gifts cannot take effect

46  (1) If a gift in a will cannot take effect for any reason, including because a beneficiary dies before the will-maker, the property that is the subject of the gift must, subject to a contrary intention appearing in the will, be distributed according to the following priorities:

(a) to the alternative beneficiary of the gift, if any, named or described by the will-maker, whether the gift fails for a reason specifically contemplated by the will-maker or for any other reason;

(b) if the beneficiary was the brother, sister or a descendant of the will-maker, to their descendants, determined at the date of the will-maker's death, in accordance with section 42 (4) [meaning of particular words in a will];

(c) to the surviving residuary beneficiaries, if any, named in the will, in proportion to their interests.

(2) If a gift cannot take effect because a beneficiary dies before the will-maker, subsection (1) applies whether the beneficiary's death occurs before or after the will is made.

Property encumbered by security interest

47  (1) In this section, "purchase money security interest" means a security interest taken in land or in tangible personal property that

(a) secures credit, including interest charges, provided to the will-maker to acquire, improve or preserve the land or tangible property, and

(b) is registered under the Land Title Act or the Personal Property Security Act.

(2) The interest of a beneficiary in a gift of property encumbered by a purchase money security interest is, as between the different persons claiming through the will-maker, primarily liable to pay the debt secured by the purchase money security interest to the extent that the debt is attributable to the acquisition, improvement or preservation of the property.

(3) If a purchase money security interest applies to more than one gift of property in a will, each property is liable for payment of the purchase money security interest proportionally, to the extent that the debt is attributable to the acquisition, improvement or preservation of each property.

(4) Subsections (2) and (3) are subject to a contrary intention appearing in the will, but a contrary intention is not signified by

(a) a general direction in the will for the payment of debts, or

(b) a charge of debts on the will-maker's estate,

unless the will-maker further signifies that intention by words expressly or by necessary implication referring to all or some part of the debt secured by the purchase money security interest.

(5) Nothing in this section affects the right of a secured party to obtain payment or satisfaction either out of other property of the deceased person or otherwise.

Relief from disposition of property

48  (1) In this section, "proceeds" means the proceeds at the time of disposition, and includes

(a) non-monetary consideration, and

(b) in the case of a gift, the fair market value of the gift.

(2) If property that is the subject of a gift in a will is disposed of by a nominee the beneficiary of the gift is entitled to receive from the will-maker's estate an amount equivalent to the proceeds of the gift as if the will had contained a specific gift to the beneficiary of that amount.

(3) Subsection (2) does not apply if

(a) the disposition is made to carry out instructions given by the will-maker at a time when the will-maker was legally capable of giving instructions, or

(b) a contrary intention appears in the will.

Will exercising a power of appointment

49  A will made in accordance with this Act is, as to form, a valid execution of a power of appointment by will, even if it has been expressly required that a will in exercise of the power be made in some form other than that in which it is made.

Rules if assets are not sufficient

50  (1) This section is subject to a contrary intention appearing in a will.

(2) If a will-maker's estate is not sufficient to satisfy all debts and gifts, the debts and gifts must be satisfied or reduced in accordance with this section.

(3) Land charged by the will-maker with payment of debts or pecuniary gifts, or both, is primarily liable for the debts and gifts, despite a failure of the will-maker to expressly exonerate the personal property.

(4) Land and personal property must be reduced together.

(5) Subject to subsection (3), assets are reduced in the following order:

(a) property specifically charged with a debt or left on trust to pay a debt;

(b) property distributed as an intestate estate and residue;

(c) general, demonstrative and pecuniary legacies;

(d) specific legacies;

(e) property over which the will-maker had a general power of appointment.

Gifts of unowned property

51  (1) Subject to subsection (2),

(a) a gift of property that the will-maker does not own is void, and

(b) the rights of a beneficiary are not affected by the purported gift by the will-maker of property owned by the beneficiary.

(2) A will-maker may make a gift of property that is conditional on the disposition by the beneficiary of property owned by the beneficiary.

Undue influence

52  In an action, if a person claims that a will or any provision of it resulted from another person

(a) being in a position where the potential for dependence or domination of the will-maker was present, and

(b) using that position to unduly influence the will-maker to make the will or the provision of it that is challenged,

and establishes that the other person was in a position where the potential for dependence and domination of the will-maker was present, the party seeking to defend the will or the provision of it that is challenged or to uphold the gift has the onus of establishing that the person in the position where the potential for dependence and domination of the will-maker was present did not exercise undue influence over the will-maker with respect to the will or the provision of it that is challenged.

Division 3 — Abrogation of Common Law Rules

Common law presumptions abrogated

53  (1) The presumption of law that a gift by a will-maker made during his or her lifetime to a child of the will-maker or to a person to whom the will-maker stands in place of a parent is an advancement of a portion that is intended to revoke a gift in the will-maker's will in favour of the child or person is abrogated and the gift in the will takes effect according to its terms.

(2) The presumption of law that a legacy is revoked by a gift in the same amount as the legacy made by the will-maker during the will-maker's lifetime is abrogated and the legacy takes effect according to its terms.

(3) The presumption of law that a debt owed by a will-maker is satisfied by a legacy to the creditor equal to or greater than the debt is abrogated and the debt continues to be a claim against the will-maker's estate.

(4) The presumption of law that a binding promise by a person to make a gift to advance a child in life is satisfied to the extent of the benefit promised by a gift in the person's will to the child is abrogated and the promise remains binding on the person and the person's estate.

(5) The abrogation of a presumption set out in any of subsections (1) to (4) is subject to a contrary intention appearing in the will or otherwise and extrinsic evidence is admissible to prove the contrary intention.

Division 4 — Altering, Revoking and Reviving Wills

How to alter a will

54  (1) To make a valid alteration to a will the alteration must be made in the same way that a valid will is made under section 37 [how to make a valid will].

(2) An alteration to a will is valid if the signature of the will-maker to the alteration, and the witnesses to the signature of the will-maker, are made

(a) in the margin or in some other part of the will opposite to or near to the alteration, or

(b) at the end of or opposite to a memorandum referring to the alteration and written in some part of the will.

(3) An alteration to a will that is not made by the will-maker in accordance with this section is ineffective

(a) except to invalidate words or meanings that the alteration makes illegible, unless the court reinstates the illegible words under section 58 (4) [court order curing deficiencies], or

(b) unless the court orders the alteration to be effective under section 58.

How to revoke a will

55  (1) A will or part of a will is revoked only in one or more of the following circumstances:

(a) by another will made by the will-maker in accordance with this Act;

(b) by a written declaration of the will-maker that revokes all or part of a will made in accordance with section 37 [how to make a valid will];

(c) by the will-maker, or a person in the presence of the will-maker and by the will-maker's direction, burning, tearing or destroying all or part of the will in some manner with the intention of revoking all or part of it;

(d) by an order of the court under section 58 [court order curing deficiencies], if the court determines that the consequence of the act of burning, tearing or destroying all or part of the will in some manner is apparent on the face of the will, and the will-maker intended to revoke all or part of the will.

(2) A will is not revoked in whole or in part by presuming an intention to revoke it because of a change in circumstances.

Revocation of gifts

56  (1) This section is subject to a contrary intention appearing in a will.

(2) If a will-maker

(a) makes a gift to a person who was or becomes the spouse of the will-maker,

(b) appoints as executor or trustee a person who was or becomes the spouse of the will-maker, or

(c) confers a general or special power of appointment on a person who was or becomes the spouse of the will-maker,

and after the will is made and before the will-maker's death, the will-maker and his or her spouse cease to be spouses under section 2 (2) [when a person is a spouse under this Act], the gift, appointment or power of appointment is revoked and the gift must be distributed as if the spouse had died before the will-maker.

(3) The operation of subsection (2) is not affected by a subsequent reconciliation of the will-maker and the spouse.

(4) For the purposes of subsection (2), the relevant time for determining whether a person

(a) was the spouse of a will-maker is at the time the will was made, or

(b) became the spouse of the will-maker is at any time after the will was made and before the spouses ceased to be spouses under section 2 (2).

Revival of a will

57  (1) A will or part of a will that has been revoked is revived only by a will that shows an intention to give effect to the revoked will or the part that was revoked.

(2) Unless a contrary intention appears in the will that revives a will under subsection (1), if a will that has been partly revoked and afterwards wholly revoked is revived, the revival does not extend to the part that was revoked before the revocation of the whole.

(3) If a will has been revived by a codicil or has, by a codicil, been re-signed in the presence of 2 witnesses, the will is deemed to have been made at the time it was revived or re-signed.

(4) A will or part of a will that has been revoked may not be revived except

(a) by an order of the court under section 58 if the court is satisfied that the will-maker intended to give effect to a will or part of a will that was revoked, or

(b) in accordance with any other provision of this Act that recognizes the revival of a will.

Division 5 — Curing Deficiencies and Rectification of Wills

Court order curing deficiencies

58  (1) In this section, "record" includes data that

(a) is recorded or stored electronically,

(b) can be read by a person, and

(c) is capable of reproduction in a visible form.

(2) On application, the court may make an order under subsection (3) if the court determines that a record, document or writing or marking on a will or document represents

(a) the testamentary intentions of a deceased person,

(b) the intention of a deceased person to revoke, alter or revive a will or testamentary disposition of the deceased person, or

(c) the intention of a deceased person to revoke, alter or revive a testamentary disposition contained in a document other than a will.

(3) Even though the making, alteration or revival of a will does not comply with this Act, the court may, as the circumstances require, order that a record, document or writing or marking on a will or document be fully effective as though it had been made

(a) as the will or part of the will of the deceased person,

(b) as an alteration, revocation or revival of a will of the deceased person, or

(c) as the testamentary intention of the deceased person.

(4) If an alteration to a will makes a word or provision illegible and the court is satisfied that the alteration was not made in accordance with this Act, the court may reinstate the original word or provision if there is evidence to establish what the original word or provision was.

Rectification of a will

59  (1) On application, the court, sitting as a court of construction or as a court of probate, may order that a will be rectified if the court determines that the will fails to carry out the will-maker's intentions because of

(a) an error arising from an accidental slip or omission,

(b) a misunderstanding of the will-maker's instructions, or

(c) a failure to carry out the will-maker's instructions.

(2) Extrinsic evidence, including evidence of the will-maker's intent, is admissible to prove the existence of a circumstance described in subsection (1).

(3) An application for rectification of a will must be made no later than 180 days from the date the representation grant is issued unless the court grants leave to make an application after that date.

(4) If the court grants leave to make an application after 180 days from the date the representation grant is issued, a personal representative who distributed any part of the estate to which entitlement is subsequently affected by rectification is not liable if, in reasonable reliance on the will, the distribution was made

(a) after 180 days from the date the representation grant is issued, and

(b) before the notice of the leave application is delivered to the personal representative.

(5) Subsection (4) does not affect the right of any person to recover from a beneficiary any part of the estate distributed in the circumstances described in that subsection.

Division 6 — Variation of Wills

Maintenance from estate

60  Despite any law or enactment to the contrary, if a will-maker dies leaving a will that does not, in the court's opinion, make adequate provision for the proper maintenance and support of the will-maker's spouse or children, the court may, in an action by or on behalf of the spouse or children, order that the provision that it thinks adequate, just and equitable in the circumstances be made out of the will-maker's estate for the spouse or children.

Time limit and service

61  (1) An action commenced by a person claiming the benefit of this Division must not be heard by the court unless

(a) the action is commenced within 180 days from the date the representation grant is issued in British Columbia,

(b) a copy of the writ of summons has been served on the executor of the will no later than 30 days after the expiry of the 180 day period referred to in paragraph (a) unless the court, before or after the expiration of the 30 days, extends the time for service, and

(c) if there are minor children of the will-maker, or if the spouse or a child of the will-maker is mentally incapable, a copy of the writ of summons has been served on the Public Guardian and Trustee.

(2) An action in respect of the will of a Nisga'a citizen or a treaty first nation member must not be heard by the court at the instance of a party claiming the benefit of this Division unless a copy of the writ of summons has been served on the Nisga'a Lisims Government or the treaty first nation, as applicable.

(3) If the Public Guardian and Trustee is served with a copy of the writ of summons under subsection (1), the Public Guardian and Trustee is entitled to appear, to be heard and to any costs that the court orders.

(4) If an action has been commenced on behalf of a person under this Division, it may be treated by the court as, and so far as regards the question of limitation is conclusively deemed to be, an action on behalf of all persons who might apply.

(5) Within 10 days from the date of the issue of the writ of summons, a plaintiff in an action under this Division may register a certificate of pending litigation in a form approved under the Land Title Act against the land sought to be affected in the land title office in which the title to the land is registered.

Evidence

62  (1) In an action under section 60 the court may accept the evidence it considers proper of the will-maker's reasons, so far as may be determined,

(a) for making the gifts made in the will, or

(b) for not making adequate provision for the will-maker's spouse or children,

including any written statement signed by the will-maker.

(2) In estimating the weight to be given to a statement referred to in subsection (1), the court must have regard to all the circumstances from which an inference may reasonably be drawn about the accuracy or otherwise of the statement.

Court may make order subject to conditions

63  The court may

(a) attach any conditions to an order under this Division that it thinks appropriate, or

(b) refuse to make an order in favour of a person whose character or conduct, in the court's opinion, disentitles the person to the benefit of an order under this Division.

Lump sum or periodic payments or trust

64  In making an order under this Division the court may, if it thinks it is appropriate, order that

(a) the provision for the will-maker's spouse or children is to consist of a lump sum, a periodic or other payment or a transfer of property, or

(b) a trust be created in favour of the will-maker's spouse.

Payments fall rateably on estate

65  (1) Unless the court otherwise determines, the incidence of the payments ordered by the court under this Division falls rateably on the will-maker's estate.

(2) If the authority of the court does not extend or cannot, directly or indirectly, be made to extend to the whole estate, subsection (1) applies to as much of the estate as is located in British Columbia.

Power to suspend administration and exempt from order

66  The court may, subject to any terms or conditions the court considers appropriate, make the following order:

(a) suspending, in whole or in part, the administration of the will-maker's estate;

(b) exempting any part of the will-maker's estate from the effect of an order under section 60 [maintenance from estate].

Power of court to allow commutation

67  (1) The court may make an order that a periodic payment or lump sum is to be paid by a beneficiary to represent, or in commutation of, the proportion of the sum ordered to be paid that falls on the part of the estate in which the beneficiary is interested, and that the part is released from further liability.

(2) In making an order under subsection (1), the court may give directions concerning the security and disposition of the periodic payment or lump sum under subsection (1).

Effect of order

68  On an order being made under this Division, the part of the estate comprised in it or affected by it must be held subject to the provisions of the order, but the order does not bind land unless the order is registered as a charge against the land affected in the land title office in which the title to the land is registered.

Registration of title

69  (1) Title to property distributed by gift in a will to a beneficiary must not be registered in a land title office except after the time set out in section 155 [distribution of estate] unless

(a) the beneficiaries entitled under the will consent to the registration, or

(b) a court approves the registration.

(2) A registration under subsection (1) is subject to the liability of being subject to an order under this Division.

Mortgage in anticipation of order invalid

70  (1) A person for whom provision is made under this Division must not anticipate that provision.

(2) A mortgage, charge or assignment of any kind of or over a provision referred to in subsection (1) is of no effect if it is made before the order of the court is made.

(3) A mortgage, charge or assignment made after an order of the court referred to in subsection (1) is made is of no effect unless it is made with the court's permission.

Court may cancel or vary order

71  If the court has made an order under section 60 [maintenance from estate], the court may

(a) inquire whether, at any subsequent date, changes in the circumstances of the person in whose favour the order was made have resulted, in whole or in part, in the person's entitlement to adequate provision separate from the order, and

(b) cancel, vary or suspend its order, or make another order.

Appeal to Court of Appeal

72  A person who considers himself or herself prejudicially affected by an order under this Division may appeal to the Court of Appeal.

Division 7 — Registration of Notice of Will

Filing of notice of will

73  If a person makes a will, a notice of the will may be filed with the chief executive officer in a form satisfactory to the chief executive officer.

Filing of notice of revocation

74  If a will is revoked, whether or not a notice was filed under section 73, a notice of revocation in a form satisfactory to the chief executive officer may be filed with the chief executive officer.

Filing notice of change of place of will

75  If a notice has been filed under section 73 and the will is no longer located at the place mentioned in the notice, notice of the change in a form satisfactory to the chief executive officer may be filed with the chief executive officer.

Chief executive officer's records

76  The chief executive officer must maintain, in a system that the chief executive officer believes facilitates access to information by those who require it, a record of every notice filed under this Division.

Search of records

77  (1) A lawyer or a member of the Society of Notaries Public of British Columbia may, on application in a form satisfactory to the chief executive officer, ascertain from the chief executive officer whether or not a notice has been filed under this Division.

(2) A person other than a lawyer or a member of the Society of Notaries Public of British Columbia may, on written application accompanied either by a certificate of the death of the person named in the application or by a statutory declaration proving to the satisfaction of the chief executive officer that the person named in the application has died, ascertain from the chief executive officer if the person named in the application has filed a notice under this Division.

(3) The chief executive officer must

(a) issue to an applicant under subsection (1) or (2) a certificate in duplicate showing the contents of all notices filed that are relevant to the application, and

(b) permit the applicant, or the agent of the applicant, to inspect the notices.

(4) The chief executive officer may provide a lawyer or member of the Society of Notaries Public of British Columbia who is an applicant under subsection (1) with

(a) a copy of a notice filed under this Division, or

(b) access by computer or otherwise to information contained in a notice filed under this Division.

(5) Except as provided in this section, the chief executive officer must not provide to any person information regarding notices filed under this Division or information about whether or not a notice has been filed.

Validity of will or revocation not affected

78  The validity of a will and the validity of a revocation of a will is not affected by filing or not filing a notice under this Division.

Division 8 — Conflict of Laws

Interpretation

79  (1) In this Division, a reference to the law of a place other than British Columbia is a reference to the internal law only of that place and does not include its conflict of laws rules.

(2) A requirement of the law of a place other than British Columbia that

(a) certain formalities must be observed by will-makers of a particular description when making a will, or

(b) witnesses to wills must have certain qualifications

is a formal requirement only that does not affect the essential validity of the will.

Validity of wills made in accordance with other laws

80  1) A will is valid as to the formal requirements for making the will and is admissible to probate if it is made in accordance

(a) with the law of the place where the will is made,

(b) with the law of the will-maker's domicile, either at the date the will is made or at the date of the will-maker's death,

(c) with the law of the will-maker's ordinary residence, either at the date the will is made or at the date of the will-maker's death,

(d) with the law of a country of which the will-maker was a citizen, either at the date the will is made or at the date of the will-maker's death,

(e) with the law of British Columbia, but the will is made outside British Columbia,

(f) with the law of the place where the will-maker's property is situated at the date the will is made or at the date of the will-maker's death,

(g) in the case of a will made on board a vessel or aircraft of any description, with the law of the place with which, having regard to the registration, if any, of a vessel or aircraft, the vessel or aircraft is most closely connected, or

(h) to the extent that the will exercises a power of appointment, with the law governing the essential validity of that power.

(2) If a will is not valid under subsection (1), it is deemed to be valid if a subsequent amendment to the law of the relevant jurisdiction before the deceased person's death would have validated the will.

(3) The formal validity of a will that revokes

(a) a will that would be treated as formally valid under this Division, or

(b) a provision of a will that would be treated under this Division as a formally valid provision,

may be determined by reference to any law under which the revoked will or provision of the will would be treated as formally valid and that is relevant for that purpose under this Division.

Resort to other aids to construction

81  In the construction of a will to which this Division applies, the court may resort to the law of the place where the will-maker was domiciled or was ordinarily resident at the time the will was made.

Interest in an immovable

82  (1) If the value of personal property consists mainly or wholly in its use in connection with an interest in an immovable by the owner or occupier of the personal property, the right to an interest in the personal property under a will is governed by the law of the place where the immovable is located.

(2) In subsection (1), "interest in an immovable" includes any estate or interest in land whether the estate or interest is real property or personal property, and includes a leasehold estate.

Division 9 — Adoption of Convention Providing a Uniform Law
on the Form of an International Will

Convention adopted

83  (1) In this section, "convention" means the Convention Providing a Uniform Law on the Form of an International Will set out in Schedule 2 to this Act.

(2) The convention

(a) is in force in British Columbia, and

(b) applies to wills as law of British Columbia, and the rules regarding an international will, set out in the Annex to the convention, are law in British Columbia 6 months after the date on which the government of Canada submits to the government of the United States of America a declaration that the convention extends to British Columbia.

(3) The following are persons authorized to act in connection with an international will:

(a) lawyers;

(b) members of the Society of Notaries Public of British Columbia.

(4) Nothing in this section detracts from or affects the validity of a will that is valid under the laws in force in British Columbia other than this section.

(5) Section 58 [court order curing deficiencies] applies to a will purporting to be signed or witnessed, or both, in accordance with the convention.

(6) This section applies to wills made before, on or after the date this section comes into force if the will-maker has not died before that date.

(7) The minister must publish in the Gazette a notice setting out the date that is the effective date for this section as soon as the date that is 6 months after the date on which the government of Canada submits the declaration under subsection (1) is determined.

Part 5 — Benefit Plans

Application of Part

84  (1) This Part applies whether or not a benefit plan gives a person entitled to a benefit under the plan the right to make a designation.

(2) If a benefit plan provision is inconsistent with this Part, this Part prevails unless the benefit plan provision that is inconsistent is authorized under another enactment of British Columbia or Canada.

(3) This Part does not apply to a contract of insurance or to a declaration to which Part 3 [Life Insurance] or Part 4 [Accident and Sickness Insurance] of the Insurance Act applies.

(4) If this Part conflicts or is inconsistent with another enactment of British Columbia or Canada, the other enactment prevails.

Division 1 — Designation Requirements

Designated beneficiaries

85  (1) A person entitled to a benefit under a benefit plan may

(a) designate another person or persons to whom or for whose advantage the benefit is payable as a designated beneficiary, and

(b) unless the designation is irrevocable under section 87, alter or revoke the designation.

(2) A designation under this section

(a) is only effective, and if the designation can be altered or revoked is only effective to alter or revoke the designation, if the designation

(i) is in writing, and

(ii) is signed by the person making it, or by another person in the presence of the person making it and by his or her direction, and the signature may be in the name of the person making it or the person signing,

(b) may be made in a will, but if it is,

(i) the designation is only effective if it relates expressly to a benefit plan, either generally or specifically, and

(ii) Division 3 [Designated Beneficiaries in a Will] of this Part applies to the designation, and

(c) is subject to section 89 [when designations may not be changed].

(3) A person granted power over financial affairs under

(a) section 8 of the Power of Attorney Act, or

(b) a committee acting under the Patients Property Act

may make a designation under this section only if expressly authorized to do so by the court and the designation is not made in a will.

Several designated beneficiaries

86  If 2 or more designated beneficiaries are designated other than alternatively, but no division is made of the benefit payable under the benefit plan on the participant's death, the benefit is payable to the designated beneficiaries in equal shares.

Irrevocable designations

87  (1) A participant may make an irrevocable designation.

(2) An irrevocable designation has effect as an irrevocable designation only if, during the lifetime of the participant, it is filed with an office in Canada specified for that purpose by the benefit plan administrator.

(3) If a person

(a) makes an irrevocable designation by will, or

(b) makes an irrevocable designation that is not filed in accordance with subsection (2),

the designation takes effect as a revocable designation.

Effect of irrevocable designation

88  (1) While a designated beneficiary of an irrevocable designation is living, the participant may not alter or revoke the designation without the consent of the designated beneficiary.

(2) A benefit that is the subject of an irrevocable designation

(a) is not subject to the control of the participant or the participant's creditors, and

(b) does not form part of the participant's estate.

Division 2 — Other Benefit Plan Provisions

When designations may not be changed

89  If the amount or duration of a payment under a benefit plan is determined having regard to the person entitled to a benefit under a benefit plan, unless otherwise permitted under the terms of the plan, the person or persons named as designated beneficiary or designated beneficiaries may not be changed after the payments start.

Maintaining previous designations

90  (1) Subject to subsection (2), a new designation of the same designated beneficiary may be made, other than by a will, by a nominee.

(2) Subsection (1) operates only if the designation renews, replaces or converts a similar instrument made by the participant while capable.

(3) If a benefit plan administrator acts in accordance with a new designation described in subsection (1), the benefit plan administrator is entitled to rely on that designation and is discharged in respect of that benefit.

Designated beneficiary dying before participant

91  If a designated beneficiary dies before the participant, and no disposition of the share of the deceased designated beneficiary is provided for in the designation, the share is payable

(a) to the surviving designated beneficiary,

(b) if there is more than one surviving designated beneficiary, to the surviving designated beneficiaries in equal shares, or

(c) if there is no surviving designated beneficiary, to the participant's personal representative.

Trustee for designated beneficiary

92  (1) A participant may, in the same manner as a designation, appoint or alter or revoke the appointment of a trustee for a designated beneficiary.

(2) A payment made by a benefit plan to the trustee for a designated beneficiary discharges the benefit plan administrator to the extent of the payment.

Enforcing payment of benefit

93  (1) If a designation is in effect when a participant dies, a designated beneficiary or trustee entitled to a benefit under the designation may enforce payment of the benefit.

(2) A benefit plan administrator may set up any defence that would have been available had the claim to enforce payment been brought by the participant or the participant's personal representative.

Benefit plan administrator discharged of liability

94  If a benefit plan administrator transfers a benefit in accordance with the benefit plan to a designated beneficiary or to the trustee appointed under section 92, the benefit plan administrator is discharged in respect of that benefit even if the benefit plan administrator later receives a notice of change of designated beneficiary.

Benefit not part of estate

95  A benefit payable to a designated beneficiary or to a trustee appointed under section 92 [trustee for designated beneficiary] under a benefit plan on the death of a participant does not form part of the participant's estate and is not subject to the claims of the participant's creditors.

Division 3 — Designated Beneficiaries in a Will

Alteration or revocation of designation in will

96  A designation in a will may be altered or revoked by a later designation that is not in a will.

Designation in will

97  (1) A revocation in a will of a designation revokes a designation that is not in a will only if the revocation in the will relates to the designation, either generally or specifically, and the revocation is not irrevocable.

(2) The revocation of a will revokes a designation in the will.

(3) Revocation of a designation does not revive an earlier designation.

Effect of designation in purported wills

98  (1) A designation or revocation of a designation contained in a purported will is not invalid merely because the instrument is invalid as a will.

(2) A designation in a purported will is revoked by an event that would have the effect of revoking the instrument if it had been a valid will.

Effect of revival of will on designation

99  Revival of a will by codicil does not revive a revoked designation in a will unless the codicil expressly provides for revival.

Effective date of designation and revocation

100  Unless a designation is irrevocable, a designation or revocation of a designation in a will is effective from the time the will is made.

Part 6 — Administration of Estates

Division 1 — Application of this Part and Vesting of Property

Application

101  This Part applies to the following:

(a) a personal representative or other person acting or intending to act in British Columbia under a will or a representation grant, wherever the will is made or the representation grant is issued;

(b) the administration of the estate of a deceased person who was ordinarily resident or domiciled in British Columbia at the date of the person's death;

(c) the estate situated in British Columbia of a deceased person who was not ordinarily resident or domiciled in British Columbia at the date of the person's death.

Vesting of property on death

102  (1) On the death of a person, the deceased person's estate vests in the court if

(a) the estate is an intestate estate, or

(b) an executor is not named in the deceased person's will.

(2) The estate of a deceased person vests in the person's personal representative when the personal representative assumes or is appointed to that office.

Administration pending legal proceedings

103  (1) The court may appoint a person as the administrator of the estate of a deceased person pending a proceeding

(a) in which the validity of the will of the deceased person is in issue, or

(b) to obtain or revoke a representation grant.

(2) The administrator of an estate

(a) has all the rights, powers and duties of a personal representative, other than the right to distribute the estate,

(b) is subject to the control of the court and must act under its direction, and

(c) is entitled to reasonable compensation under the Trustee Act or as otherwise determined by the court.

Renunciation of executorship

104  (1) A person named as executor in a will may renounce his or her appointment as executor.

(2) The renunciation of executorship, unless a court otherwise orders, terminates the executorship of the person renouncing it, and the administration of the estate passes as if the person had never been appointed executor.

Forfeiture of executorship

105  If an executor

(a) survives the will-maker and dies without being granted probate, or

(b) is required to take probate and does not appear,

the appointment of the executor terminates and the administration of the estate passes as if the person had not been appointed as executor.

Opposition to issue of representation grant

106  A person may, in accordance with the Rules of Court, oppose the issue of a representation grant.

Executor not joining an application

107  If an executor does not join an application for a grant of probate or administration with will annexed, the executor is not liable in respect of assets of the estate coming into the hands of a co-executor, an alternative executor, an administrator with will annexed or a declarant named in the representation grant, whether or not power is reserved to the executor to apply for a subsequent representation grant.

Requirement to accept executorship or to explain

108  If an executor named in a will does not apply for probate of a will, any person interested in the estate may, in accordance with the Rules of Court, require the executor to

(a) accept or renounce probate of the will, or

(b) explain why administration of the deceased person's estate should not be granted to the executor and why executorship should not be granted to another person who is willing to act as executor.

Division 2 — Small Estate Administration

Small estate — leaving a will

109  (1) If a person dies leaving a small estate and a will respecting all or part of the estate, a person referred to in subsection (2) becomes the personal representative of the deceased person by

(a) giving notice, in accordance with the Rules of Court, of the proposed filing of a small estate declaration, and

(b) filing a prescribed small estate declaration with a registrar of the court, accompanied by prescribed documents.

(2) Only the following persons may file a small estate declaration under subsection (1):

(a) the executor named in the will;

(b) if no executor is named in the will, or if the executor named in the will has renounced executorship or has died, or if there is no executor who is mentally capable of making the small estate declaration

(i) a beneficiary under the will, or

(ii) any other person, with the written consent of every beneficiary, and in the case of a partial intestacy, with the written consent of every beneficiary and every intestate successor;

(c) the Public Guardian and Trustee, whether or not a small estate declaration could be filed by a person referred to in paragraph (a) or (b) of this subsection.

Small estate — no will

110  (1) If a person dies leaving a small estate and no will, a person referred to in subsection (2) becomes the personal representative of the deceased person by

(a) giving notice, in accordance with the Rules of Court, of the proposed filing of a small estate declaration, and

(b) filing a prescribed small estate declaration with a registrar of the court, accompanied by prescribed documents.

(2) Only the following persons may file the small estate declaration under subsection (1):

(a) the surviving spouse of the deceased person;

(b) if there is no spouse, or with the written consent of the spouse, an intestate successor;

(c) any other person, with the written consent of every intestate successor;

(d) the Public Guardian and Trustee, whether or not a small estate declaration could be filed by a person referred to in paragraphs (a), (b) or (c) of this subsection.

No security

111  A declarant is not required to provide security for the administration of a small estate.

Prohibitions on filing small estate declaration

112  (1) A declarant must not, in respect of the estate of a deceased person, file a small estate declaration with a registrar of the court

(a) within 21 days of the date of the deceased person's death,

(b) within 10 days of the date the notices of the proposed filing of the small estate declaration are given,

(c) if a grant of probate or administration of the estate of the deceased person has been issued in British Columbia, and has not been revoked,

(d) if an application is pending in British Columbia for a grant of probate or administration of the deceased person's estate,

(e) if a small estate declaration has already been filed with a registrar of the court with respect to the deceased person's estate, or

(f) if the issue of a representation grant has been opposed and a record of the opposition has been filed with a registrar of the court and is in effect.

(2) A declarant, other than the Public Guardian and Trustee, must not file a small estate declaration with a registrar of the court if the declarant knows neither the whereabouts nor the address of the person to whom notice of the proposed filing of the small estate declaration must be given.

(3) A small estate declaration that is filed contrary to subsection (1) is of no effect and the declarant must promptly return the declaration to the registrar of the court with which it was filed under section 109 (1) (b) [small estate — leaving a will] or 110 (1) (b) [small estate — no will].

Effect of filing small estate declaration

113  On filing a small estate declaration with a registrar of the court, the declarant becomes the personal representative of the deceased person.

Supplementary declaration

114  (1) Subject to subsection (2) and to section 115, if after filing a small estate declaration the declarant becomes aware that the small estate declaration is inaccurate or deficient, the declarant must file with the registrar of the court with which the small estate declaration was filed under section 109 (1) (b) or 110 (1) (b) a prescribed supplementary statutory declaration correcting the error or deficiency.

(2) A supplementary statutory declaration referred to in subsection (1) does not need to be filed only to list an additional asset or combination of assets if

(a) the asset or the combination of assets has a value of less than a prescribed amount, and

(b) the declarant was not aware of the asset or the combination of assets when the small estate declaration was filed.

Termination of authority if small estate value exceeded

115  (1) Unless the court otherwise orders, the authority of a declarant to administer a small estate that is the subject of a small estate declaration terminates, except for the purpose of preserving the estate, if, after the declarant files a small estate declaration,

(a) land, as defined in subsection (2), is found to be part of the estate,

(b) personal property is discovered to be part of the estate and its value, when combined with the value of the estate disclosed in the small estate declaration, results in an estate of a value greater than the amount prescribed for small estates, or

(c) the fair market value of the personal property disclosed in the small estate declaration is found to have been greater, at the time of the deceased person's death, than the amount prescribed for a small estate.

(2) In subsection (1), "land" does not include a manufactured home situated on land not owned by the owner of the manufactured home unless an agreement that the manufactured home is part of the land has been filed in accordance with section 23 (2) [manufactured home on rented pad] of the Manufactured Home Act.

(3) In any of the circumstances set out in subsection (1), the declarant must promptly return the small estate declaration to the registrar of the court with which it was filed under section 109 (1) (b) or 110 (1) (b).

(4) An application to the court under this section must be filed with the registrar of the court with which the small estate declaration was filed under section 109 (1) (b) or 110 (1) (b).

Termination by court

116  (1) The court may, on application by a person interested in a small estate or by the Public Guardian and Trustee, terminate the authority of the declarant on the same grounds as are specified in section 158 [application to remove or pass over personal representative].

(2) If the court terminates the authority of the declarant under subsection (1), the declarant must promptly return the small estate declaration to the registrar of the court with which it was filed under section 109 (1) (b) or 110 (1) (b).

(3) An application under subsection (1) must be filed with the registrar of the court with which the small estate declaration was filed under section 109 (1) (b) or 110 (1) (b).

Protecting good faith administration

117  If

(a) a small estate declaration is filed contrary to section 112 [prohibitions on filing small estate declaration],

(b) a declarant's authority is terminated under section 115, or

(c) a declarant's authority is terminated by the court under section 116,

nothing affects the validity of anything done in good faith by the declarant in relation to the small estate before the declarant became or ought to have become aware of the facts referred to in section 115 (1) (a), (b) or (c) or before the declarant's authority is terminated by the court.

Declarant's accounts

118  (1) The declarant of a small estate must

(a) keep a written account of all receipts and disbursements relating to the administration of the small estate, and

(b) on the request of a beneficiary or an intestate successor in relation to the small estate disclose the account to that person.

(2) If a declarant does not keep or disclose an account in accordance with subsection (1), a beneficiary or intestate successor may apply under the Trustee Act for an order requiring the declarant to pass and disclose accounts in the same manner as an executor, administrator or trustee.

(3) Section 99 of the Trustee Act does not apply to a declarant unless an application is made under subsection (2) of this section.

Offence and penalty

119  A declarant who

(a) files a false small estate declaration that is intentionally inaccurate, misleading or incorrect,

(b) files with a registrar of the court a small estate declaration the declarant knows or reasonably ought to know is contrary to section 112 [prohibitions on filing small estate declaration],

(c) conceals, converts or otherwise misappropriates property belonging to the estate of a deceased person in respect of whose estate a small estate declaration is filed, or

(d) does not return a small estate declaration in accordance with section 112 (3), 115 (3) or 116 (2)

commits an offence and is liable to a fine of a prescribed amount not exceeding $20 000 or to imprisonment for not more than 12 months, or to both.

Civil remedies preserved

120  Nothing in this Part detracts from any civil or other remedy at law that a declarant may have against another person or that another person may have against a declarant.

Division 3 — Application for Grant of Probate or Administration

Notice of proposed application for grant of probate or administration

121  (1) An applicant for a grant of probate or administration must give notice of the proposed application to the persons referred to in the Rules of Court.

(2) An applicant or personal representative who, in accordance with the Rules of Court, makes reasonable efforts to discover the existence, identity or whereabouts of persons to whom the notice under subsection (1) is required to be given, but is unsuccessful, is not liable for any loss or damage arising from not giving the required notice except for claims

(a) to recover property or enforce an order, or

(b) under Division 6 of Part 4 [Wills].

Application for probate or administration — disclosure

122  (1) An applicant for a grant of probate or administration must

(a) make a diligent search and inquiry to find the property and liabilities of the deceased person, and

(b) disclose information as required under the Rules of Court concerning the property of the deceased person, irrespective of its nature, location or value, that passes to the applicant in his or her capacity as the deceased person's personal representative, unless

(i) the deceased person was not domiciled or ordinarily resident in British Columbia at the time of death,

(ii) the property or liability is situated outside British Columbia, and

(iii) the property or liability has been, is being, or will be administered by a foreign personal representative or otherwise under the law of a foreign jurisdiction.

(2) For the purposes of subsection (1), "foreign personal representative" may include the applicant.

(3) The applicant for a grant of probate or administration must file with a registrar of the court a prescribed form with respect to complying with the requirements of this section.

Production of documents and property

123  (1) The court may order a person having control or possession of the following to produce and bring all or any of them to the court or place directed by the court:

(a) a testamentary instrument or purported testamentary instrument, including a record as defined in section 58 (1) [court order curing deficiencies];

(b) a document relating to an estate;

(c) property belonging to an estate;

(d) a representation grant.

(2) If there are reasonable grounds to believe that a person has knowledge of anything referred to in paragraphs (a) to (d) of subsection (1), the court may order the person to attend for examination.

Opportunity for Public Guardian and Trustee to comment

124  (1) If the Public Guardian and Trustee has, in accordance with the Rules of Court, been given notice of an application for grant of probate or administration, the court must not issue the grant of probate or administration unless

(a) the applicant provides to the court the written comments of the Public Guardian and Trustee, or

(b) the court is satisfied, in an additional application made with reasonable notice to the Public Guardian and Trustee, that it is necessary or appropriate to issue the grant before the Public Guardian and Trustee gives written comments.

(2) The applicant must, with respect to an application for grant of probate or administration under subsection (1), provide a copy of the grant of probate or administration to the Public Guardian and Trustee within 45 days after it is issued.

Direction by Public Guardian and Trustee — sealed applications

125  (1) The Public Guardian and Trustee may, whenever the Public Guardian and Trustee considers it appropriate to do so, direct that an application by the Public Guardian and Trustee for grant of probate or administration be sealed by a registrar of the court.

(2) On receipt of a direction under subsection (1), the registrar of the court must

(a) seal the court file respecting the application and related material specified by the Public Guardian and Trustee, and

(b) prohibit access to the file except as permitted

(i) by the Public Guardian and Trustee, or

(ii) by the court.

(3) The sealing of a court file under subsection (2) does not prohibit the disclosure that there is an application for grant of probate or administration or the date of death of the deceased person.

(4) An application and file to which this section relates must be sealed and remain confidential for 180 days from the date the application was filed with the registrar of the court, unless the Public Guardian and Trustee or the court authorizes all or part of the court file to be disclosed.

(5) A person may apply to unseal a file that has been sealed under subsection (2) and must give notice of the application to the Public Guardian and Trustee in order to provide the Public Guardian and Trustee with the opportunity to make submissions on the application.

(6) The court may, on application by the Public Guardian and Trustee, direct that a file to which this section applies remain sealed for one or more additional periods not exceeding in total 18 months.

(7) A person who, without the consent of the Public Guardian and Trustee or the court, knowingly discloses any information that the person knows or reasonably ought to know is information in a sealed file, commits an offence and is liable to a fine of not more than $10 000 or to imprisonment for not more than 12 months, or to both.

(8) This section applies despite any enactment to the contrary.

Public Guardian and Trustee to pay beneficiaries and intestate successors directly

126  (1) The Public Guardian and Trustee must distribute an estate directly to any beneficiary or intestate successor to whom all or part of the estate is to be distributed, as the case may be, unless the Public Guardian and Trustee otherwise decides.

(2) Subsection (1) does not apply to a distribution of an estate to a guardian of a minor or guardian or committee of a person incapable of managing their affairs.

(3) Subsection (1) applies despite any direction, authorization, power of attorney, agreement, assignment of rights or otherwise to the contrary.

Immunity for Public Guardian and Trustee

127  (1) Subject to subsection (2), no legal proceeding for damages lies or may be commenced or maintained against the Public Guardian and Trustee or an officer or employee of the Public Guardian and Trustee because of anything done or omitted

(a) in the performance or intended performance of any duty under section 125 or 126, or

(b) in the exercise or intended exercise of any power under section 125 or 126.

(2) Subsection (1) does not apply to a person referred to in that subsection in relation to anything done or omitted by that person in bad faith.

(3) Subsection (1) does not absolve the Public Guardian and Trustee from vicarious liability arising out of anything done or omitted by a person referred to in that subsection for which the Public Guardian and Trustee would be vicariously liable if this section were not in force.

Security for administration of estates

128  (1) No security for the administration of an estate is required to be provided by an applicant for a grant of administration unless

(a) a minor or a mentally incapable person without a nominee is interested in the estate, or

(b) the court, on application by a person interested in the estate, requires security.

(2) If the court is satisfied that a condition of any security of an assignable nature provided under subsection (1) has been breached, the court may order that the registrar of the court or the person to whom the security has been given assign the security to a person named in the order.

(3) A person to whom security is assigned under subsection (2) or the personal representative of that person

(a) may sue in that person's own name or as the personal representative, as the case may be, and

(b) is entitled to the amount recoverable for a breach of a condition of the security as trustee for all persons interested.

Division 4 — Grant of Probate or Administration

Grant of probate or administration

129  (1) The court may grant probate of a will or administration of an estate for general, special or limited purposes on proof

(a) of the validity of the deceased person's will or that the deceased person died without a will, and

(b) that the deceased person was ordinarily resident or domiciled

(i) in British Columbia at the time of his or her death,

(ii) outside British Columbia at the time of his or her death and left property in British Columbia, or

(iii) outside British Columbia at the time of his or her death and the personal representative will be a party to an action commenced in British Columbia.

(2) The court may grant probate of a will or administration of an estate even though the deceased person was not ordinarily resident or domiciled in British Columbia at his or her death and left no property in British Columbia.

Priority among applicants — intestate estate

130  If a person dies without a will, the court may grant administration of the deceased person's estate to one or more of the following persons in the following order of priority:

(a) the spouse of the deceased person or a person nominated by the spouse;

(b) a child of the deceased person having the consent of a majority of the children of the deceased person;

(c) a person nominated by a child of the deceased person if that person has the consent of a majority of the deceased person's children;

(d) a child of the deceased person not having the consent of a majority of the deceased person's children;

(e) an intestate successor other than the spouse or child of the deceased person, having the consent of the intestate successors representing a majority in interest of the estate, including the intestate successor who applies for a grant of administration;

(f) an intestate successor other than the spouse or child of the deceased person, not having the consent of the intestate successors representing a majority in interest of the estate, including the intestate successor who applies for a grant of administration;

(g) any other person the court considers appropriate to appoint, including, without limitation, the Public Guardian and Trustee, subject to the Public Guardian and Trustee's consent.

Priority of applicants — administration with will annexed

131  If a person dies leaving a will, and the executor named in the will renounces executorship or is unable or unwilling to apply for probate, or if no executor is named in the will, the court may grant administration with will annexed to one or more of the following persons in the following order of priority:

(a) a beneficiary who applies having the consent of the beneficiaries representing a majority in interest of the estate, including the applicant;

(b) a beneficiary who applies not having the consent of the beneficiaries representing a majority in interest of the estate;

(c) any other person the court considers appropriate to appoint, including the Public Guardian and Trustee, subject to the Public Guardian and Trustee's consent.

Special circumstance

132  (1) Despite sections 130 and 131, the court may appoint as administrator of an estate any person the court considers appropriate if, because of special circumstances, the court considers it appropriate to do so.

(2) The appointment of an administrator under subsection (1) may be

(a) conditional or unconditional, and

(b) made for general, special or limited purposes.

Administration of partial intestacy

133  If a person dies leaving a will and the will does not give away or otherwise dispose of all of the deceased person's estate, probate of the will or the grant of administration with will annexed also operates as a grant of administration of the part of the estate that is not given away or disposed of by the will.

Administration if sole executor a minor

134  (1) If a minor is named the sole executor under a will,

(a) the court must grant administration with will annexed

(i) to the guardian of the minor, on application by the guardian,

(ii) if the guardian does not apply, to another person the court considers appropriate until the minor reaches 19 years of age, or

(iii) in special circumstances, to another person if the court considers it appropriate, and

(b) when the minor reaches 19 years of age, the court may revoke the grant to the guardian or other person and grant probate of the will to the former minor.

(2) Administration granted under subsection (1) may be

(a) conditional or unconditional, and

(b) made for general, special or limited purposes.

Effective date of grant for intestate estate

135  (1) The personal representative of a person who dies leaving an intestate estate is conclusively deemed to be the personal representative from the date of death of the deceased person.

(2) Despite subsection (1), a personal representative is not liable for any loss or damage to the estate that occurred before the effective date of the representation grant unless the personal representative would have been liable for the loss or damage despite the existence of a representation grant.

Effect of representation grant

136  A representation grant, whether or not power is reserved to another person to apply for a subsequent representation grant, gives to the personal representative exclusive authority to administer the estate or that part of the estate to which the representation grant applies in accordance with its terms.

Reliance on representation grant

137  A person who, relying on a representation grant and before having notice of any revocation of the representation grant, pays or transfers property of the estate or releases or provides any document or information concerning an estate is, despite any defect or irregularity in the grant or revocation of it,

(a) not liable for loss or damage to any person as a result of the payment or transfer of property or the release or provision of documents or information, and

(b) discharged as against the personal representative to the extent of the value of any payment or transfer.

Division 5 — Foreign Personal Representatives, Resealing Foreign Grant
and Ancillary Grant

Resealing foreign grant and ancillary grants

138  (1) On application by a foreign personal representative, the court may reseal a foreign grant made in another province or in a territory of Canada or in another prescribed jurisdiction.

(2) A foreign personal representative who applies for the resealing of a foreign grant must

(a) give notice of the application in accordance with the Rules of Court,

(b) disclose information as required under the Rules of Court concerning the property of the deceased person situated in British Columbia that the foreign personal representative seeks to administer, and

(c) if the application relates to a foreign grant of administration with or without will annexed and security is required to be provided under section 128 [security for the administration of estates] provide security in an amount approved by the court.

(3) On a resealing with the seal of the court, the foreign grant

(a) has the same effect in British Columbia as if it were issued by the court, and

(b) is, with respect to property situated in British Columbia, subject to any order of the court to which a representation grant issued by the court with respect to the same property would be subject.

(4) If a foreign grant cannot be resealed under this section, the court may make an ancillary grant of probate or administration to the foreign personal representative.

Limited grant to attorney of foreign personal representative

139  (1) In this section, "attorney" means a person who is appointed as the representative of a foreign personal representative under a power of attorney.

(2) On application by an attorney of a foreign personal representative, the court may grant probate or administration to the attorney, limited to the deceased person's estate situated in British Columbia.

Curing deficiencies in foreign wills

140  The court may make an order under section 58 [court order curing deficiencies] in relation to any will for which an application for grant of probate or administration may be made.

Division 6 — Revocation of Grant of Probate or Administration

Revocation of grant of probate or administration

141  (1) The court must not revoke a grant of probate or administration on the sole ground that a notice could not be given to a person described in the Rules of Court who could not be discovered, identified or found, or a person to whom notice was not required to be given under the Rules of Court.

(2) If an executorship is terminated, the administration of the estate passes as if the person had never been appointed executor.

Division 7 — Personal Representatives — Powers, Duties and Liabilities

Personal representatives — general authority

142  (1) A personal representative has the same authority over the estate in respect of which the personal representative is appointed as the deceased person would have if living, subject to

(a) a contrary intention appearing in the will of the deceased person, and

(b) this or any other enactment.

(2) A personal representative must exercise authority to

(a) administer and distribute the estate in respect of which the personal representative is appointed,

(b) account to beneficiaries, creditors and others to whom the personal representative has at law a duty to account, and

(c) perform any other duties imposed on the personal representative by the will of the deceased person or by law.

Application of Trustee Act to personal representatives

143  (1) Sections 86 [application for directions], 89 [application for remuneration] and 96 [jurisdiction of court to relieve trustee for breach of trust] of the Trustee Act apply to a personal representative.

(2) Subject to section 153 [distribution of minor's interest] of this Act, section 40 [payment by trustees] of the Trustee Act applies to a personal representative.

(3) Subsections (1) and (2) apply whether or not a personal representative is also a trustee.

(4) If a person is both a personal representative and a trustee with respect to all or part of the same estate,

(a) subject to subsections (1) to (3), this Act applies to that person in respect of a matter relating to the office, duties, powers, appointment, discharge, removal or substitution of that person as a personal representative, and

(b) the Trustee Act applies to that person in respect of a matter relating to the office, duties, powers, appointment, discharge, removal or substitution of that person as a trustee.

Abolition of rule in Allhusen v. Whittel

144  (1) Unless the will of a deceased person contains an express direction to the contrary,

(a) the personal representative of the deceased person, in paying the debts, funeral and testamentary expenses, estate, legacy, succession and inheritance taxes or duties, legacies or other similar disbursements in relation to the administration of the estate of the deceased person, must not apply and must not be considered to have applied income of the estate in or towards the payment of any part of the capital of those disbursements or of any part of any interest due or accruing due on them at the date of death of the deceased person, and

(b) until the payment of the disbursements referred to in paragraph (a), the income from the property required for their payment, except for any part of that income applied in the payment of any interest accruing due on the payments from the date of death of the deceased person, must be treated and applied as income of the residuary estate,

but if the assets of the estate are not sufficient to pay those disbursements in full, the income must be applied in making up the deficiency.

(2) Subsection (1) is conclusively deemed to have always been the law of British Columbia.

(3) Despite subsections (1) and (2), if the personal representative has, before April 1, 1966, applied a rule of law or of administration different from subsection (1), the application is valid and effective.

Executor of deceased executor

145  If a deceased will-maker was an executor of a person who died before the will-maker, the executor of the deceased will-maker has all the rights, powers, rights of action and liabilities of the deceased will-maker with respect to the estate of the deceased person.

Limitation period for disputed claims against estate

146  (1) The personal representative of a deceased person may give notice of intention to take advantage of the limitation period provided by this section to

(a) a person who is

(i) a creditor of the deceased person, or

(ii) a person, other than a creditor, with a claim against the estate, notice of which has been given to the personal representative,

whose claim is not the subject of a proceeding against the deceased person at the time of death or against the personal representative in that capacity, or

(b) the agent of the creditor or person referred to in paragraph (a) (ii).

(2) Notice given by a personal representative under subsection (1) must

(a) be in writing,

(b) state that the personal representative rejects or disputes the claim, and

(c) refer to this section and state that the personal representative intends to take advantage of the limitation period provided by subsection (3).

(3) A person to whom the personal representative gives notice under subsection (1) must commence a proceeding in respect of the claim within

(a) 180 days after notice is given, if the claim or a part of it is due at the time notice is given, or

(b) 180 days of the time the claim or a part of it falls due, if no part of it is due at the time notice is given.

(4) If the person to whom the personal representative gives notice under subsection (1) does not commence a proceeding in respect of the claim within the time limited by subsection (3), the claim is forever barred.

(5) This section does not apply to

(a) a claim against the estate by a beneficiary or intestate successor of the deceased person to recover a beneficial interest to which that person claims to be entitled, or

(b) a claim or action under Division 6 of Part 4 [Wills].

When beneficiary cannot be found or does not claim gift

147  (1) This section applies only if

(a) a deceased person died with a will leaving a specific gift of property to a beneficiary, and

(b) the will does not expressly exclude the operation of this section or a predecessor of this section.

(2) If the personal representative of a deceased person, after making reasonable efforts, is unable to locate a beneficiary within 12 months of the date of the grant of probate or administration with will annexed, the personal representative may sell the property, deduct any costs related to the storage, transportation and sale of the property and hold the net proceeds in trust.

(3) Section 27.1 of the Public Guardian and Trustee Act applies to net proceeds under subsection (2) of this section that are held in trust by the Public Guardian and Trustee and are not claimed by a beneficiary within the applicable period prescribed under that Act.

(4) If net proceeds under subsection (2) are held in trust by a personal representative other than the Public Guardian and Trustee, the personal representative must promptly pay the net proceeds into court after deducting the costs of doing so.

(5) If a beneficiary described in subsection (1) has been located and notified of a specific gift but neglects or refuses to make arrangements to take delivery of the property within 180 days of the notification, the personal representative may sell the property, deduct any costs related to the storage, transportation and sale of the property and send the net proceeds to the beneficiary.

(6) If a beneficiary referred to in subsection (5) does not accept the net proceeds, the personal representative must hold the net proceeds in trust, and subsection (3) or (4) applies, as the case may be.

(7) This section does not prevent an application by a personal representative to the court under section 39 [distribution of estate under direction of court] of the Trustee Act.

Disposition by executors who do not renounce
or join application for probate

148  If one or more of several co-executors named in a will

(a) renounce probate, or

(b) do not join an application for a grant of probate and their right to apply subsequently for a grant of probate is reserved by a representation grant,

a disposition relating to the estate by the executors who do not renounce or to whom the grant of probate is issued is as valid and has the same effect as if every executor named in the will had executed an instrument intended to give effect to the will.

Division 8 — Personal Representatives — Legal Liability and Legal Proceedings

Liability of personal representatives

149  (1) A personal representative is liable, to the extent of the assets belonging to the estate that come into the personal representative's possession or control, for the wrongful acts and omissions or breaches of legal duty of the deceased person, subject to this or any other enactment to the contrary.

(2) Subsection (1) does not make liable an executor who renounces probate or administration or whose rights are reserved by a representation grant and who has not intermeddled in the estate.

Proceedings by and against estate

150  (1) Subject to this section, a cause of action or a proceeding is not annulled because of the death of a party.

(2) Subject to this section, the personal representative of a deceased person may commence or continue a proceeding the deceased person could have commenced or continued, with the same rights and remedies to which the deceased person would have been entitled, if living.

(3) Subsections (1) and (2) do not apply to an action for libel or slander or an action under section 1 or 3 of the Privacy Act.

(4) Recovery in a proceeding under subsection (2) does not extend to

(a) damages in respect of non-pecuniary loss, or

(b) damages for loss of future income for a period following death.

(5) A person may commence or continue a proceeding against a deceased person that could have been commenced or continued against the deceased person, if living, whether or not a personal representative has been appointed for the deceased person.

(6) A proceeding under subsection (5) may be commenced naming as defendant or respondent

(a) the personal representative, if any, or

(b) the deceased person.

(7) A proceeding under subsection (5) in which the deceased person is named as defendant or respondent is valid despite the fact that the deceased person is not living when the action or proceeding is commenced.

(8) All proceedings under this section bind the estate of the deceased person, despite any previous or subsequent appointment of a personal representative.

(9) This section is subject to section 10 [limitation of actions, election and subrogation] of the Workers Compensation Act.

(10) Nothing in this section affects any rights under

(a) the Family Compensation Act, or

(b) section 103 [liability of employer] of the Workers Compensation Act.

(11) In a proceeding under subsection (2), the court may award damages to the personal representative of the deceased person in respect of reasonable expenses of the funeral and disposal of the remains of the deceased person, in addition to the remedies to which the deceased person would have been entitled if living.

Beneficiary or intestate successor may sue with leave of court

151  (1) Despite section 136 [effect of representation grant], a beneficiary or an intestate successor may, with leave of the court, commence proceedings in the name and on behalf of the personal representative of the deceased person

(a) to recover property or to enforce a right, duty or obligation owed to the deceased person that could be recovered or enforced by the personal representative, or

(b) to obtain damages for breach of a right, duty or obligation owed to the deceased person.

(2) A beneficiary or an intestate successor may, with leave of the court, defend in the name and on behalf of the personal representative of a deceased person, a proceeding brought against the deceased person or the personal representative.

(3) The court may grant leave under this section if

(a) the court determines the beneficiary or intestate successor seeking leave

(i) has made reasonable efforts to cause the personal representative to commence or defend the proceeding,

(ii) has given notice of the application for leave to

(A) the personal representative,

(B) any other beneficiaries or intestate successors, and

(C) any additional person the court directs that notice is to be given, and

(iii) is acting in good faith, and

(b) it appears to the court that it is necessary or expedient for the protection of the estate or the interests of a beneficiary or an intestate successor for the proceeding to be brought or defended.

(4) On application by a beneficiary, an intestate successor or a personal representative, the court may authorize a person to control the conduct of a proceeding under this section or may give other directions for the conduct of the proceeding.

Personal representative relief from liability under contract

152  The personal representative of a deceased person ceases to be liable in respect of a contract, including a lease, that was not fully performed by the deceased person before the deceased person's death, if the personal representative

(a) satisfies all liabilities that have accrued and are claimed under the contract until the time of the assignment referred to in paragraph (b),

(b) validly assigns the contract to a purchaser, and

(c) sets aside a reserve from the estate in an amount fixed by agreement, or by the court on application by the personal representative, to meet future claims that may be made in respect of a fixed or determined amount the deceased person agreed to pay or for which the deceased person was liable under the contract.

Distribution of minor's interest

153  (1) Subject to subsections (2) and (3), if

(a) a minor is a beneficiary or an intestate successor, and

(b) there is no trustee or no trust created for the minor's interest in the estate,

the personal representative, on distribution of the estate, must pay or transfer the minor's interest in the estate to the Public Guardian and Trustee in trust for the minor.

(2) If a minor's interest in an estate consists, in whole or in part, of property other than money, the Public Guardian and Trustee may

(a) convert the minor's interest in the estate to money,

(b) transfer the minor's interest in the estate to the minor, or

(c) decline to accept the transfer of the minor's interest in the estate and recommend to the court that a trustee be appointed to hold and administer the minor's interest in the estate until the minor reaches 19 years of age.

(3) Subsection (1) does not apply if, before distribution of the assets of the estate, the court, on application and with notice to the Public Guardian and Trustee, appoints a trustee to hold and administer the minor's interest in the estate until the minor reaches 19 years of age.

Notice to creditors

154  (1) In this section, "claimant" does not include a person who has commenced proceedings to determine whether he or she is a beneficiary or an intestate successor.

(2) The personal representative of a deceased person may publish a notice in the Gazette to creditors and other claimants

(a) requiring them to present their claims against the estate of the deceased person to the personal representative within a specified period of time, which must not be less than 30 days from the date of the publication in the Gazette, and

(b) stating that after the specified period the personal representative proposes to distribute the estate, having regard only to the claims of which the personal representative then has notice.

(3) On expiration of the period specified in a notice published under subsection (2), the personal representative may distribute the assets of the estate of the deceased person among the persons entitled to them, having regard to the claims of which the personal representative then has notice.

(4) The personal representative of a deceased person is not liable for any claim against the estate of the deceased person if the claim was not presented to the personal representative by the end of the period specified in the notice published under subsection (2).

(5) This section does not prejudice the right of a creditor or other claimant to recover assets of the estate of the deceased person from the person who received them.

Distribution of estate

155  (1) The personal representative of a deceased person must not distribute the estate of the deceased person in the 210 days following the date of the issue of a representation grant except

(a) with the consent of all beneficiaries and intestate successors entitled to the estate, or

(b) by order of the court.

(2) The personal representative of a deceased person must not distribute the estate of the deceased person after the 210 day period referred to in subsection (1) without consent of the court if

(a) a proceeding has been commenced to determine whether a person is or is not a beneficiary or intestate successor in respect of the deceased person's estate,

(b) relief is sought under Division 6 of Part 4 [Wills], or

(c) other proceedings have been commenced which may affect the distribution of the estate.

(3) Nothing in this section

(a) affects any right or remedy against a person to whom an estate has been distributed in whole or in part, or

(b) extends any applicable limitation period.

Personal representative deemed to be trustee

156  Unless the court orders otherwise, a personal representative granted administration with will annexed is conclusively deemed to be the trustee of a trust created by the will if the will-maker has not appointed another trustee in the will.

Division 9 — Discharge, Removal and Substitution
of Personal Representatives

Personal representative may apply to be discharged

157  (1) The personal representative of a deceased person may apply to the court to be discharged from the office of personal representative.

(2) An application under subsection (1) may be made

(a) either before or after a grant of probate or administration is issued,

(b) whether or not the personal representative is a trustee of the estate or part of it, and

(c) whether or not the personal representative has dealt or partially dealt with the estate or a part of it or has to any extent acted in the exercise of a trust or power conferred on or vested in the personal representative.

(3) A personal representative may make an application under subsection (1) without notice to any other person if

(a) the accounts of the personal representative have been passed under the Trustee Act,

(b) every beneficiary or intestate successor with an interest in the deceased person's estate has consented to the accounts of the personal representative without passing under the Trustee Act,

(c) in the case of a beneficiary or intestate successor who is a minor or mentally incapable person,

(i) a person appointed to manage the affairs of the beneficiary or intestate successor has consented to the accounts of the personal representative without passing under the Trustee Act, and

(ii) the court is satisfied that the accounts do not need to be passed under the Trustee Act, or

(d) the court otherwise determines that the accounts of the personal representative need not be passed under the Trustee Act.

(4) A personal representative who applies to be discharged under subsection (1) without notice to any other person referred to in subsection (3) must file the personal representative's accounts with the court for the period during which the personal representative was in office, unless subsection (3) (a) applies.

(5) An order discharging a personal representative from office releases the personal representative from all actions, claims and demands arising from or in connection with acts or omissions of the personal representative while in office, except in respect of undisclosed acts or omissions.

(6) An order discharging a person as a personal representative does not

(a) discharge or remove that person as a trustee, or

(b) operate to release the person from liability for anything done or omitted by the person in the capacity of a trustee.

Application to remove or pass over personal representative

158  (1) In this section, "pass over" means to grant probate or administration to a person who has less priority than another person to become a personal representative.

(2) A person having an interest in an estate may apply to the court to remove or pass over a person otherwise entitled to be or to become a personal representative.

(3) Subject to the terms of a will, if any, the court, by order, may remove or pass over a person otherwise entitled to be or to become a personal representative if the court considers that the personal representative or person entitled to become the personal representative should not continue in office or be granted probate or administration, including, without limitation, if the personal representative or person entitled to become the personal representative, as the case may be

(a) refuses to accept the office of or to act as personal representative without renouncing the office,

(b) is incapable of managing his or her own affairs,

(c) purports to resign from the office of personal representative,

(d) being a corporation, is dissolved or is in liquidation other than a voluntary dissolution or liquidation for the purpose of amalgamation or reorganization,

(e) on application by a creditor having a claim for more than a prescribed amount,

(i) has been convicted of an offence involving dishonesty, or

(ii) is an undischarged bankrupt,

(f) is

(i) unable to make the decisions necessary to discharge the office of personal representative,

(ii) not responsive, or

(iii) otherwise unwilling or unable to or unreasonably refuses to carry out the duties of a personal representative,

to an extent that the conduct of the personal representative hampers the efficient administration of the estate, or

(g) is a committee under the Patient's Property Act.

(4) An order of the court removing a personal representative does not remove that person as a trustee.

Appointment of substitute personal representative

159  (1) If the court discharges or removes a personal representative, the court

(a) must appoint another person who consents to act as the substitute personal representative, unless

(i) the administration of the estate is complete, or

(ii) the court does not consider a new appointment necessary, and

(b) may, if the personal representative has resigned or is removed as a trustee, concurrently appoint the person referred to in paragraph (a) as trustee under the Trustee Act in place of the trustee being discharged or removed.

(2) The court may require a substitute personal representative under subsection (1) to provide security if security is required by the Rules of Court.

(3) A substitute personal representative appointed under subsection (1)

(a) has the same authority that the former personal representative had in respect of the estate,

(b) must perform the same duties and is subject to the same obligations as were imposed by law on the former personal representative, and

(c) on application without notice, is entitled to receive a grant of probate or administration, as the case may be, without the return of the previous grant if the court is satisfied that the return of the previous grant would be impossible or impractical.

(4) A grant of probate or administration to a former personal representative is revoked on the appointment of a substitute personal representative.

Vesting of estate in personal representative

160  (1) If a person is appointed as the personal representative of a deceased person, the estate of the deceased person vests in the personal representative without any further declaration or order.

(2) If a person is discharged or removed as the personal representative of a deceased person, the estate of the deceased person ceases, without any further declaration or order, to be vested in that person.

(3) This section applies whether a person is discharged, removed, added or substituted as a personal representative in accordance with a will or with this Act.

(4) The vesting of an estate under subsection (1) has the same effect as if the estate had been actually transferred to the person in whom it is vested.

(5) The provisions of the Land Title Act that apply to a transmission of land apply to a vesting of land under this section.

Former personal representative to facilitate property and document transfer

161  (1) If a person ceases to be a personal representative and another person is substituted as personal representative, within 30 days of the order making the substitution the former personal representative must provide to the substitute personal representative

(a) the property comprising the estate, and

(b) any records and documents relating to the estate and its administration

that are in the possession or under the control of the former personal representative.

(2) A former personal representative must sign any document and take any steps reasonably necessary to enable a substitute personal representative to administer the estate, but section 160 operates without the need for the former personal representative to sign any document under this subsection.

(3) A former personal representative may not, unless the court otherwise orders, retain funds to pay any expenses or expenses that

(a) the former personal representative incurred in the course of so acting, and

(b) may have been lawfully incurred by a personal representative to whom probate or administration of the estate is later granted.

Division 10 — Devolution of Land

Devolution and administration of land

162  (1) Unless there is a right to land by survivorship, on the death of the land owner, land devolves to and is vested in the deceased owner's personal representative in the same manner as personal property.

(2) Subject to this Act,

(a) a personal representative to whom land devolves holds the land as a trustee for the person beneficially entitled to it, and

(b) a person beneficially entitled to the land has the same power as a person beneficially entitled to personal property to require a transfer from the personal representative.

(3) Subject to this Act, land must be administered in the same manner as personal property, and all enactments and rules of law respecting

(a) the powers, duties and liabilities of a personal representative in respect of personal property,

(b) the effect of a grant of probate or administration,

(c) dealings with personal property before a grant of probate or administration, and

(d) the administration of personal property of a deceased person, including the payment of debts and expenses,

apply to land.

(4) A disposition of land by only one or some of several joint personal representatives is not valid without the approval of the court, unless

(a) section 148 [disposition by executors who do not renounce or join application for probate] applies, or

(b) probate is granted to one or more of several persons named as executor with power being reserved to the other or others to apply for probate, and the disposition is carried out by the other person or persons to whom probate is granted.

(5) This section applies to land over which a person exercises by will a power of appointment as if the land were vested in the person.

Transfer of land to beneficiary may be subject to a charge

163  (1) A transfer of land by a personal representative to a beneficiary may be made subject to a charge for payment of money that the personal representative is liable to pay.

(2) On registration of a transfer under subsection (1) that is subject to a charge for the whole amount that the personal representative is liable to pay, the liability of the personal representative in respect of the land for a debt or obligation of the deceased person ceases.

Division 11 — Public Guardian and Trustee

Application for grant of probate or administration
by Public Guardian and Trustee

164  (1) This section applies if the Public Guardian and Trustee receives information about the death of a person who

(a) had at the time of death a fixed place of residence in British Columbia, or

(b) had no fixed place of residence in British Columbia, but had property in British Columbia at the time of death.

(2) The Public Guardian and Trustee may make an application to the court for a grant of administration of the estate of the deceased person if

(a) the person died without a will for all or part of the person's estate, or

(b) the person died leaving a will, but without having appointed an executor willing and able to apply for a grant of probate, or whose whereabouts are unknown.

(3) A grant of administration must not be issued

(a) except on affidavits made in accordance with the Rules of Court, and

(b) unless the court is satisfied that

(i) no grant of administration of the estate of the deceased person has been issued in British Columbia, and

(ii) no person in British Columbia is entitled to share in the distribution of the estate of the deceased person and is ready and competent to apply for a grant of administration.

Court appointment with consent of Public Guardian and Trustee

165  The court must not make an order appointing the Public Guardian and Trustee as administrator of an estate

(a) except with the prior written consent of the Public Guardian and Trustee, or

(b) unless the Public Guardian and Trustee applies to be appointed as administrator of the estate.

Powers of Public Guardian and Trustee

166  If administration of the estate of a deceased person is granted to the Public Guardian and Trustee, the Public Guardian and Trustee

(a) is the administrator of the estate of the deceased person in British Columbia, and

(b) subject to this Act, has the rights, duties and liabilities of an administrator with regard to the estate.

Powers before grant issued

167  (1) If, after investigation, the Public Guardian and Trustee

(a) believes that a person has died, and

(b) the Public Guardian and Trustee intends to make an application under section 164 (2) for a grant of administration or to file a small estate declaration under Division 2 [Small Estate Administration] of this Part,

the Public Guardian and Trustee may, before or after making the application or filing the small estate declaration and before a grant of administration is issued, act under subsection (2).

(2) The Public Guardian and Trustee may do any or all of the following:

(a) arrange the funeral of the deceased person;

(b) make an inventory of the deceased person's estate;

(c) take possession of, safeguard and dispose of the deceased person's estate,

as if a grant of administration of the deceased person's estate had been issued to the Public Guardian and Trustee.

(3) In acting under this section, the Public Guardian and Trustee

(a) has a right to all information and records to which or in respect of which the deceased person had custody or control, and

(b) may require a person to disclose that information or produce those records to the Public Guardian and Trustee.

(4) A letter signed by an authorized signatory of the Public Guardian and Trustee indicating that the Public Guardian and Trustee is acting under this section is conclusive proof of the Public Guardian and Trustee's authority to exercise the rights and powers conferred by this section.

(5) The Public Guardian and Trustee or an agent, attorney, employee or other person acting on behalf of the Public Guardian and Trustee is not personally liable as an executor de son tort by reason of exercising the powers conferred by this section.

(6) This section does not relieve the Public Guardian and Trustee from

(a) making an application for a grant of administration, or

(b) filing a small estate declaration under Division 2 of this Part.

Probate or administration despite previous grant

168  (1) A grant of administration to the Public Guardian and Trustee does not prevent the court from subsequently granting probate of the will or administration of the estate to any person entitled to the grant.

(2) A person who intends to make an application for a grant of probate or administration after a grant of administration has been issued to the Public Guardian and Trustee must give the Public Guardian and Trustee at least 4 days' written notice of the person's intention to apply.

(3) If a subsequent grant of probate or administration is made under subsection (1), the rights, interests, powers and duties of the Public Guardian and Trustee in regard to the estate cease and the portion of the estate of the deceased person left unadministered by the Public Guardian and Trustee vests in the executor or administrator obtaining the subsequent grant of probate or administration, subject to

(a) the allowance and payment of all money due for

(i) the fees and commissions of the Public Guardian and Trustee, and

(ii) the necessary outlay, disbursements and expenses in relation to the administration of the estate, including for the subsequent grant of probate or administration, and

(b) a limitation or condition in the subsequent grant, if the court considers any to be appropriate.

Division 12 — Insolvent Estates

Definitions

169  In this Division:

"insolvent estate" means an estate that is not sufficient to pay all the debts and liabilities of the deceased person;

"secured creditor" means a creditor who holds a security interest in an asset of the estate of a deceased person.

How proceeds from insolvent estate are to be spent

170  (1) Subject to the rights of secured creditors, the personal representative of a deceased person must apply the proceeds realized from an insolvent estate in the following order of priority:

(a) reasonable funeral and other expenses incurred by the personal representative in administering the estate of the deceased person;

(b) compensation of the personal representative under section 89 [application for remuneration] of the Trustee Act;

(c) legal expenses;

(d) wages, salaries, commissions or compensation of any clerk, employee, travelling salesperson, labourer or worker for services provided during the 180 days immediately preceding the date of death of the deceased person to a maximum of $2 000 in each case, and in the case of a travelling salesperson, disbursements properly incurred by the salesperson in and about the deceased person's business to a maximum of an additional $1 000 in each case;

(e) a claim in respect of a debt or liability for periodic amounts accrued in the year immediately preceding the date of death of the deceased person, plus any lump sum amount, payable

(i) for spousal support, or

(ii) under a judicial decision establishing affiliation or respecting support or maintenance, or under an agreement for maintenance and support of a spouse, former spouse or child, made while the spouse, former spouse or child was living apart from the deceased person;

(f) municipal taxes assessed or levied against the deceased person within the 2 years immediately preceding the date of death of the deceased person that do not constitute a secured claim against the land of the deceased person, not exceeding the value of the interest of the deceased person in the property as declared by the personal representative;

(g) the landlord for arrears of rent for a period of 90 days immediately preceding the date of death of the deceased person, and accelerated rent for a period not exceeding 90 days following the date of death of the deceased person if the lease provides for accelerated rent, not exceeding the value of the proceeds from the realization of property on the leased premises, and any payment on account of accelerated rent must be credited against the amount payable by the personal representative for occupation rent;

(h) all indebtedness of the deceased person under the Workers Compensation Act, under any Act respecting employment insurance or under a provision of any Income Tax Act creating an obligation to pay to the government or to the government of Canada amounts that have been deducted or withheld, rateably and without preference;

(i) claims resulting from injuries to employees of the deceased person in respect of which the provisions of the Workers Compensation Act do not apply, but only to the extent of money received from persons guaranteeing the deceased person against damages resulting from the injuries;

(j) claims, not previously mentioned in this subsection, of the government or the government of Canada or the government of any other province, rateably and without preference despite a statutory preference to the contrary;

(k) all other claims accepted by the personal representative, rateably and without preference.

(2) A personal representative must apply the proceeds of an insolvent estate towards payment in accordance with subsection (1) as soon as funds are available for the purpose.

(3) A creditor whose rights are restricted by this section is entitled to rank as an unsecured creditor for the balance of the creditor's claim.

(4) For the purposes of subsection (1) (d), commissions payable when goods are shipped, delivered or paid for within the 180 day period referred to in that provision are deemed to have been earned during that period.

Provable debts

171  (1) A creditor may, while an insolvent estate is being administered, prove a debt that is

(a) owing and payable at the time of the deceased person's death, or

(b) owing at the time of deceased person's death but not yet payable, subject to a deduction in respect of a rebate of interest calculated in accordance with subsection (2).

(2) For the purposes of subsection (1) (b), the interest to be rebated is to be calculated at a prescribed rate from the date the personal representative pays the debt or a prorated portion of the debt to the time when the debt would have been payable.

(3) A personal representative administering an insolvent estate is not liable for and must not pay interest on the debts of the deceased person in respect of the period following the date of death of the deceased person unless a surplus remains after payment of all debts and claims accepted by the personal representative.

Conditional, contingent and unliquidated claims

172  (1) The personal representative must, before the first distribution from an insolvent estate,

(a) determine a value for a conditional, a contingent or an unliquidated claim, and

(b) give to the creditor or claimant who proved the claim written notice of the amount at which the claim is valued.

(2) The value determined under subsection (1) is the value for which the claim is deemed to have been proved as if for a liquidated amount payable absolutely, unless, within 14 days after the notice referred to in subsection (1) is given, the creditor or claimant applies to the court for a redetermination of the value of the claim.

(3) On application under subsection (2), the court may

(a) redetermine the value of the claim determined by the personal representative under subsection (1), or

(b) confirm the value determined by the personal representative under subsection (1).

Secured creditors

173  (1) A secured creditor claiming against an insolvent estate of a deceased person must state in the claim

(a) full particulars of the security, including its value as assessed by the creditor, and

(b) the value at which the secured creditor assesses the total claim, including the value of the security.

(2) A secured creditor is entitled to prove as an unsecured creditor for the amount of the difference between the net value realized and the value of the secured creditor's claim.

(3) If a secured creditor surrenders the security to the personal representative, the secured creditor is entitled to prove as an unsecured creditor for the whole value of the secured creditor's claim.

(4) A creditor having a claim based on a negotiable instrument

(a) on which the deceased person was, and the personal representative is, only indirectly or secondarily liable, and

(b) that is not mature or exigible,

is deemed to be a secured creditor for the purpose of this section and must comply with subsection (1), treating the liability of any person primarily liable on the negotiable instrument as the security.

(5) If a claim described in subsection (4) (a)

(a) is mature or exigible at the date of death of the deceased person, and

(b) remains unpaid after that date, whether before or after proof,

the creditor is entitled to treat the claim as unsecured for the purpose of ranking.

(6) Despite subsection (5), for all purposes except ranking of claims, a creditor having a claim described in subsection (5)

(a) is deemed to be a secured creditor, and

(b) must comply with subsection (1), treating the liability of all parties liable on the negotiable instrument ahead of the deceased person as the security.

(7) If the deceased person was liable as a member of a firm or partnership and a creditor holds security from another member of the firm or partnership, the creditor is deemed to be a secured creditor for the purpose of this section.

Debts contracted individually and on behalf of partnership

174  If a person dies leaving an insolvent estate with debts owing both individually and as a member of a partnership, a claim against the deceased person based on a debt is to be satisfied

(a) first from the property of the person by whom or partnership on behalf of and by which the debt was contracted, and

(b) after all the creditors of the other person have been paid in full, from the property or estate of another person, including the deceased person.

Division 13 — Deceased Worker's Wages

Definition

175  In this Division, "worker" means a person who has entered into or works under a contract of service or apprenticeship, written or oral, express or implied, in an industry within the scope of Part 1 of the Workers Compensation Act, whether by way of manual labour or otherwise.

Wages payable to surviving spouse

176  The wages

(a) earned by a worker during the 3 month period before the worker's death, and

(b) owing or accrued to the worker at the time of the worker's death

are, subject to this Division, payable to the surviving spouse, if any, of the deceased worker, free from debts of the deceased worker.

Wages not subject to administration

177  The wages of a deceased worker that are payable to the surviving spouse by this Division are not subject to the provisions of the laws relating to

(a) the administration of the intestate estates, or

(b) if the worker dies with a will, obtaining probate or the provisions of the deceased worker's will.

Evidence of entitlement

178  The surviving spouse of a deceased worker is entitled to those wages referred to in section 176 on production of an affidavit, sworn before a person authorized under the Evidence Act to administer an oath, stating that the person claiming to be the surviving spouse of the deceased worker is in fact the only person entitled to claim as a surviving spouse.

Discharge of employer

179  An employer who, in good faith and relying on an affidavit made under section 178, pays the wages of a deceased worker to a person purporting to be the surviving spouse of the deceased worker is discharged from liability towards the deceased worker or the estate of the deceased worker to the extent of that payment.

Application to court to determine competing claims

180  If 2 or more persons claim to be the surviving spouse entitled to the wages of a deceased worker, the court may order that the wages be paid to one or more of them in the amounts the court considers just.

Division 14 — Other Matters and Regulations

Representation of mentally incapable person

181  (1) If a person entitled to receive a notice under this Act or the Rules of Court is a mentally incapable person who has a nominee, the nominee represents the mentally incapable person for the purposes of this Part.

(2) Without limiting subsection (1), a nominee referred to in that subsection may, on behalf of the person referred to in that subsection,

(a) be given a notice that this Act or the Rules of Court requires or permits,

(b) give a consent contemplated by this Part, and

(c) make a nomination permitted by this Part, including a nomination of himself or herself.

(3) If any other enactment requires notice to the Public Guardian and Trustee or to another person in addition to a notice given under this section to a nominee, notices must be given under each enactment.

Notices to minor

182  (1) If a person entitled to receive a notice under this Act or the Rules of Court is a minor, the notice is valid only if it is given to every guardian of the minor.

(2) If the guardian of a minor referred to in subsection (1) is not also the guardian of the minor's estate within the meaning of the Infants Act, the reference to "guardian" in subsection (1) of this section includes the guardian of the minor's estate.

(3) If any other enactment requires notice to the Public Guardian and Trustee or to another person in addition to a notice given under this section to a guardian, both enactments must be complied with.

Opening safety deposit boxes

183  (1) If a safety deposit box was leased or rented in the name of a deceased person, solely or jointly with another person, a person in control of the premises where the safety deposit box is located must not permit the removal of the safety deposit box or its contents from the premises until a representative of the deceased person or a person in whose name the safety deposit box was jointly leased or held with the deceased person

(a) prepares an inventory in accordance with subsection (2), and

(b) leaves a copy of the inventory in the safety deposit box and with the person in control of the premises.

(2) An inventory must

(a) be prepared in the presence of the person in control of the premises where the safety deposit box is located or that person's agent, and

(b) be dated and signed by the persons present.

(3) The original will of the deceased person, and any copies of it, may be removed from the safety deposit box by a representative of the deceased person after the inventory is prepared under this section.

(4) Subject to subsection (5),

(a) the copy of the inventory left in the safety deposit box must be kept in it for at least 12 months, and

(b) the copy of the inventory left with the person in control of the premises where the safety deposit box is located must be kept by that person for at least 12 months.

(5) The copy of the inventory left in the safety deposit box may be removed when, during the 12 month period referred to in subsection (4) (a), the lease or rental of the safety deposit box held in the name of

(a) the deceased person or the personal representative of the deceased person, or

(b) the deceased person, or the personal representative of the deceased person jointly with another person,

is terminated.

Power to make regulations

184  (1) The Lieutenant Governor in Council may make regulations referred to in section 41 of the Interpretation Act.

(2) Without limiting subsection (1), the Lieutenant Governor in Council may make regulations as follows:

(a) respecting the keeping, custody, disposal, destruction and indexing of notices filed under Division 7 of Part 4 [Wills] that have been superseded or that refer to wills that have been probated;

(b) respecting the use to be made of and the procedure to be followed with respect to the certificates issued under section 77 (3) [search of records];

(c) prescribing fees to be paid to file a notice under Division 7 of Part 4;

(d) respecting the authority of a personal representative for the purposes of section 142 [personal representatives — general authority].

(3) Without limiting subsection (1) or (2), the Lieutenant Governor in Council may make regulations respecting any matter for which regulations of the Lieutenant Governor in Council are contemplated by this Act.

(4) The Lieutenant Governor in Council may make regulations for transitional matters with respect to any matter not provided for or inadequately provided for as a result of the repeal of an Act by this Act and the enactment of this Act.

Part 7 — Transitional Provisions, Repeals and
Consequential and Related Amendments

Division 1 — Transitional Provisions

Transitional — application of Parts 2, 3 and 6

185  Part 2 [Fundamental Rules], Part 3 [When a Person Dies without a Will] and Part 6 [Administration of Estates] apply in respect of deaths occurring on or after the date on which those Parts come into force.

Transitional — application of Part 4

186  Subject to sections 193 and 194, Part 4 [Wills] applies to a will, whenever executed, if the will-maker dies on or after the date on which Part 4 comes into force.

Transitional — application of Part 5

187  Part 5 [Benefit Plans] applies to a designation, whenever made, if the participant dies on or after the date on which that Part comes into force.

Transitional — Estate Administration Act

188  (1) Section 186 does not invalidate a will validly made before the date on which Part 4 comes into force.

(2) Section 186 does not revive a will validly revoked before the date on which Part 4 comes into force.

(3) Administration and probate granted under the Estate Administration Act are deemed to have been granted under this Act.

Transitional — property encumbered by security interest

189  Section 47 [property encumbered by security interest] applies only to a will made on or after the date on which that section comes into force.

Transitional — direction by court

190  In a proceeding with respect to an Act repealed by this Act, the court may give any transitional directions or make any order that it considers necessary in the circumstances.

Division 2 — Repeals

Estate Administration Act

191 The Estate Administration Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 122, is repealed.

Probate Recognition Act

192 The Probate Recognition Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 376, is repealed.

Wills Act

193 The Wills Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 489, is repealed.

Wills Variation Act

194 The Wills Variation Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 490, is repealed.

Division 3 — Consequential and Related Amendments

Adult Guardianship Act

195 Section 30 (6) (b) of the Supplement to the Adult Guardianship Act, S.B.C. 1996, c. 6, is amended by striking out "or administrator of the adult's estate" and substituting ", administrator of the adult's estate or small estate declarant".

196 Section 39 (2) of the Supplement is amended

(a) by striking out "probate of the will or letters of administration of the adult's estate are granted" and substituting "a representation grant within the meaning of the Wills, Estates and Succession Act has been issued",

(b) by adding "representation" before "grant is served", and

(c) by repealing paragraph (b) and substituting the following:

(b) has the powers of a person who has been issued a representation grant.

Adult Guardianship and Planning Statutes Amendment Act, 2007

197 Section 4 of the Adult Guardianship Statutes Amendment Act, 2007, S.B.C. 2007, c. 34, as it enacts section 8 (4) (b) of the Adult Guardianship Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 6, is amended by striking out "Wills Act" and substituting "Wills, Estates and Succession Act".

198 Section 4 as it enacts section 22 of the Adult Guardianship Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 6, is amended

(a) in subsection (6) by striking out "or administrator" in both places and substituting ", administrator of the adult's estate or small estate declarant", and

(b) in subsection (7) by adding ", small estate declarant" after "executor, administrator".

199 Section 4 as it enacts section 28 of the Adult Guardianship Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 6, is amended

(a) in subsection (3) by striking out "letters probate of the will or letters of administration of the estate of the adult are granted" and substituting "a representation grant within the meaning of the Wills, Estates and Succession Act has been issued" and by adding "representation" before "grant is served",

(b) by repealing subsection (3) (b) and substituting:

(b) has the powers of a person who has been issued a representation grant in respect of the adult. , and

(c) in subsection (4) (b) by striking out "letters probate of the will or letters of administration of the estate of the adult are granted." and substituting "representation grant is issued."

200 Section 4 as it enacts section 37 of the Adult Guardianship Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 6, is amended

(a) in subsection (6) by striking out "letters probate of the will or letters of administration of the estate of the adult are granted" and substituting "a representation grant has been issued" and by adding "representation" before "grant is served",

(b) in subsection (6) (a) by adding "representation" before "grant is made",

(c) by repealing subsection (6) (b) and substituting:

(b) has the powers of a person who has been issued a representation grant in respect of the adult. , and

(d) in subsection (7) by striking out "letters probate of the will or letters of administration of the estate of the adult are granted," and substituting "representation grant has been issued,".

201 Section 71 as it enacts section 1 (2) (f) of the Court Rules Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 80, is amended by striking out "Wills Variation Act;" and substituting "Wills, Estates and Succession Act;".

202 Section 101 as it enacts the definition of "creditor" in section 1 (1) of the Personal Property Security Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 359, is amended by striking out "or administrator of a creditor" and substituting ", an administrator or a small estate declarant of a creditor,".

Business Corporations Act

203 Section 118 (c) (ii) of the Business Corporations Act, S.B.C. 2002, c. 57, is amended by striking out "letters of administration" and substituting "grant of administration".

Community Care and Assisted Living Act

204 Section 18 (1) of the Community Care and Assisted Living Act, S.B.C. 2002, c. 75, is amended in paragraph (a) of the definition of "personal representative" by striking out "Wills Act" and substituting "Wills, Estates and Succession Act".

Conflict of Laws Rules for Trusts Act

205 Section 8 of the Conflict of Laws Rules for Trusts Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 65, is amended by striking out "a provision of Part 3 of the Wills Act" and substituting "a provision of the Wills, Estates and Succession Act".

Constitution Act

206 Section 31 (a) of the Constitution Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 66, is amended by striking out "or administrator" and substituting ", administrator or small estate declarant".

Court Rules Act

207 Section 1 (2) (f) of the Court Rules Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 80, is amended by striking out "Wills Variation Act," and substituting "Wills, Estates and Succession Act,".

208 Section 3 (1) is amended by adding the following paragraph:

(f) respecting the security to be provided by a personal representative, other than a small estate declarant, for the administration of an estate.

Credit Union Incorporation Act

209 Section 1 (1) of the Credit Union Incorporation Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 82, is amended in paragraph (a) of the definition of "trust business" by striking out "executor or administrator" and substituting "executor, administrator or small estate declarant".

Cremation, Interment and Funeral Services Act

210 Section 5 (1) of the Cremation, Interment and Funeral Services Act, S.B.C. 2004, c. 35, is amended

(a) in paragraph (i) by striking out "sections 89 and 90 of the Estate Administration Act" and substituting "section 23 (5) of the Wills, Estates and Succession Act", and

(b) by repealing paragraph (j) and substituting the following:

(j) the minister under the Employment and Assistance Act, or if the Public Guardian and Trustee is administering the estate of the deceased under the Wills, Estates and Succession Act, the Public Guardian and Trustee; .

Employment Standards Act

211 Section 99 (5) (c) (ii) of the Employment Standards Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 113, is amended by striking out "Estate Administration Act" and substituting "Wills, Estates and Succession Act".

Enforcement of Canadian Judgments and Decrees Act

212 Section 1 of the Enforcement of Canadian Judgments and Decrees Act, S.B.C. 2003, c. 29, is amended in paragraph (h) of the definition of "Canadian judgment" by striking out "letters of administration" and substituting "issuing a grant of administration".

Escheat Act

213 Section 1 of the Escheat Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 120, is repealed and the following substituted:

Escheated property may be taken by Attorney General

1  If property of whatever nature

(a) passes to the government under the Wills, Estates and Succession Act, under any other enactment or by law, or

(b) forfeits to the government,

the Attorney General may take possession of it in the name of the government.

214 Section 2 is amended by striking out "land" and substituting "escheated or forfeited property".

215 Section 5 is amended

(a) in paragraph (a) by striking out "land which has escheated or become forfeited," and substituting "property that is subject to this Act,",

(b) in paragraph (b) by adding ", or make an assignment of any portion of it," after "transfer it", and

(c) in paragraph (b) (iii) by striking out "the escheat or forfeiture," substituting "the right of the government to the property under this Act,".

216 Section 8 is repealed.

217 Section 9 (1) is amended by striking out "Estate Administration Act, Part 2," and substituting "Wills, Estates and Succession Act,".

218 Section 10 (1), (3) and (4) is amended by striking out "real estate" wherever it appears and substituting "property".

219 Section 11 (a) is amended by striking out "land escheated to the government" and substituting "property to which the government has a right".

220 Section 12 is amended by striking out everything before paragraph (a) and substituting "If the government becomes entitled under this Act to any property or any interest, legal or equitable, in it, the Attorney General may do one or more of the following:".

Estates of Missing Persons Act

221 Section 9 of the Estates of Missing Persons Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 123, is amended by striking out "on the grant of probate of the will or of letters of administration of the estate of the missing person," and substituting "on the grant of probate or grant of administration in respect of the estate of the missing person,".

Evidence Act

222 Section 37 (a) (iii) of the Evidence Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 124, is amended by striking out "the letters of administration" and substituting "the grant of administration".

Financial Institutions Act

223 Section 1 (1) of the Financial Institutions Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 141, is amended in paragraph (a) of the definition of "trust business" by striking out "executor or administrator," and substituting "executor, administrator or small estate declarant,".

224 Section 73 (1) and (4) is amended by adding "small estate declarant," after "administrator,".

Health Professions Act

225 Section 43 (3) (a) of the Health Profession Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 183, is repealed and the following substituted:

(a) an executor, administrator of the estate or small estate declarant of a deceased registrant to allow the executor, administrator or small estate declarant to discharge the duties as executor, administrator or small estate declarant, or .

Hospital Act

226 Section 13 (1) of the Hospital Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 200, is amended by striking out "or administrators of the deceased licensee." and substituting "of the deceased licensee, administrator of the deceased licensee's estate or small estate declarant in respect of the deceased licensee's estate."

Hospital District Act

227 Section 41 (3) to (5) of the Hospital District Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 202, is amended by striking out "or administrators" and substituting ", administrators or small estate declarants".

Infants Act

228 Section 8 (1) of the Infants Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 223, is amended by striking out ", official administrator".

Insurance Act

229 Sections 50 (2) and 57 (1) of the Insurance Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 226, are amended by striking out "Wills Act," and substituting "Wills, Estates and Succession Act,".

230 Sections 65 (2), 67, 68 (1), 69 and 70 are amended by striking out "Survivorship and Presumption of Death Act" and substituting "Presumption of Death Act".

Interpretation Act

231 Section 29 of the Interpretation Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 238, is amended

(a) by repealing the definition of "personal representative" and substituting the following:

"personal representative" includes an executor of a will, an administrator with or without will annexed of an estate, a small estate declarant, and, if a personal representative is also a trustee of part or all of the estate, includes the personal representative and trustee; , and

(b) in the definition of "will" by striking out "Wills Act" and substituting "Wills, Estates and Succession Act".

Land (Spouse Protection) Act

232 Section 4 (1) of the Land (Spouse Protection) Act, R.S.B.C 1996, c. 246, is amended by striking out "section 77 (1) of the Estate Administration Act" and substituting "section 162 (1) of the Wills, Estates and Succession Act".

Land Title Act

233 Section 215 (7) of the Land Title Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 250, is amended by striking out "Wills Variation Act" and substituting "Wills, Estates and Succession Act".

234 Section 265 (a) is amended by striking out "letters of administration" and substituting "grant of administration".

235 Section 266 is amended

(a) in subsections (1) (a) and (5) by striking out "letters of administration" and substituting "grant of administration", and

(b) in subsection (5) (b) by striking out "section 111 of the Estate Administration Act," and substituting "section 122 of the Wills, Estates and Succession Act,".

236 Section 268 is amended by striking out "letters of administration" and substituting "grant of administration".

237 Section 269 is amended by striking out "letters of administration" and substituting "grant of administration".

238 Section 319 (2) is amended by striking out "letters of administration granted" and substituting "a grant of administration issued".

Law and Equity Act

239 Sections 46, 49, 50 and 51 of the Law and Equity Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 253, are repealed.

Legal Profession Act

240 Section 1 (1) of the Legal Profession Act, S.B.C. 1998, c. 9, is amended in paragraph (b) (iii) of the definition of "practice of law" by striking out "letters of administration" and substituting "a grant of administration".

Liquor Control and Licensing Act

241 Section 21 (2) of the Liquor Control and Licensing Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 267, is amended by adding ", small estate declarants" after "executors, administrators" and by adding ", small estate declarant" after "executor, administrator".

Local Government Act

242 Section 999 (b) of the Local Government Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 323, is amended by striking out "grants of letters probate or letters of administration," and substituting "grants of probate or grants of administration,".

Logging Tax Act

243 Section 1 of the Logging Tax Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 277, is amended in the definition of "taxpayer" by adding "small estate declarants," after "executors, administrators,".

Marriage Act

244 Section 19 (1) of the Marriage Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 282, is amended by striking out "Survivorship and Presumption of Death Act," and substituting "Presumption of Death Act,".

Partnership Act

245 Section 16 (3) of the Partnership Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 348, is amended by striking out "executor's or administrator's estate or effects" and substituting "executor, administrator of his or her estate or small estate declarant or estate".

246 Section 68 (1) is amended by striking out "or administrator of the estate" and substituting ", administrator of the estate or small estate declarant".

Patients Property Act

247 Section 9 (b) of the Patients Property Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 349, is amended by striking out "Wills Act" and substituting "Wills, Estates and Succession Act".

248 Section 24 is amended

(a) in subsection (1) by striking out "letters of probate of the will or letters of administration of the estate of the patient are granted" and substituting "a representation grant, within the meaning of the Wills, Estates and Succession Act, is issued in respect of the patient's estate" and by adding "representation" before "grant is served",

(b) by repealing subsection (1) (b) and substituting the following:

(b) has the powers of a person who has been issued a representation grant, ,

(c) in subsection (3) (a) and (b) by striking out "or administrator of the patient's estate" and substituting ", administrator of the patient's estate, or small estate declarant", and

(d) in subsection (4) by adding ", small estate declarant" after "executor, administrator".

Personal Property Security Act

249 Section 1 (1) of the Personal Property Security Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 359, is amended by repealing the definition of "creditor" and substituting the following:

"creditor" includes an assignee for the benefit of a creditor, an executor, an administrator, a small estate declarant or a committee of a creditor; .

Police Act

250 Section 66 (1) (c) of the Police Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 367, is repealed and the following substituted:

(c) if the complainant dies after lodging a complaint, the executor of the complainant, the administrator of the complainant's estate or the small estate declarant of the complainant, or if no executor, administrator or small estate declarant is available or willing to act, a responsible adult.

Power of Attorney Act

251 Section 5 of the Power of Attorney Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 370, is amended by striking out "probate or letters of administration have been granted" and substituting "a representation grant, within the meaning of the Wills, Estates and Succession Act, has been issued".

Private Investigators and Security Agencies Act

252 Section 7 of the Private Investigators and Security Agencies Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 374, is amended

(a) by striking out "or the administrator of his or her estate" after "to his or her executor" and substituting ", the administrator of his or her estate or his or her small estate declarant", and

(b) by striking out "or administrator" after "if the executor" and substituting ", administrator or small estate declarant".

Probate Fee Act

253 Section 1 of the Probate Fee Act, S.B.C. 1999, c. 4, is amended in the definition of "resealing" by striking out "Probate Recognition Act;" and substituting "Wills, Estates and Succession Act;".

Public Guardian and Trustee Act

254 Section 5 (1) (a) of the Public Guardian and Trustee Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 383, is amended by striking out "and the Representation Agreement Act," and substituting ", the Representation Agreement Act and the Wills, Estates and Succession Act,".

255 Section 6 (a) is amended by striking out "or as an administrator of the estate" and substituting ", as an administrator of the estate or as a small estate declarant".

School Act

256 Section 150 (3) to (5) of the School Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 412, is amended by striking out "or administrator," wherever it appears and substituting ", administrator or small estate declarant,".

Securities Act

257 Section 45 (2) (1) (i) of the Securities Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 418, is amended by adding "small estate declarant," after "administrator,".

Social Service Tax Act

258 Section 116 (3) (b) of the Social Service Tax Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 431, is amended by adding ", small estate declarants" after "executors".

Survivorship and Presumption of Death Act

259 The title of the Survivorship and Presumption of Death Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 444, is repealed and the following substituted:

PRESUMPTION OF DEATH ACT .

260 Section 1 is amended by repealing the definition of "instrument".

261 Section 2 is repealed.

Trustee Act

262 Section 9 (1) of the Trustee Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 464, is amended

(a) by striking out "An executor or administrator" and substituting "An executor, administrator or small estate declarant,", and

(b) by striking out "testator's" and substituting "will-maker's".

263 Sections 10 and 38 are repealed.

264 Section 39 (1) is amended by striking out "or administrator" wherever it appears and substituting ", administrator or small estate declarant".

265 Section 74 (1) is amended by striking out "Estate Administration Act" and substituting "Wills, Estates and Succession Act".

266 Section 86 (1) is amended by striking out "or administrator" and substituting ", administrator or small estate declarant".

267 Section 87 (1) and (2) is amended by striking out "or administrator" wherever it appears and substituting ", administrator or small estate declarant".

268 Section 88 is amended

(a) in subsection (1) by striking out "letters of administration" and substituting "grant of administration", and

(b) in subsections (1) and (2) by striking out "or administrator" wherever it appears and substituting ", administrator or small estate declarant".

269 Section 91 (2) is amended by adding ", small estate declarant" after "administrator".

270 Section 99 is amended

(a) in subsection (1) by striking out "the granting of the probate or letters of administration" and substituting "the grant of probate or grant of administration",

(b) in subsection (2) by striking out "the granting of the probate or letters of administration" and substituting "the grant of probate or the grant of administration", and

(c) by repealing subsection (4) and substituting the following:

(4) Subsection (1) does not apply to the Public Guardian and Trustee, if appointed under Division 11 of Part 6 of the Wills, Estates and Succession Act, or to any executor, administrator or trustee under a will if the date of the grant of probate or grant of administration or of his or her appointment is before May 1, 1949.

Unclaimed Property Act

271 The Unclaimed Property Act, S.B.C. 1999, c. 48, is amended by adding the following section:

Claim that money held by Unclaimed Property Society escheat to Crown

4.3  (1) A person may assert a claim that, in accordance with the Wills, Estates and Succession Act, there is no person who has a claim to money deposited with the unclaimed property society by a personal representative of an estate.

(2) A claimant in subsection (1) must provide any information respecting the claim that the administrator may reasonably require.

(3) Subject to subsection (4), the administrator must within a reasonable time consider a claim made under subsection (1) and must, within that period, either

(a) pay the money to the minister if the administrator reasonably believes that no person is entitled to the amount claimed, or

(b) disallow the claim.

Amendments to this Act

272 Section 1 (1) of this Act is amended by repealing the definition of "nominee" and substituting the following:

"nominee" includes

(a) a statutory property guardian or property guardian under the Adult Guardianship Act,

(b) an attorney acting under Part 2 of the Power of Attorney Act, and

(c) a representative acting under a representation agreement made under

(i) section 7 (1) (b) of the Representation Agreement Act, or

(ii) section 9 (1) (g) of the Representation Agreement Act; .

273 Section 85 (3) is repealed and the following substituted:

(3) A person granted power over financial affairs under

(a) Part 2 of the Power of Attorney Act, or

(b) the Adult Guardianship Act

may make a designation under this section only if expressly authorized to do so by the court and the designation is not made in a will.

274 The Acts listed in Column 1 of Schedule 1 to this Act are amended in the provisions listed opposite them in Column 2 by striking out "testator" wherever it appears and substituting "will-maker".

Repeal of consequential amendments that may become inoperative

275  The Lieutenant Governor in Council may, by regulation, repeal sections 195, 196, 197, 198, 199, 200, 201, 202, 247, 248, 254, 272 and 273.

Commencement

276  This Act comes into force by regulation of the Lieutenant Governor in Council.

Schedule 1

Schedule 2

Convention Providing A Uniform Law On The
Form Of An International Will

THE STATES SIGNATORY TO THE PRESENT CONVENTION,

DESIRING to provide to a greater extent for the respecting of last wills by establishing an additional form of will hereinafter to be called an "international will" which, if employed, would dispense to some extent with the search for the applicable law;

HAVE RESOLVED to conclude a Convention for this purpose and have agreed upon the following provisions:

Article I

(1) Each Contracting Party undertakes that not later than six months after the date of entry into force of this Convention in respect of that Party it shall introduce into its law the rules regarding an international will set out in the Annex to this Convention.

(2) Each Contracting Party may introduce the provisions of the Annex into its law either by reproducing the actual text, or by translating it into its official language or languages.

(3) Each Contracting Party may introduce into its law such further provisions as are necessary to give the provisions of the Annex full effect in its territory.

(4) Each Contracting Party shall submit to the Depositary Government the text of the rules introduced into its national law in order to implement the provisions of this Convention.

Article II

(1) Each Contracting Party shall implement the provisions of the Annex in its law, within the period provided for in the preceding article, by designating the persons who, in its territory, shall be authorized to act in connection with international wills. It may also designate as a person authorized to act with regard to its nationals its diplomatic or consular agents abroad in so far as the local law does not prohibit it.

(2) The Party shall notify such designation, as well as any modifications thereof, to the Depositary Government.

Article III

The capacity of the authorized person to act in connection with an international will, if conferred in accordance with the law of a Contracting Party, shall be recognized in the territory of the other Contracting Parties.

Article IV

The effectiveness of the certificate provided for in Article 10 of the Annex shall be recognized in the territories of all Contracting Parties.

Article V

(1) The conditions requisite to acting as a witness of an international will shall be governed by the law under which the authorized person was designated. The same rule shall apply as regards an interpreter who is called upon to act.

(2) Nonetheless no one shall be disqualified to act as a witness of an international will solely because he is an alien.

Article VI

(1) The signature of the testator, of the authorized person, and of the witnesses to an international will, whether on the will or on the certificate, shall be exempt from any legalization or like formality.

(2) Nonetheless, the competent authorities of any Contracting Party may, if necessary, satisfy themselves as to the authenticity of the signature of the authorized person.

Article VII

The safekeeping of an international will shall be governed by the law under which the authorized person was designated.

Article VIII

No reservation shall be admitted to this Convention or to its Annex.

Article IX

(1) The present Convention shall be open for signature at Washington from October 26, 1973, until December 31, 1974.

(2) The Convention shall be subject to ratification.

(3) Instruments of ratification shall be deposited with the Government of the United States of America, which shall be the Depositary Government.

Article X

(1) The Convention shall be open indefinitely for accession.

(2) Instruments of accession shall be deposited with the Depositary Government.

Article XI

(1) The present Convention shall enter into force six months after the date of deposit of the fifth instrument of ratification or accession with the Depositary Government.

(2) In the case of each State which ratifies this Convention or accedes to it after the fifth instrument of ratification or accession has been deposited, this Convention shall enter into force six months after the deposit of its own instrument of ratification or accession.

Article XII

(1) Any Contracting Party may denounce this Convention by written notification to the Depositary Government.

(2) Such denunciation shall take effect twelve months from the date on which the Depositary Government has received the notification, but such denunciation shall not affect the validity of any will made during the period that the Convention was in effect for the denouncing State.

Article XIII

(1) Any State may, when it deposits its instrument of ratification or accession or at any time thereafter, declare, by a notice addressed to the Depositary Government, that this Convention shall apply to all or part of the territories for the international relations of which it is responsible.

(2) Such declaration shall have effect six months after the date on which the Depositary Government shall have received notice thereof or, if at the end of such period the Convention has not yet come into force, from the date of its entry into force.

(3) Each Contracting Party which has made a declaration in accordance with paragraph 1 of this Article may, in accordance with Article XII, denounce this Convention in relation to all or part of the territories concerned.

Article XIV

(1) If a State has two or more territorial units in which different systems of law apply in relation to matters respecting the form of wills, it may at the time of signature, ratification, or accession, declare that this Convention shall extend to all its territorial units or only to one or more of them, and may modify its declaration by submitting another declaration at any time.

(2) These declarations shall be notified to the Depositary Government and shall state expressly the territorial units to which the Convention applies.

Article XV

If a Contracting Party has two or more territorial units in which different systems of law apply in relation to matters respecting the form of wills, any reference to the internal law of the place where the will is made or to the law under which the authorized person has been appointed to act in connection with international wills shall be construed in accordance with the constitutional system of the Party concerned.

Article XVI

(1) The original of the present Convention, in the English, French, Russian and Spanish languages, each version being equally authentic, shall be deposited with the Government of the United States of America, which shall transmit certified copies thereof to each of the signatory and acceding States and to the International Institute for the Unification of Private Law.

(2) The Depositary Government shall give notice to the signatory and acceding States, and to the International Institute for the Unification of Private Law, of:

(a) any signature;

(b) the deposit of any instrument of ratification or accession;

(c) any date on which this Convention enters into force in accordance with Article XI;

(d) any communication received in accordance with Article I, paragraph 4;

(e) any notice received in accordance with Article II, paragraph 2;

(f) any declaration received in accordance with Article XIII, paragraph 2, and the date on which such declaration takes effect;

(g) any denunciation received in accordance with Article XII, paragraph 1, or Article XIII, paragraph 3, and the date on which the denunciation takes effect;

(h) any declaration received in accordance with Article XIV, paragraph 2, and the date on which the declaration takes effect.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned Plenipotentiaries, being duly authorized to that effect, have signed the present Convention.

DONE at Washington this twenty-sixth day of October, one thousand nine hundred and seventy-three.

Annex

Uniform Law On The Form Of An International Will

Article 1

(1) A will shall be valid as regards form, irrespective particularly of the place where it is made, of the location of the assets and of the nationality, domicile or residence of the testator, if it is made in the form of an international will complying with the provisions set out in Articles 2 to 5 hereinafter.

(2) The invalidity of the will as an international will shall not affect its formal validity as a will of another kind.

Article 2

This law shall not apply to the form of testamentary dispositions made by two or more persons in one instrument.

Article 3

(1) The will shall be made in writing.

(2) It need not be written by the testator himself.

(3) It may be written in any language, by hand or by any other means.

Article 4

(1) The testator shall declare in the presence of two witnesses and of a person authorized to act in connection with international wills that the document is his will and that he knows the contents thereof.

(2) The testator need not inform the witnesses, or the authorized person, of the contents of the will.

Article 5

(1) In the presence of the witnesses and of the authorized person, the testator shall sign the will or, if he has previously signed it, shall acknowledge his signature.

(2) When the testator is unable to sign, he shall indicate the reason therefor to the authorized person who shall make note of this on the will. Moreover, the testator may be authorized by the law under which the authorized person was designated to direct another person to sign on his behalf.

(3) The witnesses and the authorized person shall there and then attest the will by signing in the presence of the testator.

Article 6

(1) The signatures shall be placed at the end of the will.

(2) If the will consists of several sheets, each sheet shall be signed by the testator or, if he is unable to sign, by the person signing on his behalf or, if there is no such person, by the authorized person. In addition, each sheet shall be numbered.

Article 7

(1) The date of the will shall be the date of its signature by the authorized person.

(2) This date shall be noted at the end of the will by the authorized person.

Article 8

In the absence of any mandatory rule pertaining to the safekeeping of the will, the authorized person shall ask the testator whether he wishes to make a declaration concerning the safekeeping of his will. If so and at the express request of the testator the place where he intends to have his will kept shall be mentioned in the certificate provided for in Article 9.

Article 9

The authorized person shall attach to the will a certificate in the form prescribed in Article 10 establishing that the obligations of this law have been complied with.

Article 10

The certificate drawn up by the authorized person shall be in the following form or in a substantially similar form:

CERTIFICATE

(Convention of October 26, 1973)

1. I, ..............................., (name, address and capacity), a person authorized to act in connection with international wills

2. Certify that on ................................................. (date) at ............................. (place)

3. (testator) ................................... (name, address, date and place of birth) in my presence and that of the witnesses

4. (a) ............................................ (name, address, date and place of birth)

(b) ............................................ (name, address, date and place of birth) has declared that the attached document is his will and that he knows the contents thereof.

5. I furthermore certify that:

6. (a) in my presence and in that of the witnesses

(1) the testator has signed the will or has acknowledged his signature previously affixed.

  *(2) following a declaration of the testator stating that he was unable to sign his will for the following reason .....................................- I have mentioned this declaration on the will................*- the signature has been affixed by ............................................ (name, address)

7. (b) the witnesses and I have signed the will;

8. *(c) each page of the will has been signed by .......................... and numbered;

9. (d) I have satisfied myself as to the identity of the testator and of the witnesses as designated above;

10. (e) the witnesses met the conditions requisite to act as such according to the law under which I am acting;

11. *(f) the testator has requested me to include the following statement concerning the safekeeping of his will:

12. PLACE ..........................................

13. DATE ............................................

14. SIGNATURE and, if necessary, SEAL

*To be completed if appropriate.

Article 11

The authorized person shall keep a copy of the certificate and deliver another to the testator.

Article 12

In the absence of evidence to the contrary, the certificate of the authorized person shall be conclusive of the formal validity of the instrument as a will under this Law.

Article 13

The absence or irregularity of a certificate shall not affect the formal validity of a will under this Law.

Article 14

The international will shall be subject to the ordinary rules of revocation of wills.

Article 15

In interpreting and applying the provisions of this law, regard shall be had to its international origin and to the need for uniformity in its interpretation.

 
Explanatory Note

This Bill repeals and replaces the Estate Administration Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 122, the Probate Recognition Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 376, the Wills Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 489, and the Wills Variation Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 490. The new Wills, Estates and Succession Act is modelled on a report prepared by the members of the Succession Law Reform Project of the British Columbia Law Institute, and includes a new administrative process for small estates.