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Can You Decline to Be an Executor in British Columbia?

Discovering that someone named you as the executor of their will can bring mixed emotions. You may appreciate their trust while wondering whether you have the time, health, or ability to take on the responsibility. Those concerns can feel especially difficult when you are grieving. You may be managing your own household, caring for someone else, or trying to understand an estate that is more complicated than expected. Being named does not necessarily mean you must accept. In BC, it is generally possible to decline before you begin acting as executor. However, steps you have already taken can affect your options, so timing matters.

Who Keeps the Family Pet After Separation in BC?

Your pet may have been part of morning walks, family outings, and the quiet routines that made your house feel like home. When a relationship ends, deciding where that pet will live can feel deeply personal.

You may both want to continue caring for the animal. You may also have different views about expenses, daily responsibilities, or what arrangement would be practical after moving into separate homes.

In British Columbia, spouses can agree on arrangements for their family pet. When they cannot agree, a court can decide ownership or possession, but it cannot order them to share the animal. Understanding this distinction can help you approach the conversation with clearer expectations.

Section 7 Expenses in BC: What Parents Need to Know

When parents separate, understanding child support can involve more than determining the basic monthly amount. Certain costs for children may fall outside regular child support and may need to be shared separately between parents.

These are commonly called Section 7 expenses, or special or extraordinary expenses.

For parents navigating child support in British Columbia, knowing what qualifies as a Section 7 expense, how costs may be divided, and how to address disagreements can help reduce uncertainty and avoid future conflict.

3 Tips: Future Perfect

You’re just separated, or are thinking about it. You have no idea of what to do, where to go, or who to talk to. You are feeling overwhelmed. You’re not alone. Here are several tips which I think will help, if you find yourself in this situation. Firstly, do not rely...

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National Disgrace

Recently there was a great deal of attention surrounding various changes to the Federal Divorce Act. In particular, there was an expanded definition of “domestic violence”, and some archaic terms such as “custody”, were replaced with phrases such as “parental...

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Snake in the Grass pt. 2

Last week I addressed the scourge of “parental alienation”, comparing it to a poisonous snake in the grass. This week on the Roy Green Program, I had a second opportunity to speak on this subject, with another guest, psychologist Dr. Ellie Bolgar. If you are a...

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Got Mediation?

Readers of my blog will know that as a qualified family law mediator myself, I often refer to mediation as an alternative to traditional methods of resolving disputes, particularly court related proceedings. But for those of my readers who are considering mediation...

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Snake in the Grass

The expression a “snake in the grass” is a perfect description of a devastating situation faced by some parents. In this case the “snake” is the other parent. The “venom” or “poison” of this particular snake are vile messages directed at the children, intended to...

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Take Your Seat

Years ago, it became clear to me, that my family law clients were suffering emotional trauma from the stress and anxiety of separation and divorce. While family law lawyers often pride themselves on having all the answers, this was a situation where my legal advice...

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Lawyer Up

The expression, “lawyer up” is commonly used in movies, and real life, to describe the process of hiring a lawyer. Those who regularly read my blog, know that I am not an advocate for simply lawyering up at the drop of a hat, (mine, (a fedora),or anyone else’s)....

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Be Honest

Today’s blog is simple advice. Directed at anyone experiencing on-going family law disputes involving children. But if you take it, and follow it, I believe you will be pleasantly surprised with the results. Before I give it let’s take a step back. If you’re a parent...

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Sleepless Nights

At least twice this past week I was talking with someone about an agreement that they had apparently reached with their former spouse, and they wanted to know about “getting it notarized”. Apparently, both believed that having their agreement notarized somehow made...

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