Family Law
Powell River Family Law Lawyer
Our lawyers at Pier Law & Mediation have always been committed to protecting family units and helping clients navigate family challenges. We now offer estate planning services at our Powell River office to help families through another challenging process: preparing for the end of life.
Let our compassionate Powell River family law lawyers help you craft an estate plan that prepares your legacy for generations to come. We can help you create a will, trusts, powers of attorney, advance directives, and other legal documents to adequately plan for what will happen to your assets and estate after your death.
Contact us today at 604-560-8285 to schedule an estate planning consultation.
Let Us Help You Draft a Comprehensive Estate Plan
Meeting with an experienced family lawyer is essential if you want to draft an estate plan that adequately addresses your wishes and holds up in probate court. We will help you create any of these documents to include in your plan:
- Wills: A will establishes who will receive your assets and property after your death. It can also include arrangements for guardianship should you pass away with minor children. Let our family law lawyers in Powell River help you draft a detailed will that fully accounts for your assets and unique circumstances.
- Trusts: Trusts give you even greater control over the distribution of assets out of your estate. You can choose exactly when and how beneficiaries receive assets, such as when they turn 18 or reach another milestone. We will help you choose the right type of trust for your goals and set it up for you.
- Powers of attorney: A power of attorney gives another person the authority to act on your behalf in certain circumstances. If you become incapacitated and can no longer make decisions for yourself, a POA can allow a spouse or other family member to make decisions about your medical care, finances, or estate for you.
- Advance directives: An advance directive lets you specify your wishes for future medical care if you are unable to vocalize those wishes when the time comes. This document can help you maintain dignity and control and avoid any treatments you are uncomfortable receiving at the end of life.
We will ensure your estate planning documents align with any other family law measures in place, such as parenting agreements, spousal support documents, and child custody arrangements.
Why Prioritize Estate Planning?
Estate planning isn’t a topic anyone enjoys thinking about, but starting this process now with our Powell River family law lawyers offers several benefits:
- Retain control over your estate: Without an estate plan, the provincial government will be responsible for appointing an estate executor and determining who receives your assets. Estate planning lets you retain control over the distribution of assets and property and clarifies your unique wishes for your estate.
- Start thinking about challenging decisions: Starting the estate planning process now allows you to begin considering challenging decisions while you still have time to give them the necessary attention. Who will inherit your largest assets? What medical procedures are you okay with enduring? You can start making these decisions now, before they become critical.
- Avoid family conflicts: Dictating clear wishes for your estate helps you avoid confusion among your family members. You can prevent conflicts and debates and facilitate a smoother probate process.
- Help your family bypass probate: With the right estate planning measures, such as a living trust, you can pass inheritances directly to beneficiaries after your death, possibly allowing your family to bypass probate.
- Gain peace of mind: Establishing an estate plan now and updating it as needed will give you the ultimate peace of mind that your needs and wishes will be addressed at the end of your life.
Now Is the Time To Start Thinking About Estate Planning
No matter how old you are or what stage of life you are in, there is no better time than the present to start drafting an estate plan.
Many people assume that they can wait until after retirement to create a will and set up trusts. In reality, the sooner you start the estate planning process, the better. You never know when you will need these protections in place, and creating them now, while you are still healthy, ensures that you can make informed decisions about them.
Whether you are just starting your career, have a baby on the way, are recently engaged, or are nearing retirement, our Powell River family law lawyers will help you set up an estate plan that reflects your unique life circumstances. We are available to update your plan as needed to account for new changes in your life.
Why Choose Pier Law & Mediation?
Our firm values client-centred service and thoughtful legal solutions.
- We treat clients with respect: We take the time to understand our clients deeply, enabling us to tailor their services precisely and prioritize their needs and goals.
- We provide a wide range of services: We offer comprehensive family law and estate planning across our four British Columbia office locations. Whether you need assistance with divorce, child custody, marital contracts, adoption, or estate planning, our lawyers can assist you.
- We have 15+ years of experience: Our deep knowledge of British Columbia family law and estate planning matters, combined with our many years of experience, allows us to fully meet our clients’ needs and achieve their goals through our legal services.
- We are committed to creative problem solving: There is no one-size-fits-all solution that works for every client. We approach challenges creatively, utilizing solutions such as mediation and family negotiation to resolve disputes.
Turn to Pier Law & Mediation for Personalized Family Law Services in Powell River
Our Powell River family law lawyers are committed to taking the stress of wills and estate planning off your shoulders. We will guide you through this process and help you gain the ultimate peace of mind about the legacy you will leave behind after your death.
Call us today at 604-560-8285 or fill out our online form to request a consultation for family law and estate planning.
Powell River, BC Office
Pier Law & Mediation
105-4675 Marine Ave
Powell River, BC V8A 2L2
Office Hours: 9 AM – 5 PM, Mon – Fri (PT)
Office Phone: 604-560-8285
The Pier Law Approach.
At Pier Law & Mediation, we are not a ‘one size fits all’ firm. Each family is unique, and we tailor our services to meet your legal needs. That said, there are three core steps to the resolution process.
Strategy
Discovery
Resolution
While divorce cases can vary from straightforward to complex, these three steps are at the heart of the overall process.
Estate Planning FAQs
1. What Is the Difference Between a Will and an Estate Plan?
A will is just one component of a comprehensive estate plan. It details what will happen to your assets and any minor children after your death. We recommend creating a will and other estate planning documents, such as a power of attorney and advance directive, to thoroughly express your wishes.
2. What Are the Inheritance Laws in Powell River?
Powell River’s inheritance laws are dictated by the Wills, Estates and Succession Act, which states that without a will, a person’s assets would be divided among their close relatives. Their spouse would receive a preferential share of the estate, while their children would split the remaining assets. Creating a will and trusts gives you much more control over the asset distribution process.
3. Do You Need a Lawyer to Make a Will in Powell River?
Hiring a lawyer to help you draft a will helps ensure the document is legally sound. Our Powell River family law lawyers can assist in creating a will and other estate planning documents that fully address your wishes for your estate.
Let us help you get back to living your life.
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