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Wills and estate planning

Last updated on January 21, 2026

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Making a will

Making a will is an important part of planning for your family's future. If you die without a will:

  • Your property will be divided according to rules set out in the Wills, Estates and Succession Act
  • The cost to administer your estate will increase
  • The court won't know who you want to be the guardian of any children or dependent adults who were in your care

You can use a kit or online service to write your own will, but it's a good idea to get help from a lawyer or notary public to make sure your will is legal. If your will isn't considered legal, it can create a lot of problems for the people who will inherit your assets.

See more resources to help you get started with making a will and estate planning.

Advance directives and substitute decision-making agreements

In a medical crisis, you may not be able to make important health care decisions for yourself. Advance directives and representation agreements allow the person of your choice to make those decisions for you. Other jurisdictions may refer to these types of documents as "living wills".

If you don't have a representation agreement or advance directive for your health care decisions, the law may allow family members or the Public Guardian and Trustee of British Columbia to make decisions on your behalf.

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For more information about wills and estates, please see:

Estate planning covers a wide range of financial and legal issues. See our pages on:

The After a Death webpages support people who are dealing with a death. Topics include:

For guidance and help staying organized in the event of death, please see the After a Dearth checklist (PDF, 3.8MB).