Difference between revisions of "Where to Get Help for Being an Executor"

Revision as of 21:53, 12 February 2016

This information applies to British Columbia, Canada. Last reviewed for legal accuracy by People's Law School in January 2016.

Access Pro Bono

Volunteer lawyers provide free legal advice to qualifying persons who cannot obtain legal aid or afford a lawyer.

Lower Mainland: 604-878-7400

Toll-free: 1-877-762-6664

www.accessprobono.ca

Canada Revenue Agency

The CRA publication Preparing Returns for Deceased Persons provides information and forms for those filing tax returns for a deceased person.

1-800-959-8281

www.cra-arc.gc.ca

Clicklaw

Clicklaw offers one-stop access to legal information, education and help for British Columbians from trusted organizations. Select the topic “Wills & Estates.”

www.clicklaw.bc.ca

Dial-A-Law

The Canadian Bar Association, BC Branch provides legal information for the public by telephone recordings and over the Internet. See the script on “Your Duties as Executor.”

Lower Mainland: 604-687-4680

Toll-free: 1-800-565-5297

www.dialalaw.org

Lawyer Referral Service

The Canadian Bar Association, BC Branch offers referrals to lawyers who can provide a half-hour consultation for $25.

Lower Mainland: 604-687-3221

Toll-free: 1-800-663-1919

lawyerreferral@bccba.org

Public Guardian and Trustee of BC

This government office manages estates, for a fee, when the executor is not able or willing to do so, or when someone dies without a will.

700 - 808 West Hastings Street

Vancouver, BC V6C 3L3

604-660-4444

www.trustee.bc.ca

Self Counsel Press

Self Counsel Press publishes do-it-yourself guides on legal topics for BC, including the British Columbia Probate Kit, which includes the forms required for probate and a step-by-step explanation of the process.

www.self-counsel.com

Society of Notaries Public of BC

A notary public can help with making a will and certifying legal documents. They are not able to assist with the probate process. The Society of Notaries Public of BC offers a list of notaries in the province.

Lower Mainland: 604-681-4516

Toll-free: 1-800-663-0343

www.notaries.bc.ca

Being an Executor © People's Law School is, except for the images, licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International Licence.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{REVIEWEDPLS | reviewer = [[People's Law School]] |date= January 2016}}
 {{Being an Executor TOC}}
-{| class="wikitable"
+=== Access Pro Bono ===
-|- valign=top
+Volunteer lawyers provide free legal advice to qualifying persons who cannot obtain legal aid or afford a lawyer.
-| width="20%" | '''Access Pro Bono Society of BC'''
+:Lower Mainland: 604-878-7400
-| width="40%" | If you cannot afford a lawyer, you can make an appointment for free legal assistance from a volunteer lawyer.
+:Toll-free: 1-877-762-6664
-| width="40%" | Lower Mainland: 604.878.7400 <br/>
+:[http://www.accessprobono.ca www.accessprobono.ca]
-Outside Lower Mainland: 1.877.762.6664
-|- valign=top
+=== Canada Revenue Agency ===
-| width="20%" | '''Clicklaw'''
+The CRA publication Preparing Returns for Deceased Persons provides information and forms for those filing tax returns for a deceased person.
-| width="40%" | Clicklaw is a website aimed at enhancing access to justice in British Columbia. It features legal information and education designed for the public from over 24 contributor organizations.
+:1-800-959-8281
-| width="40%" | [http://www.clicklaw.bc.ca www.clicklaw.bc.ca]
+:[http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca www.cra-arc.gc.ca]
-|- valign=top
+=== Clicklaw ===
-| width="20%" | '''Dial-a-law'''
+Clicklaw offers one-stop access to legal information, education and help for British Columbians from trusted organizations. Select the topic “Wills & Estates.”
-| width="40%" | Dial-a-Law is a library of pre-recorded tapes with information about the law in BC. They have tapes on various topics such as Making a Will; Getting Ready to Handle an Estate in Probate; and the Disappointed Beneficiary.
+:[http://www.clicklaw.bc.ca www.clicklaw.bc.ca]
-| width="40%" | Lower Mainland - 604.687.4680,<br/>
-Outside the Lower Mainland - 1.800.565.5297<br/>
-[http://www.dialalaw.org www.dialalaw.org]
-|- valign=top
+=== Dial-A-Law ===
-| width="20%" | '''Law Students Legal Advice Clinics'''
+The Canadian Bar Association, BC Branch provides legal information for the public by telephone recordings and over the Internet. See the script on “Your Duties as Executor.”
-| width="40%" | These clinics provide information and assistance about choosing or being an executor, and making a will. In the Lower Mainland, law students from the University of British Columbia hold free legal clinics in different locations.
+:Lower Mainland: 604-687-4680
-| width="40%" | Lower Mainland: 604.822.5791<br/>
+:Toll-free: 1-800-565-5297
-Victoria: 1.250.385.1221<br/>
+:[http://www.dialalaw.org www.dialalaw.org]
-[http://www.lslap.bc.ca www.lslap.bc.ca]
-|- valign=top
+=== Lawyer Referral Service ===
-| width="20%" | '''Lawyer Referral Service'''
+The Canadian Bar Association, BC Branch offers referrals to lawyers who can provide a half-hour consultation for $25.
-| width="40%" | Offers referrals to lawyers who can provide up to a half-hour consultation for $25.
+:Lower Mainland: 604-687-3221
-| width="40%" | Lower Mainland: 604.687.3221<br/>
+:Toll-free: 1-800-663-1919
-Outside Lower Mainland: 1.800.663.1919<br/>
+:[mailto:lawyerreferral@bccba.org lawyerreferral@bccba.org]
-lawyerreferral@bccba.org
-|- valign=top
+=== Public Guardian and Trustee of BC ===
-| width="20%" | '''Legal Services Society Call Centre'''
+This government office manages estates, for a fee, when the executor is not able or willing to do so, or when someone dies without a will.
-| width="40%" | Can answer legal questions and direct people to other information or services that can help them solve their legal problems. They do not give legal advice.
+:700 - 808 West Hastings Street
-| width="40%" | Lower Mainland: 604.408.2172<br/>
+:Vancouver, BC V6C 3L3
-Outside Lower Mainland: 1.866.577.2525
+:604-660-4444
+:[http://www.trustee.bc.ca www.trustee.bc.ca]
-|- valign=top
+=== Self Counsel Press ===
-| width="20%" | '''Self Counsel Press'''
+Self Counsel Press publishes do-it-yourself guides on legal topics for BC, including the British Columbia Probate Kit, which includes the forms required for probate and a step-by-step explanation of the process.
-| width="40%" | Self Counsel Press publishes do-it-yourself guides on legal topics, including Probate Guide for BC, Probate Forms, and Wills for British Columbia. They are available from public libraries, bookstores, and legal stationery stores in BC.
+:[http://www.self-counsel.com www.self-counsel.com]
-| width="40%" | [http://www.self-counsel.com www.self-counsel.com]
-|- valign=top
-| width="20%" | '''Senior Citizen Counsellor Program'''
-| width="40%" |Volunteer counsellors are appointed by the Ministry of Health Services to assist other seniors. They can provide information on provincial programs and refer you to service agencies. To contact a counsellor, call the HealthLink BC.
-| width="40%" | Health and Seniors Information Line <br/>
-Victoria - 1. 250.952.1742<br/>
-In BC - 1.800.465.4911<br/>
-[http://www.gov.bc.ca/health www.gov.bc.ca/health]
-|- valign=top
+=== Society of Notaries Public of BC ===
-| width="20%" | '''Society of Notaries Public of BC'''
+A notary public can help with making a will and certifying legal documents. They are not able to assist with the probate process. The Society of Notaries Public of BC offers a list of notaries in the province.
-| width="40%" | You can go to a notary for help with making a will and executing affidavits. To get the name and telephone number of a Notary Public near you, phone the Society of Notaries Public of BC. Ask the Notary Public how much it will cost for a first meeting.
+:Lower Mainland: 604-681-4516
-| width="40%" | Lower Mainland - 604.681.4516<br/>
+:Toll-free: 1-800-663-0343
-Outside Lower Mainland - 1.800.663.0343<br/>
+:[http://www.notaries.bc.ca www.notaries.bc.ca]
-[http://www.notaries.bc.ca www.notaries.bc.ca]
-|- valign=top
-| width="20%" | '''Public Guardian and Trustee Office'''
-| width="40%" | Manages estates where there is a will, but the executor has died or is not able to act and there is no alternate executor and no heirs to take over.
-| width="40%" | 700 - 808 West Hastings Street<br/>
-Vancouver, BC V6C 3L3<br/>
-.660.4444<br/>
-|}
-{{REVIEWED | reviewer = [[People's Law School]], 2014}}
 {{Being an Executor Navbox}}