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{{REVIEWEDPLS | reviewer = [[People's Law School]] |date= 2014}}
{{Writing Your Will TOC}}
You can make a will on your own, or have someone such as a lawyer or a notary public help you. There are rules and formalities that must be followed, no matter how simple the will, or the will may not be valid.
==Do I have = How detailed does my will need to get legal help to make a simple Willbe?===
Spouse includes a common-law spouse, which is a person you have lived with in a marriage-like relationship for at least two years.
If your spouse or children wish to dispute your will, they have to apply to the Supreme Court within 180 days after the court has issued a grant of probate. (Probate is a legal procedure that confirms the will is legally valid and can be acted on.) The person disputing the will needs to prove in court that the will does not provide for them adequately.
Separated spouses generally have no legal claim to dispute the arrangements made in your will. Other relatives who are left out also generally have no claim.
{{PLSTipsbox
| text = If you want to leave a spouse or child out of your will, you should explain this in a separate document or letter, kept with your will. You need to show that you have considered them
and your obligation to provide for them. This does not guarantee that they will not receive something if they dispute the will in court. You should seek legal advice from a lawyer.
}}
=== Do I have to get legal help to make a basic will? ===
With good do-it-yourself materials, it’s not too difficult to make a will that takes care of basic concerns, such as leaving a home, investments, and personal items to loved ones.
However, getting professional help to make a basic will does not cost very much, and having your will made by a lawyer or notary public is the safest way to avoid mistakes. Using an experienced lawyer or notary can give you the peace of mind of knowing that your will is properly drafted and valid, and that your affairs will be handled according to your wishes.
Getting advice from a lawyer or notary becomes particularly important where there are features such as a blended family, a charitable gift, property outside of British Columbia, a family business, or a wish to disinherit potential beneficiaries.
Ask a lawyer or notary how much it will cost before you decide to give the job to him or her. To find a lawyer or notary, see the Where to Get Help section.
{{Writing Your Will Navbox}}