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— Inheritance & Estate Disputes · Surrey, BC

When an inheritance becomes a dispute, clarity matters most.

Wills variation claims, contested estates, executor disputes, and intestacy — handled with the discretion family conflict demands and the rigour litigation requires.

— Overview

Where estates law meets litigation.

Inheritance disputes sit at the intersection of two things GSG does every day: estates work and litigation. Whether you've been left out of a will, suspect a will was signed under pressure or without capacity, or are dealing with an executor who won't communicate or account, we act for beneficiaries, disinherited family members, and estate representatives across British Columbia.

These files carry deadlines that forgive nothing — a wills variation claim must be brought within 180 days of probate — and family dynamics that deserve care. We move quickly on the law while staying measured with the people involved, and we resolve privately through negotiation or mediation wherever a courtroom can be avoided.

— What we handle

Inheritance & estate dispute services.

I.Wills variation claims (WESA)
II.Contesting a will's validity
III.Undue influence & capacity challenges
IV.Executor & trustee disputes
V.Intestate estate claims
VI.Trust & beneficiary disputes
VII.Defending estates & executors
VIII.Passing of accounts
— Common questions

What clients usually ask first.

Can I contest a will in BC?+
Yes, in two main ways. A spouse or child can bring a wills variation claim under BC's Wills, Estates and Succession Act if the will doesn't make adequate provision for them. Separately, anyone with an interest can challenge a will's validity on grounds like lack of capacity, undue influence, or improper execution. The right route depends on your relationship to the deceased and the facts around the will.
How long do I have to contest a will?+
A wills variation claim must be started within 180 days of the grant of probate — a hard deadline with very limited exceptions. Validity challenges follow different limitation rules, but evidence goes stale and estates get distributed. If you're considering a claim, get advice before the clock becomes the problem.
What happens if someone dies without a will?+
BC's intestacy rules under WESA decide who inherits. A spouse takes a preferential share ($300,000 if all children are shared; $150,000 in blended families) plus a portion of the remainder, with the rest divided among children. The results often surprise blended families — stepchildren who were never adopted inherit nothing.
The executor isn't doing their job. What can I do?+
Beneficiaries can compel an executor to account for their administration, seek their removal for misconduct or unreasonable delay, and in serious cases pursue them personally for losses caused to the estate. Executors owe fiduciary duties — courts take them seriously, and so do we, on either side of the dispute.
— Begin

A conversation, before a case.

Inheritance deadlines are short. Speak with a Surrey estate dispute lawyer promptly. Call (778) 262-2835 or send a confidential inquiry.