Only 55 per cent of British Columbians have a current and legal will, according to a province-wide poll conducted for the Society of Notaries Public of B.C.
The Mustel Group’s telephone poll in March found that 20 per cent of people in the 18-to-34 age range, 51 per cent between 35 and 54, and 83 per cent of individuals 55-plus have a will in place.
“A will is the best way to ensure that the people, charities or non-profit organizations you care about receive the benefit of your estate,” said Akash Sablok, B.C. Notaries president.
This research coincides with the provincial government’s proclamation that March 31 to April 6 is Make A Will Week to encourage more British Columbians to create a will or bring an existing will up-to-date.
Make A Will Week coincides with the Wills, Estate and Succession Act (WESA) which comes into effect March 31.
WESA streamlines seven acts into one, providing greater certainty for individuals who put their last wishes into writing, and clarifies the process for distributing estates where there is no will.
The new act also:
n Allows the court to recognize a document as a will even if it does not meet all the standards usually required to make a will.
n Helps courts ensure a deceased person’s last wishes are respected.
n Lowers the age at which a person can make a will to 16.
With some of the laws about interpreting wills changing, those who have a will written before March 31, 2014 may wish to review it with a notary or lawyer to make sure their wishes are upheld, according to B.C. Notaries.
“Creating a will takes less time than most people think and can usually be completed in one or two short meetings,” said Sablok.
“A good way to start the process is to identify a legal professional in your community — someone you trust who can assist you in preparing a proper and legal will.”
