Author: Clicklaw Editor

Make-A-Will Week 2020

Community posts

October 4 to 10 is Make a Will Week! The government of British Columbia designated the week to encourage the public to write or update their will.

Will making is getting even more manageable. Remote witnessing of will signing is now a permanent part of BC law. Recognition of electronic wills is coming soon once tweaks to the probate rules are made to allow for the filing of electronic wills.

Why do I need a will? Why should I make one?

A will is a legal document that leaves instructions about what you want to be done with everything you own after your death. If you die without a will, your property will be divided according to the law in BC. It could make things more difficult for your loved ones.

I want to make a will. What should I do?

You could start by reading any of the free resources available for British Columbians. Go to the Courthouse Libraries BC website for a complete list of resources and services prepared for various audiences: http://bit.ly/clbcwills. At the Wills & Personal Planning Resources page, you could also find information about personal planning documents, such as Representation Agreements and Enduring Power of Attorney.

Printable handouts

For a quick overview, this one-pager for everyone (PDF) comes handy. The handout is also available for public librarians & community helpers (PDF), as well as for lawyers & legal professionals (PDF). Feel free to print and distribute these handouts, but please highlight the short URL that directs back to the Wills & Personal Planning Resources page: http://bit.ly/CLBCwills.

Any public events to help me get started?

Check out the listings in our October Events post. Different non-profit organizations hold free or low-cost webinars to help you with various topics around wills. They are listed below in alphabetical order, along with description taken from their website:

  • Nidus – is currently the only community-based resource in Canada devoted to personal planning. Its existence sets British Columbia apart as a leader in addressing the critical needs of an ageing population.
  • People’s Law School – provides free education and information to help people effectively deal with the legal problems of daily life.
  • Plan Institute – works to improve the lives of people with disabilities by collaborating on community-based projects, offering a suite of learning initiatives, and advocating for policy reform.

Stay informed:

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October 2020 Events

Events

Bookmark this post! It will be updated as more events are announced. You can also get frequent updates via our Twitter. Have a suggestion? Email us.

Educating & Helping the Public

Free or low cost events for the general public to understand and use the law. Follow the links to see cost & registration info. All times in Pacific Time unless stated otherwise. See disclaimer.
Oct 1-4 | Oct 5-11 | Oct 12-18 | Oct 19-25 | Oct 26-31
Looking for events for intermediaries? Jump to the next section.

October 4-10, 2020, is Make-a-Will Week in our province. Check out the many public events below to help you write or update your will.

October 5-11, 2020

  • What if I’m hospitalized? Don’t wait! (Webinar)
    by Nidus Personal Planning and Resource Centre and Registry
  • Privacy and Recordkeeping for Non-Profits (Webinar)
    by Law for Non Profits
    • What: When was the last time you looked at your privacy policy? Are you intentional in recording the day to day operations of your non-profit? In this workshop tailored to non-profits, hear from PLEO Legal Director Martha Rans on best practices for Privacy and Recordkeeping to ensure your organization is in accordance with the Societies and Personal Information and Privacy Act.
    • When: Wednesday, October 7, 2020 10:00 AM to Noon
    • Cost: $50
  • Making a Will in British Columbia (Webinar)
    by People’s Law School
    • What: In the spirit of Make a Will Week next week, we’re offering this webinar to encourage British Columbians to make or update their wills. Our guests – a lawyer in private practice, a notary, and a lawyer from the Public Guardian and Trustee – will answer common questions and share their insights.
    • When: Thursday, October 8, at noon PT
    • Cost: Free

October 12-18, 2020

  • Types of power of attorney – what do I need? (Webinar)
    by Nidus Personal Planning and Resource Centre and Registry
    • What: It can be confusing to figure out what type of power of attorney you might need: Power of Attorney? Enduring Power of Attorney? Bank Power of Attorney? Sometimes we get mixed up by laws in other provinces and even other countries – for example what does the term Durable Power of Attorney mean?
    • When: Wednesday, Oct. 14, 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm OR Thursday, Oct. 15, 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm
    • Cost: Free

October 19-25, 2020

  • Consent – for care facility admission? for health care decisions? (Webinar)
    by Nidus Personal Planning and Resource Centre and Registry
    • What: New procedures for consent to long-term care facilities came into effect in BC on November 4, 2019. How do the procedures work? BC has strong legislation about informed consent for any health care decision – including health care in a care facility, in a hospital, in a hospice and in the community. BC’s legislation for health care consent came into effect February 2000 – find out why a Representation Agreement is vital for health care.
    • When: Tuesday, Oct. 20, 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm OR Thursday, Oct. 22, 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm
    • Cost: Free
  • Digital Platforms and Violence against Women: User Experiences, Best Practices, and the Law (Zoom)
    by Violence Against Women Learning Network
    • What: This webinar will present a personal experience of being targeted by digital hate groups in order to describe experiences of violence, doxing, the precarity of being visible in online spaces, and the importance of fostering a feminist security culture. It will provide an overview of key privacy, safety and security tips and resources and offer participants tools to create safer spaces for themselves and others.  It will also provide an overview of key laws that apply to online platform-facilitated violence, abuse, and harassment, including privacy law, tort law, criminal law, and the developing law on platform regulation.
    • When: Tuesday, October 20, 2020 10:00 AM to 11:15 AM PST
    • Cost: Free
  • Joint Ownership: the Good, the Bad & the Risky! (Webinar)
    by Nidus Personal Planning and Resource Centre and Registry
    • What: Joint ownership of bank accounts, real estate, and vehicles is common for spouses. What can happen when a parent and child own property jointly? Learn about recent court cases that raise new cautions about joint ownership. Joint ownership is NOT a substitute for planning in case of incapacity or end-of-life.
    • When: Wednesday, Oct. 21, 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm
    • Cost: Free
  • Power of Attorney (Webinar)
    by West Vancouver Memorial Library
    • What: What is a Power of Attorney and what does it involve? A North Shore-based lawyer, Katrina S. Yaworsky, will discuss who can look after your financial, personal and health care decisions if you become incapable. She will also focus on what you can do to plan ahead and ease the burden on your family, by having a Power of Attorney and a Representation Agreement prepared.
    • When: Wednesday, October 21 at 10 a.m.–11 a.m.
    • Cost: Free
  • Wills, Trusts and Estate Planning Online Workshop (Webinar)
    by Plan Institute
    • What: Becoming well-informed about wills, trusts and estate planning is necessary to secure the financial future of your loved one with a disability. In this webinar you will learn things you should consider when creating a will, ways in which to ensure your loved one is protected when family passes, the types of trusts available, and more.
    • When: Thursday, October 22, 2020 7:00 PM to 8:15 PM
    • Cost: Registration fee, $25

October 26-31, 2020

  • Contesting a Will in British Columbia (Webinar)
    by People’s Law School
    • What: We receive a lot of questions from the public about challenging a will, including questions about validity, undue influence, and fairness to beneficiaries. We’ll have two lawyers in private practice answer common questions and offer information about what signs to look for and possible steps to take.
    • When: Tuesday, October 27, at noon PT
    • Cost: Free
  • Making a Will? What if someone dies without a Will? (Webinar)
    by Nidus Personal Planning and Resource Centre and Registry
    • What: Some people do not meet the capability requirements to make a Will. What happens? Who inherits if there is no Will? This presentation will also give tips for those who meet the capability requirements to make a Will.
    • When: Tuesday, Oct. 27, 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm
    • Cost: Free
  • Workshop on Elder Abuse: What Is It? How Do We Deal With It? (Webinar)
    by Seniors First BC
    • What: This 60-minute workshop addresses the correlation between social isolation and abuse of older adults, types of abuse and people involved, and strategies to deal with abuse. We discuss the importance of staying connected to others through brainstorming community resources and viewing a short video depicting a fictional story of social isolation and elder abuse.
    • When: Wednesday, Oct. 28, 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm
    • Cost: Free
  • Joint Ownership: the Good, the Bad & the Risky! (Webinar)
    by Nidus Personal Planning and Resource Centre and Registry
    • What: Joint ownership of bank accounts, real estate, and vehicles is common for spouses. What can happen when a parent and child own property jointly? Learn about recent court cases that raise new cautions about joint ownership. Joint ownership is NOT a substitute for planning in case of incapacity or end-of-life.
    • When: Wednesday, Oct. 28, 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm
    • Cost: Free
  • What if I’m hospitalized? Don’t wait! (Webinar)
    by Nidus Personal Planning and Resource Centre and Registry
    • What: Get your affairs in order. Learn about the essential legal documents in BC to plan for incapacity, end-of-life and after death. This presentation will provide an overview of Representation Agreements, Enduring Powers of Attorney, and Wills.
    • When: Thursday, Oct. 29, 10:30 am to 12:00 pm
    • Cost: Free

Learning & Community Building

Free or low cost professional development events for intermediaries, the people providing information and support to members of the public in their interactions with the legal system. We only include those that are open to non-lawyers. Also, events by organizations who help British Columbians in their interactions with the legal system. All times in Pacific Time unless stated otherwise. See disclaimer.
Oct 1-4 | Oct 5-11 | Oct 12-18 | Oct 19-25 | Oct 26-31
Looking for public legal education events? Go back to the beginning.

October 5-11, 2020

  • Predict and Surveil: Racism in Policing and Surveillance Tech (Live-streamed on YouTube)
    by BC Civil Liberties Association
    • What: Algorithmic policing and technological surveillance by law enforcement, spy agencies, and large corporate interests have rapidly — and quietly — expanded in Canada with little public knowledge, threatening privacy and civil liberties, encoding patterns of inequality, and reinforcing colonial structures. Indigenous, Black, and Muslim communities as well as activist groups have long been subjected to illegal surveillance, making it essential to consider how new forms of technological surveillance and criminalization impact already over-policed communities by reconfiguring state and social power.
    • When: Tuesday, October 6, 2020 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM
    • Cost: Free
  • Animal Law 101: Bite Size Animal Law (Webinar)
    by UBC Allard School of Law and Courthouse Libraries BC
    • What: Animal law is a growing area of practice which intersects with numerous other areas of law. We will provide an overview of a number of topics including: a brief history of animal law, pet custody, BCHRT and CRT pet cases, animal cruelty, dangerous dogs, municipal by-laws and case examples.
    • When: Wednesday, October 7, 2020 12:30 PM to 1:30 PM
    • Cost: Free
  • Reconsidering the Voter Age: Make Your Voice Heard (Zoom meeting)
    by Society for Children and Youth of British Columbia
    • What: Opportunity alert: Join SCYBC for a discussion about the voting age and to learn about a potential legal challenge!
    • When: Wednesday, October 7, 2020 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM
    • Cost: Free
  • Annual General Meeting & a Panel on Re-envisioning Public Legal Education & Information (Zoom meeting)
    by West Coast LEAF
    • What: Join West Coast LEAF staff and Board for our Annual General Meeting for a dynamic panel discussion on critical, feminist and trauma-informed approaches to public legal education and information (PLEI). Open to members & non-members.
    • When: Thursday, October 8, 2020, 5:30-7:00 p.m. (check in begins at 5 p.m.)
    • Cost: Free

October 12-18, 2020

  • Demystifying the Doctrine of Discovery (Webinar)
    by Conservation Through Reconciliation Partnership & West Coast LEAF
    • What: Join us in a discussion as we demystify the legal underpinnings of what is now known as Canada, including the Doctrine of Discovery, the concept of terra nullius, etc.
    • When: October 13, 2020 from 12- 2 p.m.
    • Cost: Free
  • AC LEXtures: Indian Day School Training Session Part 1 (Zoom)
    by Law Courts Center
    • What: Part 1: This mandatory 2.5 hour Zoom session provides training for AC volunteers who will be assisting former students of Indian Day Schools with their applications.
    • When: Tuesday, October 13, 2020 5:30 PM to 8:15 PM
    • Cost: Free for Amici Curiae volunteers; Friends of AC are welcome to attend (donation welcomed here)
  • Indigenous Peoples and the Law: Overview of the Progress of the Calls to Action (Zoom meeting)
    by CIAJ & Courthouse Libraries BC
    • What: Designed to initiate discussion and pave the way to a major national conference on Indigenous Peoples and the Law to be held in Vancouver in November 2021. Speaker: Senator Murray Sinclair. Moderator:? The Honourable Justice Michelle O’Bonsawin, Superior Court of Justice (Ontario)
    • When: Wednesday, October 14, 2020, 12:30 – 2:00 pm
    • Cost: Free

October 19-25, 2020

  • (Non-profit) Leadership Circles Convening Project (Zoom meeting)
    by PLEO and Vantage Point
    • What: Calling on non-profit leaders – Executive Directors, CEOs, Operations and Program Managers! Participants will have a chance to win a free custom workshop from Vantage Point (a $950 value). By joining our Leadership Circle discussion, you will be asked to read a few short case studies, participate in a 2-hour discussion and share your thoughts about how legal information and services can best serve the sector’s needs.
    • When: Tuesday, October 20 (9-11AM PST) or Wednesday, October 21 (2-4PM PST)
    • Cost: Free
  • Indigenous Peoples and the Law: The Next Stages of Indigenous Governance in Quebec (Zoom meeting)
    by CIAJ & Courthouse Libraries BC
    • What: Designed to initiate discussion and pave the way to a major national conference on Indigenous Peoples and the Law to be held in Vancouver in November 2021. Speaker: Chief Ghislain Picard, Assembly of First Nations Quebec-Labrador (Innu from the community of Pessamit)
    • When: Wednesday, October 21, 2020, 12:30 – 2:00 pm
    • Cost: Free

October 26-31, 2020

  • Intersectionality and Gender Justice (Webinar)
    by Women’s Legal, Education and Action Fund (LEAF)
    • What: LEAF’s first panel in the “Gender Justice Now” series will explore the role and use of Intersectionality in gender justice advocacy and work.
    • When: Monday, October 26, 2020 10:15 AM to 11:45 AM
    • Cost: Free
  • A Conversation about Access to Justice and Systemic Racism (via Zoom)
    by Faculty of Law, University of Alberta
    • What: Trevor Farrow has carried out ground-breaking research on the costs that society incurs when Canadians cannot access justice. Joshua Sealy-Harrington’s research and practice explores how the justice system systemically marginalizes racialized Canadians. Hear them together in conversation with the University of Alberta Faculty of Law’s new dean, Barbara Billingsley, as they discuss what access to justice means, how best to promote it in a post-COVID world, and what role law schools can play in creating a more just society.
    • When: Tue, October 27, 2020, 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
    • Cost: Free
  • AC LEXtures: Indian Day School (IDS) Training Session Part 2 (Zoom)
    by Law Courts Center
    • What: This mandatory 2.5 hour Zoom session provides AC volunteers who will be assisting former students of Indian Day Schools with their applications. AC friends are welcome to attend.
    • When: Tuesday, October 27, 2020 5:30 PM to 8:15 PM
    • Cost: Free for Amici Curiae volunteers; Friends of AC are welcome to attend (donation welcomed here)
  • Gender Justice Now: Opportunities Moving Forward (Zoom meeting)
    by Women’s Legal Education and Action Fund (LEAF)
    • What: Our third panel will highlight opportunities and challenges for using law to advance gender justice in the current moment. It will feature Fay Faraday (Faraday Law and Osgoode Hall Law School, York University), Raji Mangat (West Coast LEAF), and Megan Stephens (LEAF National), with moderator Cee Strauss (LEAF National).
    • When: Wed, October 28, 2020, 9:00 AM – 10:15 AM PDT
    • Cost: Free
  • Foiling the Fraudsters: Helping Keep Seniors Safe From Scams (Webinar)
    by United Way
    • What: Older adults are the most frequent targets of fraud, and these crimes often go unreported due to victims’ embarrassment at being taken advantage of. CBSS staff and volunteers can play an important role in helping to prevent seniors being scammed by learning about common types of fraud and strategies to protect against them.
    • When: Wednesday, October 28, 2020 10:00 AM
    • Cost: Free

Disclaimer: These events are being provided as a convenience and for informational purposes only; they do not constitute an endorsement or an approval by the Clicklaw team of any of the products or services of the organizations. Contact the external site for questions regarding their events.

Stay informed:

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