Make-A-Will Week in BC, October 3-9 2021. Wills Resources Guide: http://bit.ly/CLBCwills.

Make-A-Will Week 2021

This week (October 3-9) is Make-a-Will Week in British Columbia. The provincial government designates the week to encourage everyone to write their will or update an existing one.

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 with 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.

What’s new?

Remote witnessing of will signing has been a permanent part of BC law since 2020. Here’s what the provincial government says about what’s coming soon:

“Starting December 1, 2021 changes will also give electronic wills the same recognition as physical wills. Wills soon will be able to be signed and stored electronically. While all formats of electronic will are acceptable, people are strongly encouraged to save their freshly made wills in PDF format, to make the probate process as easy as possible for their executor.”

Make a Will week, Province of British Columbia.

Printable handouts

For a quick overview, this one-pager for everyone (PDF) comes in handy. The handout is also available for public librarians & community helpers (PDF), and 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.

What events are available?

Below are non-profit organizations holding free or low-cost events to help you understand various topics around wills and personal planning.

Nidus

  • Nidus is currently the only community-based resource in Canada devoted to personal planning. This organization also operates a centralized Registry for personal planning documents in partnership with Juricert Inc. of the Law Society of British Columbia.
  • Free online presentations on personal planning are available throughout October and November. 

People’s Law School

Plan Institute

  • 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.
  • Wills, Trusts, and Estate Planning workshops are available throughout the year for $25 per person.

Want to share the Wills & Personal Planning Resources page? Use this short redirect URL: http://bit.ly/CLBCwills.


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September 2021 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
Sept 1-5 | Sept 6-12 | Sept 13-19 | Sept 20-26 | Sept 27-Oct 3
Looking for events for intermediaries? Jump to the next section.

September 13-19, 2021

  • Pro Bono Going Public 2021 (Online and Telephone)
    by Access Pro Bono
    • What: Volunteer lawyers will provide free legal advice by telephone or online in a 10-day province-wide advice-a-thon. Clients will be low-to-modest income British Columbians in need of urgent legal advice. All appointments will be pre-scheduled. To book an appointment with a lawyer through PBGP 2021, call the client line at 604-878-7400 or 1-877-762-6664 (toll-free).
    • When: Monday-Friday, September 13-17, 2021 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
    • Cost: Free
  • RDSP Information Session Level 1 (Webinar)
    by Plan Institute
    • What: Beginner RDSP workshop for those who want to learn what an RDSP is, who qualifies, how to apply for the Disability Tax Credit, and how to open an RDSP. This is best suited to people who want to learn the basics of RDSPs and get general information about the plan. No background knowledge needed to get the most out of this workshop.
    • When: Thursday, September 16, 2021 from 10:00 AM to 11:15 AM
    • Cost: Free

September 20-26, 2021

  • Pro Bono Going Public 2021 (Online and Telephone)
    by Access Pro Bono
    • What: Volunteer lawyers will provide free legal advice by telephone or online in a 10-day province-wide advice-a-thon. Clients will be low-to-modest income British Columbians in need of urgent legal advice. All appointments will be pre-scheduled. To book an appointment with a lawyer through PBGP 2021, call the client line at 604-878-7400 or 1-877-762-6664 (toll-free).
    • When: Monday-Friday, September 20-24, 2021 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
    • Cost: Free
  • Changes to the Divorce Act: Town Hall Edition (Webinar)
    by People’s Law School
    • What: What impact have recent changes to the Divorce Act had on individuals involved in family breakups? How has parenting after divorce been affected? Earlier this year, John-Paul Boyd QC walked us through the major changes to the Divorce Act as they were taking effect. Now, six months later, we’re hosting a free follow-up webinar where John-Paul will explain how the changes have played out in practice — and answer your questions. There will be opportunities to ask questions live during the webinar and we’re also inviting questions ahead of time.
    • When: Tuesday, Sep 21, 2021 12:00 PM
    • Cost: Free
  • RDSP Information Session Level 2 (Webinar)
    by Plan Institute
    • What: Advanced RDSP workshop for those who already have an RDSP or are deciding where to open their RDSP and want to deepen their knowledge and learn how to maximize growth. This workshop includes more complicated financial information and attendees should already understand RDSP basics and review our glossary of terms before attending this workshop.
    • When: Thursday, September 23, 2021 from 10:00 AM to 11:45 AM
    • Cost: Free
  • Wills, Trusts & Estate (Online Workshop)
    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 online workshop, 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, September 23, 2021 from 7:00 PM to 8:15 PM
    • Cost: $25 per person to cover the live Q & A session with an expert disability lawyer (registration is limited to 20 people).

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.
Sept 1-5 | Sept 6-12 | Sept 13-19 | Sept 20-26 | Sept 27-Oct 3
Looking for public legal education events? Go back to the beginning

September 6-12, 2021

  • Promoting Engagement of People Living with Dementia and Family/Friend Caregivers in Advance Care Planning through Community-led Programs (Webinar)
    by BC Centre for Palliative Care
    • What: An overview of learnings from, and resources developed as a part of a two-year project (2020-2021) aimed to promote the engagement of people living with dementia and family/friend caregivers in Advance Care Planning (ACP). The project builds on the proven success of an existing, sustainable, community-led education model co-developed by BC Centre for Palliative Care (BCCPC) to support community organizations facilitate ACP programs for the public. 
    • When: Tuesday, Sep 7, 2021 11:00 AM
    • Cost: Free

September 20-26, 2021

  • Reckoning: Accountability Frameworks for Responding to Cultural Genocide (Webinar)
    by Action Committee on Access to Justice
    • What: The first dialogue in the People-Centred Justice Series. Our panel Val Napoleon, Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond and Tricia Logan, will explore accountability frameworks of specific Indigenous Legal Orders and International Human Rights frameworks.
    • When: Wed, Sep 22, 2021, 9:30 AM
    • Cost: Free
  • Family law and mediation resources (Webinar)
    by Legal Aid BC
    • What: This session will provide an opportunity to learn about many free and pro bono resources on family law and mediation. It will be a panel of speakers from Legal Aid BC, Access Pro Bono Society of BC, and Mediate BC.
    • When: Thursday, Sep 23, 2021 11:00 AM
    • Cost: Free
  • Criminal Conviction Review Commissions: International Models for Reviewing Claims of Wrongful Conviction (Webinar)
    by Innocence Canada, the UBC Innocence Project and the International Centre for Criminal Law Reform and Criminal Justice Policy (ICCLR) – cohosted by Courthouse Libraries BC
    • What: In this 1.5hr webinar, you will hear from representatives of criminal case review commissions in England, Scotland and New Zealand to hear why their commissions were established, how they operate and the challenges they encounter.
    • When: Thursday, Sep 23, 2021 12:30 PM
    • Cost: Free

September 27 – October 3, 2021

  • Conviction Integrity Units (CIUs): The Evolving Role of US Prosecutors in Uncovering Wrongful Convictions (Webinar)
    by Innocence Canada, the UBC Innocence Project and the International Centre for Criminal Law Reform and Criminal Justice Policy (ICCLR) – cohosted by Courthouse Libraries BC
    • What:  This 1.5hr webinar will explore the roles, responsibilities, opportunities and challenges that CIUs face in the evolution of combatting wrongful convictions. Hear about the practical issues that US prosecutors face in evaluating, investigating, and responding to innocence claims and learn more about the ethical considerations that arise for the prosecution in handling wrongful conviction cases.
    • When: Wednesday, Sep 29, 2021 12:30 PM
    • Cost: Free

October 2021 Events

Plan ahead! Here’s a preview of what’s coming next month.

  • Making a Will in BC: Town Hall Edition (Webinar)
    by People’s Law School
    • What: Are your questions about wills holding you back from making or updating yours? Maybe you have questions about how to pick an executor. Maybe you and your partner can’t agree on who will care for your children if the unthinkable happens. Maybe you’re worried about the cost and want to know if a DIY will kit is right for you. If you want answers to your questions, you’ll want to tune in to this free webinar.
    • When: Tuesday, October 5th, 2021 Noon to 1:00 PM
    • Cost: Free
  • Nidus Personal Planning Events (Webinars)
    by Nidus Personal Planning Resource Centre and Registry
    • What: Set your calendar for Nidus’ series of online events.
    • When: Click the link above to view the list of webinars.
    • 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.

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