Effective estate planning is not just about distributing assets—it’s also about protecting them. At Pax Law Corporation, we help individuals and families implement strategic tools to reduce tax liabilities, avoid unnecessary costs, and preserve wealth for future generations.

In British Columbia, careful planning can significantly reduce probate fees, minimize capital gains tax exposure, and enhance the overall efficiency of estate administration. Whether you have a modest estate or complex financial holdings, we provide legally sound, personalized strategies that align with your values and long-term goals.

Why Tax and Wealth Preservation Matters

Without proactive planning, your estate may face avoidable expenses that reduce the value of what you pass on to your beneficiaries. These may include:

• Probate fees and legal costs
• Capital gains taxes on appreciated property
• Double taxation on RRSPs and other registered accounts
• Increased risk of family disputes over unclear asset ownership

Preserving wealth requires more than just creating a will—it requires coordinated legal, financial, and tax planning.

Understanding Probate Fees in BC

Probate is the legal process through which the court confirms the validity of a will and authorizes the executor to act. In BC, probate fees are calculated based on the gross value of the deceased’s assets located in the province at the time of death.

Probate Fee Structure:

• $0 on the first $25,000
• $6 per $1,000 (or part thereof) for the portion of the estate between $25,000 and $50,000
• $14 per $1,000 (or part thereof) for the portion exceeding $50,000

Example: An estate valued at $750,000 would incur approximately $10,900 in probate fees, not including legal or court filing costs.

Because probate fees are based on the value of assets passing through the will, strategies that remove assets from the estate before death can significantly reduce this cost.

How Joint Ownership Can Lower Probate Fees

One common method of avoiding probate is to hold property in joint tenancy. In BC, when a property is owned jointly, it passes automatically to the surviving joint owner upon death, bypassing the estate and therefore avoiding probate.

Example:          Adding a Spouse to Title

By adding a spouse as a joint tenant on the title of the family home, that property may pass directly to the spouse on death, and its value is not included in the probate calculation.

However, this strategy must be used with caution as there are potential legal and tax implications.

Adding your beneficiary to the title of your property is just one of the many strategies for reducing taxes and preserving wealth. At Pax Law Corporation, we assess whether joint ownership is appropriate in your circumstances and ensure it is implemented correctly to avoid unintended consequences.