Vernon & Salmon Arm Estate Lawyers Providing Executor Services

There are many reasons why someone may look to appoint a lawyer to act as the executor of their estate. They may not have a person they trust who can conveniently act in this capacity, or they may prefer not to burden family or friends with the time-consuming and challenging process of seeing an estate through the administration process. There are many demanding requirements and legal obligations required of an estate executor that can be confusing and complex for someone unfamiliar with the role.

The estate administration lawyers at CM Lawyers regularly act as executors of clients’ estate plans. They combine the experience and knowledge from decades of experience with a trusted friend or colleague’s personal connection and local access. Having an executor familiar with all facets of your estate from the planning stage helps streamline the administration process. Our lawyers have the necessary information to begin applying for probate immediately and ensure the entire process is handled efficiently and carefully.  

Why Appoint a Lawyer as Your Executor?

When preparing a Will, it is common to want to appoint a close friend or family member as executor. However, people are often unaware of how all-consuming these responsibilities can be. Further, the steps for probate and asset distribution must be completed with extreme care to avoid unnecessary delays.

Executors take on the additional burden of personal liability, given the fiduciary nature of their duty to the estate’s beneficiaries. Appointing a skilled and cautious estate lawyer can save family and friends the time, frustration, and added emotional stress of dealing with the estate, in addition to their grief after suffering the loss of a loved one.

Perhaps the most common reason to appoint a lawyer as executor is to avoid conflicts amongst loved ones if the estate distribution does not live up to the hopes or expectations of the beneficiaries. In such cases, the executor will often bear the brunt of any fallout resulting from hurt feelings, and many people prefer a neutral third party to take on the role to avoid family conflicts. 

Trusted, Reliable Executor Services for Individual Estates

As executors, our lawyers handle all aspects of the estate administration process from start to finish. Our services include:

• Preparing and filing all necessary documentation with the court for probate and responding to inquiries for further evidence or information;
• Obtaining the relevant information and documents from banks, government agencies, and other third parties;
• Paying all bills and expenses of the estate;
• Safeguarding the assets of the estate;
• Cancelling utilities, credit cards and other services of the deceased;
• Communicating with beneficiaries and distributing assets; and
• Preparing and filing all necessary tax returns for the estate.

Professional Executor Assistance for Corporate Wills

Being appointed executor of a corporate Will poses a unique set of challenges, over and above being the executor of an individual’s Will. Unlike personal Wills, corporate Wills usually involve complex legal and financial considerations. Understanding the legal framework and applicable corporate law regulations is critical for avoiding liability or unnecessary risk.

At CM Lawyers, we provide top-tier executor services for corporate estates, including:

• Applying for probate or a Grant of Administration to administer the corporate estate;
• Determining the value of corporate assets, including shares, real estate, and intellectual property, and distributing them in accordance with the Will’s provisions;
• Handling creditor claims against the corporation and ensuring they are dealt with in a way that is as advantageous to the estate as possible;
• Addressing all tax issues related to the corporate estate, including income tax, capital gains tax, and probate fees; and
• Winding up the corporation, including filing all necessary documents and complying with all regulatory requirements.

Contact CM Lawyers for Dependable Executor Services in Vernon & Salmon Arm

Losing a loved one is undoubtedly a difficult time, and being appointed executor of a complex personal or corporate estate can add to the burden exponentially. The dedicated estate administration lawyers at CM Lawyers provide compassionate, trustworthy assistance through this process. We are committed to providing efficient, transparent executor and estate administration services, ensuring your loved one’s wishes are carried out with care and precision.

The talented estate law team at CM Lawyers has over 50 years of combined experience and is based in our convenient office locations in Vernon and Salmon Arm. We proudly serve clients throughout the surrounding communities, including Northern Okanagan and Shuswap. To schedule a consultation, please call our Vernon office at (250) 308-0338 or our Salmon Arm office at (250) 803-9171 or contact us online.