CLE Online

Welcome and Land Acknowledgement (9:00 – 9:10)

J. Jeffrey Locke — McLellan Herbert, Vancouver
Jasmeet K. Wahid — Kahn Zack Ehrlich Lithwick LLP, Richmond

Intersection Between WESA and FLA (9:10 – 9:40)

• overview of the legislation
• tips for working together
• wills variation claims
• interplay of property/debt division claims and estate claims
• estate issues for family law agreements

Emma J. Ferguson — Alexander Holburn Beaudin + Lang LLP, Vancouver

BREAK (9:40 – 9:55)

Capacity Issues in FLA/Divorce Proceedings (9:55 – 10:55)

• assessing capacity
• who is your client
• suspicious circumstances/undue influence
• what if a party becomes incapacitated
• Representation Agreement, Power of Attorney, Committeeship
• committee of estate/person and standing on separation and divorce
• what if a party dies
  • PGT or private committee
  • litigation guardian—litigation representative

Deidre J. Herbert — McLellan Herbert, Vancouver
Georgia Tsonis — Public Guardian and Trustee of BC, Vancouver

BREAK (10:55 – 11:10)

Definition of Spouse Under WESA and FLA (11:10 – 12:10)

• who is a spouse
• support claims and the estate 
• common law spouse
• recent case law regarding spouses
• practical considerations for starting/continuing a family law claim after a spouse dies
• polyamorous relationships

Amy A. Mortimore — Clark Wilson LLP, Vancouver
Zara Suleman — Suleman Family Law, North Vancouver

LUNCH (12:10 – 12:50)

How Trusts are Used to Deal with Aging, Death & Divorce (12:50 – 1:50)

• using trusts in estate planning
• choosing between inter vivos trusts and testamentary trusts
• the intersection of the FLA and trust interests

Fiona Hunter — Horne Coupar LLP, Victoria
Emma Neary — Horne Coupar LLP, Victoria

BREAK (1:50 – 2:05)

Reproductive Material: The Legal Frontier (2:05 – 2:35)

• retrieval, storage, and use of reproductive material, including posthumously
• statutory provisions, including consent, under the Assisted Human Reproduction Act
• evolving common law: case studies
• practice tips for the family and estate lawyer

Jasmeet K. Wahid — Kahn Zack Ehrlich Lithwick LLP, Richmond

BREAK (2:35 – 2:50)

Securing Income for Old Age: Pensions, Pension Division, and Annuities (2:50 – 3:55)

• pensions under the FLA
• advice on issues involving older clients

Colin Galinski — Galinski Pension and Benefits Law Corporation, Vancouver

Closing Remarks (3:55 – 4:00)

J. Jeffrey Locke — McLellan Herbert, Vancouver
Jasmeet K. Wahid — Kahn Zack Ehrlich Lithwick LLP, Richmond