October 4–10, 2026 is Make a Will Week in British Columbia, a good opportunity to think about whether your will and estate planning documents still reflect your wishes.

A will is about more than deciding who receives your belongings. It can provide important direction about who will administer your estate, who will inherit your assets and, for parents of young children, who you would want to care for them if something happens to you.

At Sitka Law Group, we regularly help individuals and families create wills and put broader estate plans in place. We also help clients review and update existing plans when life changes.

Do you really need a will?

For many people, the answer is yes.

If you die without a valid will, your estate is distributed according to British Columbia’s Wills, Estates and Succession Act (WESA). The result may not reflect what you would have chosen for your family or your assets.

A will allows you to make important decisions in advance, including:

• Choosing your executor: the person who will be responsible for administering your estate.
• Choosing your beneficiaries: the people or organizations you want to benefit from your estate.
• Providing for your children: including making arrangements for property left to minor children and identifying your preferred guardians.
• Planning for your estate: including considering trusts or other provisions where appropriate.

Having a will also gives your family and executor clear instructions at an already difficult time.

A will is only part of an estate plan

Estate planning isn’t only about what happens after you die. You should also consider what would happen if you became unable to make your own financial, legal, health or personal-care decisions.

Two important documents to consider are:

Power of Attorney

A Power of Attorney can authorize someone you trust to make financial and legal decisions on your behalf while you are alive if you are unable to manage those matters yourself.

Representation Agreement

A Representation Agreement can address who you want to make certain health and personal-care decisions for you if you are unable to make those decisions yourself. Without appropriate planning, your family may have to seek court involvement to obtain authority to manage certain matters on your behalf.

More information about these documents and more can be found here: https://sitkalaw.ca/estate-planning-101-beyond-the-will/

Estate planning is sometimes treated as something to worry about later in life. But unexpected illness or accidents can happen at any age. For parents of young children in particular, having a plan in place can provide important direction about who should care for their children and how their assets should be managed for them. You don’t need to have a large estate to benefit from having a properly prepared plan.

Make a Will Week 2026

Make a Will Week is a useful reminder to stop putting it off. If you don’t have a will, consider making one. If you already have a will, take a few minutes to ask yourself, does this still reflect my life, my family and my wishes? If the answer is no, or you’re not sure, it’s time to review it.

The Estates Team at Sitka Law Group can help you create or update your will and discuss other estate planning documents that may be appropriate for your circumstances.

Contact us to schedule an initial consultation.

We are conveniently located on Shelbourne Street, near the intersection of Victoria, Oak Bay, and Saanich.

This article is current as of October 4, 2026 and it is intended for general information purposes only. It is not intended to provide legal advice and should not be considered legal advice. Readers with concerns about how this affects particular situations or transactions should obtain the independent review and advice of legal counsel.