October 5, 2021
A FIRST NATIONS PERSON WHO ORDINARILY LIVES ON A RESERVE OR CROWN LANDS should, like every British Columbian, think about making a will.
But that person cannot benefit from legislative amendments that have permitted remote witnessing of wills since August 2020 and will, as of December 1, 2021, permit creation of electronic wills.
“Make-a-Will Week” was proclaimed in BC for October 3–9, 2021.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has brought into focus many things. One of those is the importance of having one’s personal affairs in order. Personal planning is often a difficult conversation to have, yet it is so critically important,” said John Mayr, executive director, Society of Notaries Public of British Columbia, in a BC government news release.
Writing Your Own Will: A Guide for First Nations People Living On Reserve is a helpful booklet from the Aboriginal Financial Officers of British Columbia.
Legal Aid BC has more help for reserve residents at this webpage.
For others, the People’s Law School has information here.
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We acknowledge that the land on which we work is the unceded territory of the Coast Salish peoples, including the territories of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.