About Geoffrey
Estate and will planning is intensely personal and meaningful—it culminates into a person’s lasting legacy. However, it is often difficult to find the time and resources to make those important decisions. Geoffrey supports our clients with this burden and ensures that their estate goals are implemented in ways that protect wealth and avoid costs and complications.Work HighlightsSuccessful BC business familyImplemented an estate plan that ensures a tax- and cost-efficient transfer of wealth to their next generation. The plan is private, protected, and gives our clients peace of mind for their family’s futureGroup of trusteesSuccessfully managed a large high-conflict estate through complex tax and corporate concernsBeneficiary who had been disinheritedSecured a multi-million dollar settlementGeoffrey’s practice of 20+ years has formed his deep knowledge of the rules and laws that apply to wills, estates, trusts and related tax.ServicesEstate Planning including Trusts, Wills, and Company ReorganizationsOrganizing and governance of societies, charities and tax-effective donationsEstate and Trust Administration (including Probate and non-Probate solutions)Estate & Trust AccountingsDefending and prosecuting claims against the validity of wills including:Interpreting and proving willsUndue influence and incapacity claimsWills variation claimsLifetime planning for incapacity including:Powers of AttorneyRepresentation Agreements, andCommitteeship ApplicationsAs a sought-after authority in his field, Geoffrey leads industry initiatives. Examples include:Implementation of the Wills, Estates and Succession Act (WESA) (2014)On the project committee that made WESA legislative recommendations and on the education team to roll it out.BC’s Estate Probate ManualEditor of this go-to publication on how to proceed with estate mattersNational Past-Chair of the Elder Law section of the CBAPut together policy positions for Medical Assistance in Dying to make legislative recommendations for the Department of Justice for incorporation into what has now been passed in legislationThese leadership roles position Geoffrey on the frontlines of legislative changes so that he can negate issues before they affect clients.Geoffrey also has in-depth training to better understand the financial complexities that take place in estate planning. In particular:Certified Trust and Estate PractitionerAchieved this certification granted to those who have performed high-level estate work for 10+ years and for more than 50% of their practiceCanadian Institute of Chartered Accountants In-Depth Tax CourseCompleted this course to better help clients plan their estates tax efficientlyRegularly presenting and educating the industryTrains other professionals in the field, including accountants, trust officers, financial planners and insurance advisorsThe law is the tool that we can use to ensure that our wishes are respected and objectives are met. Geoffrey finds it humbling to advise our clients through some of their most fundamental decisions, helping to carry out what is important at the end of their lives. He ensures that people can have autonomy while their values and loved ones are protected for the long-term.
Estate and will planning is intensely personal and meaningful—it culminates into a person’s lasting legacy. However, it is often difficult to find the time and resources to make those important decisions. Geoffrey supports our clients with this burden and ensures that their estate goals are implemented in ways that protect wealth and avoid costs and complications.
Work Highlights
Successful BC business family
Group of trustees
Beneficiary who had been disinherited
Geoffrey’s practice of 20+ years has formed his deep knowledge of the rules and laws that apply to wills, estates, trusts and related tax.
Services
Defending and prosecuting claims against the validity of wills including:
Lifetime planning for incapacity including:
As a sought-after authority in his field, Geoffrey leads industry initiatives. Examples include:
Implementation of the Wills, Estates and Succession Act (WESA) (2014)
BC’s Estate Probate Manual
National Past-Chair of the Elder Law section of the CBA
These leadership roles position Geoffrey on the frontlines of legislative changes so that he can negate issues before they affect clients.
Geoffrey also has in-depth training to better understand the financial complexities that take place in estate planning. In particular:
Certified Trust and Estate Practitioner
Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants In-Depth Tax Course
Regularly presenting and educating the industry
The law is the tool that we can use to ensure that our wishes are respected and objectives are met. Geoffrey finds it humbling to advise our clients through some of their most fundamental decisions, helping to carry out what is important at the end of their lives. He ensures that people can have autonomy while their values and loved ones are protected for the long-term.