Questions Executors and Families Ask

The 10 questions that come up most often when a family is deciding what to do with a house full of belongings on Vancouver Island — probate timing in British Columbia, what household contents are worth, and what Island Estate Clearing does with whatever nobody wants.

Does the house have to wait for probate before it can be cleared?

Household contents are almost never what holds up an estate. A Form P1 notice must be delivered at least 21 days before a probate application is filed, and the court then generally takes two to three months to process it — time in which the contents can already be dealt with. Anything of real value should be appraised and accounted for first.

Does anyone need to know what things are worth before calling?

No. Working out what has resale value and what does not is part of the job, not a prerequisite for it. Nothing needs to be researched, sorted or priced before making contact.

What does it cost to clear a house?

No Vancouver Island operator publishes a price, and neither does this site, because two houses of the same size can hold wildly different amounts. The drivers are volume, how much is worth selling, access, outbuildings and distance to disposal. A written price follows a walk-through.

What happens if the executor lives out of province?

Estates here are very often administered from Calgary, Toronto or further afield. Photographs, a video walk-through and written confirmations replace being present, and no part of the job requires the executor to travel.

What are the probate fees in British Columbia?

The court filing fee is $200, waived for estates under $25,000. Probate fees on gross asset value are nil up to $25,000, $6 per $1,000 between $25,001 and $50,000, and $14 per $1,000 above $50,000, under the Probate Fee Act.

What is done with belongings nobody in the family wants?

Items with resale value are sold, usable household goods are offered to local donation channels, and what remains goes to recycling or disposal. A written summary of what was sold and what was given away is provided for the estate file.

How long does administering an estate usually take?

Court processing of a probate application generally runs two to three months, and full administration through to distribution commonly takes 8 to 12 months after the grant issues. The contents of the house do not need to wait for either.

Are outbuildings, shops and acreage included?

Yes. On rural properties the shop or barn frequently holds more than the house does, and tooling, machinery and scrap metal are identified and separated rather than cleared indiscriminately.

What commission does an estate sale usually cost?

The range is 25 to 45 percent of gross sales, and 45 percent is the most common. The commission comes off the sale rather than out of the estate separately.

Which areas are covered?

Vancouver Island. Most jobs are in Qualicum Beach, Parksville, Nanaimo and Ladysmith, together with Coombs, Errington, Bowser, Nanoose Bay, Lantzville, Cedar, Yellow Point and Saltair; a property elsewhere on the Island is arranged rather than turned away.