Vancouver Father Leaves $1.8M Estate to Son, Daughter Gets Nothing — Court Overturns Will
Bastillepost · 1 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
A British Columbia Supreme Court judge has overturned a Vancouver father's will that left his $1.8 million estate entirely to his son, awarding the estranged daughter 45% of the inheritance worth approximately $810,000. Justice Judith Hoffman ruled the father's reasons for completely disinheriting his daughter were legally untenable, finding the estrangement stemmed from the father's own stubbornness and prejudice rather than any fault on the daughter's part. The landmark ruling underscores that parents retain moral and legal obligations to their adult children under BC's Wills, Estates and Succession Act (WESA).
Key Points
- Father Daniel Dancey died in 2022 leaving a will that divided his $1.8 million (approximately 10.21 million HKD) estate solely to son Jeffery Dancey
- Daughter Kristin Enes received nothing based on claims of long-term estrangement, prompting her to challenge the will in BC Supreme Court
- Court found the first estrangement occurred after the daughter housed her mother following parental separation, causing the father's displeasure
- Second estrangement resulted from the daughter's own divorce, which the father viewed with disapproval — a reason the judge called legally insufficient
- Justice Hoffman ruled the daughter was the more credible witness and that her testimony outweighed her brother's denials of a later reconciliation
Why It Matters
The ruling demonstrates that BC courts will aggressively scrutinize wills that completely exclude children without sound justification, and may intervene to ensure "adequate, just and fair provision" under WESA. For Hong Kong families with assets in Canada or cross-border estates, this case serves as a cautionary reminder that even adult children with independent incomes retain legal claims to parental estates if excluded without legitimate reasons.
The ruling demonstrates that BC courts will aggressively scrutinize wills that completely exclude children without sound justification, and may intervene to ensure "adequate, just and fair provision" under WESA. For Hong Kong families with assets in Canada or cross-border estates, this case serves as a cautionary reminder that even adult children with independent incomes retain legal claims to parental estates if excluded without legitimate reasons.