Wills & Estates
A Practical Sequence for BC Probate
Notice requirements, inventory valuations, probate fees, and registry filings, laid out in the order an executor meets them.
6 min read
Victoria, British Columbia
Practical advocacy, built on preparation.
Erik Mitbrodt is a barrister and solicitor practising civil litigation, insurance defence and coverage, and wills and estate litigation in the BC Supreme Court, with experience in private practice and in-house at a large BC insurer.
Called to the Bar of British Columbia, April 2017
Litigation experience, from pleadings to trial
- Trials to judgment in the BC Supreme Court
- Examinations for discovery
- Chambers applications
- Mediations and settlement conferences
And the work in between: document discovery, expert evidence, and settlement.
Practice areas
Considered advice. Prepared advocacy.
Three practice areas, plus help for executors and for other lawyers.
Civil Litigation
A contract that went wrong, a loss someone else should answer for, a claim made against you. I act for businesses and individuals in the BC Supreme Court.
Read more about Civil LitigationInsurance Defence & Coverage
When a claim is made against you or someone you insure, the question is what the file is worth and how to get there. I defend liability and personal injury claims and advise on coverage.
Read more about Insurance Defence & CoverageWills & Estate Litigation
Losing someone is hard enough without a dispute over the estate. I act in wills variation claims, challenges to a will, and disputes with executors in BC.
Read more about Wills & Estate LitigationProbateBuddy
Handling a simple BC estate as an executor? ProbateBuddy is a reference and document preparation tool I am building for executors, with a free probate fee calculator.
For other lawyers
Trial preparation and trial support for BC Supreme Court civil litigators, plaintiff or defence, including on short notice.
Background
How I approach a file
I have worked on civil disputes in-house at a large BC insurer and in private practice, acting for businesses and individuals.
That split background shapes how I work. When you have sat on the institutional side, you learn how files get valued, where reserves come from, and which arguments actually move a decision-maker. When you have run your own files, you learn that clients care less about the volume of correspondence than about knowing where they stand and what it will cost.
My view is that most disputes are won on preparation rather than posture. Organized evidence, an honest read of the risk and a clear settlement position will usually do more than aggressive correspondence. That is the approach I bring to every file.
Writing
Recent articles
Essays
The Hidden Tax Behind the Housing Crisis
Your house didn’t get pricier. The dollar is getting smaller.
6 min read
5 min read
Start with a conversation
Send a short note about what you need, and we can work out whether I am the right person for it. If it is not a fit, I will say so and point you somewhere better.
Nothing on this site is legal advice. I act for a client only after a conflicts check and a signed retainer, so please do not send confidential information or documents until we have spoken.