Can a will be redacted to protect the privacy of beneficiaries?
My husband passed away. We had identical wills, with the same beneficiaries: his children from a previous marriage and my children from a previous marriage. My husband had only one asset: our house, which we owned jointly. As a result, probate wasn't required. His children are threatening to challenge the will, and are demanding to see a copy. Can I redact my children's names from a copy of my husband's will, to preserve their privacy?
Huyen
If probate is not required, then there is no obligation to disclose the will of the deceased.
Note there is a potential for the deceased's children to begin a process under the BC Supreme Court Civil Rules to attempt to compel you to probate the will and in the process, disclose the full will to them. As a result, your lawyer may suggest that it is more practical to send them a redacted version of the deceased’s will as a means of trying to avoid this process.
