Published
Pardeep S. Grewal is a lawyer at Lawgical Law Corporation, called to the BC bar in 2024, and a member of the Law Society of British Columbia.
Updated November 11, 2026: the Wills, Estates and Succession Act (ss. 146, 154) and the King’s Printer’s BC Gazette brochure (2025) checked that day.
What: an executor “may publish a notice in the Gazette to creditors and other claimants” (WESA s. 154).
Minimum period: at least 30 days for claims.
Protection: the executor isn’t liable for claims not presented by the deadline, but creditors may still pursue beneficiaries.
Cost: $68.23 per notice including taxes (King’s Printer, 2025).
The lawyers who handle these estate files
About our lawyers
Sundeep S. Grewal founded Lawgical Law Corporation and practises probate, estate litigation and immigration. He has represented clients in the Provincial and Supreme Courts of British Columbia, from chambers applications to contested trials.
Pardeep S. Grewal is a probate, estates and immigration lawyer known for clear communication and practical strategy.
Before distributing an estate, a BC executor should consider publishing a notice to creditors in the BC Gazette. Section 154 of the Wills, Estates and Succession Act allows the personal representative to publish a notice requiring creditors and other claimants to send in their claims by a stated date, at least 30 days away. Publication is required only in the Gazette, not in a newspaper. The benefit is protection: the executor isn’t liable for a claim that wasn’t presented by the deadline. The protection is limited, though, because a creditor may still pursue the beneficiaries who received the money. The notice costs $68.23 including taxes, according to the King’s Printer’s 2025 brochure.
Lawgical Law Corporation, a probate and estate law firm with offices in Surrey, Abbotsford and Vancouver, BC, handles creditors’ notices and claims for executors; this guide is by Pardeep S. Grewal.
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How to publish
- Complete the King’s Printer’s insertion order form, using the Gazette’s template for the notice. Notices that don’t follow the template aren’t eligible for publication.
- Submit it with advance payment by mail or in person to the King’s Printer in Victoria, by 1:30 p.m. on the deadline date in its schedule. You will be emailed a secure payment link; don’t send card details by fax or email.
- Set a deadline at least 30 days after publication for claims (s. 154).
- Keep the Gazette copy you receive as proof of publication.
Check the current King’s Printer brochure for the form, price and schedule, as they can change.
What it protects, and what it doesn’t
| Protects | Doesn’t protect |
|---|---|
| The executor, as executor, from claims not presented by the deadline (s. 154(4)) | Beneficiaries, who can still be pursued by a creditor |
| Distribution after the deadline, as far as unknown creditors go | Claims you already knew about |
Disputing a claim
If a creditor makes a claim you dispute, you can give them notice that the estate rejects or disputes it. The creditor must then start a court proceeding within 180 days, or the claim is barred (WESA s. 146). This likely applies only to debt claims.
When to publish
Publishing early lets the 30-day period run while you deal with probate and taxes. Don’t distribute until the period has expired and you’ve dealt with the claims received, the 210-day wills variation period has passed, and the tax position is clear. See executor personal liability and debts after death.
Mistakes I have seen
- Distributing before the notice period ended.
- Assuming the notice wipes out claims the executor already knew about.
- Paying for newspaper ads in place of the Gazette notice the Act refers to.
Frequently asked questions
Is a notice to creditors mandatory in BC?
No. Section 154 says the executor “may” publish. It is a common protection, especially where the deceased’s debts aren’t fully known.
Do I need a newspaper ad too?
No. Publication under s. 154 is required only in the Gazette.
How long should the deadline be?
At least 30 days from publication.
What should I do right now?
List the debts you know about, then publish the Gazette notice so the claims period runs during probate.
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Sources
- Wills, Estates and Succession Act (ss. 146, 154), BC Laws
- BC Gazette brochure, King’s Printer (2025)
- CLE BC, Probate and Estate Administration Practice Manual, §10.9
This article is general information about BC law, not legal advice for your situation.