{"id":2373,"date":"2026-11-12T03:05:55","date_gmt":"2026-11-12T03:05:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lawgicalcorp.com\/blog\/co-executors-disagree-executor-wont-act-bc\/"},"modified":"2026-11-12T03:33:13","modified_gmt":"2026-11-12T03:33:13","slug":"co-executors-disagree-executor-wont-act-bc","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lawgicalcorp.com\/blog\/co-executors-disagree-executor-wont-act-bc\/","title":{"rendered":"Co-executors who disagree, or an executor who won’t act: what to do in BC"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Sundeep S. Grewal<\/a>, lawyer at Lawgical Law Corporation \u00b7 Reviewed November 11, 2026<\/p>\n

Sundeep S. Grewal is a lawyer at Lawgical Law Corporation, called to the BC bar in 2018, and a member of the Law Society of British Columbia<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

Updated November 11, 2026: the Wills, Estates and Succession Act (ss. 104, 107, 143, 158, 159, 162) and the Trustee Act (s. 86) checked that day.<\/em><\/p>\n

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An executor who doesn’t want to act<\/strong> can renounce, if they haven’t started dealing with the estate. Or the others can apply and reserve their right to apply later.<\/p>\n

An executor who won’t act or renounce<\/strong> can be passed over or removed by the court (WESA s. 158).<\/p>\n

Co-executors who can’t agree<\/strong> can ask the court for directions, or seek removal if the deadlock “hampers the efficient administration of the estate”.<\/p>\n

Your options<\/a> \u00b7 Book a consultation<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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The lawyers who handle these estate files<\/p>\n

\"SundeepSundeep S. Grewal<\/span>Barrister and Solicitor<\/span><\/a>\"PardeepPardeep S. Grewal<\/span>Barrister and Solicitor<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n
\nAbout our lawyers<\/summary>\n
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Sundeep S. Grewal<\/a><\/strong> 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.<\/p>\n

Pardeep S. Grewal<\/a><\/strong> is a probate, estates and immigration lawyer known for clear communication and practical strategy.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<\/div>\n

Wills often name two or three children as co-executors, and that can stall an estate when they don’t get along, or when one of them simply won’t do anything. BC law has several tools. A named executor who doesn’t want the job can renounce, as long as they haven’t already started dealing with the estate. If one executor won’t join in, the others can apply for probate and reserve that person’s right to apply later. If an executor won’t act and won’t renounce, or co-executors are so deadlocked that the estate can’t be administered, any person with an interest can ask the court to pass over or remove them under section 158 of WESA, and the court can appoint a substitute. For a specific disagreement, the executors can ask the court for directions.<\/p>\n

Lawgical Law Corporation<\/a>, a probate and estate litigation law firm with offices in Surrey<\/a>, Abbotsford<\/a> and Vancouver, BC, acts for executors and beneficiaries in executor disputes; this guide is by Sundeep S. Grewal.<\/p>\n

Your options, by situation<\/h2>\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Executor problems and the tools that fit<\/caption>\n
Situation<\/th>\nTool<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
A named executor doesn’t want to act and hasn’t started<\/td>\nRenunciation, Form P17 (WESA s. 104): see renouncing as executor<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
One co-executor won’t join the probate application<\/td>\nThe others apply, reserving that executor’s right to apply later; the non-joining executor isn’t liable for assets that come into the applicants’ hands (s. 107)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
An executor won’t act and won’t renounce<\/td>\nApplication to pass over or remove them (s. 158(3)(a))<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Co-executors disagree on a specific decision<\/td>\nApplication for court directions (Trustee Act s. 86, applied by WESA s. 143)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Ongoing deadlock or non-response that stalls the estate<\/td>\nRemoval under s. 158(3)(f), with a substitute appointed (s. 159)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

Removal under WESA s. 158<\/h2>\n

A person with an interest in the estate can apply to remove or pass over a personal representative. The grounds listed in s. 158(3) include an executor who:<\/p>\n