{"id":2446,"date":"2026-11-12T15:00:16","date_gmt":"2026-11-12T15:00:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lawgicalcorp.com\/blog\/promised-inheritance-not-in-will-bc\/"},"modified":"2026-11-12T15:00:16","modified_gmt":"2026-11-12T15:00:16","slug":"promised-inheritance-not-in-will-bc","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lawgicalcorp.com\/blog\/promised-inheritance-not-in-will-bc\/","title":{"rendered":"Promised the house or farm but left out of the will: your options in BC"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Sundeep S. Grewal<\/a>, lawyer at Lawgical Law Corporation \u00b7 Reviewed November 12, 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 12, 2026: the Wills, Estates and Succession Act (ss. 60, 61) and the court decisions cited below checked that day.<\/em><\/p>\n

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The promise alone is rarely enough.<\/strong> What you did because of it is what usually decides the claim.<\/p>\n

Two main routes:<\/strong> a claim against the estate for the value of what you gave (unjust enrichment), and, for a spouse or child, a wills variation claim.<\/p>\n

Deadline:<\/strong> 180 days from the grant for wills variation; other claims have their own time limits, so act early.<\/p>\n

Your legal routes<\/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

It’s one of the most common stories in estate litigation: a parent, step-parent or relative says for years, “the house will be yours,” and you work, care for them or put money into the property on that understanding. Then the will leaves it to someone else. In BC, a promise to leave property in a will usually can’t be enforced as a contract on its own, especially a spoken promise about land. But the law doesn’t ignore what you did. If the deceased received a real benefit from your work, care or money, and you lost out without a legal reason for it, the court can order the estate to compensate you, and in some cases give you an interest in the property itself. If you’re the deceased’s spouse or child, your contributions also strengthen a wills variation claim. The evidence of the promise and of what you gave matters most.<\/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 people left out of a will after promises of an inheritance, and for estates answering those claims; this guide is by Sundeep S. Grewal.<\/p>\n

Your legal routes<\/h2>\n
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Claims when a promised inheritance isn’t in the will<\/caption>\n
Claim<\/th>\nWho can bring it<\/th>\nWhat you must show<\/th>\nWhat you can get<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Unjust enrichment<\/td>\nAnyone: a child, stepchild, friend, tenant or caregiver<\/td>\nThe deceased received a benefit, you suffered a matching loss, and there was no legal reason for it<\/td>\nMoney, or an interest in the property where money isn’t enough<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Wills variation (WESA s. 60)<\/td>\nSpouse or child only<\/td>\nThe will doesn’t make adequate, just and equitable provision for you; your contributions add weight<\/td>\nThe court rewrites the shares<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

What BC courts have done<\/h2>\n