Biography

Bill MacRae is a senior partner with Harper Grey LLP. He focuses on helping clients with wills, estates, trusts and related issues.

Bill often works with colleagues at trust companies and accounting firms to structure his services to provide comprehensive solutions for his clients.

Education

• University of British Columbia, LL.B., 1975
• University of Winnipeg, B.A., 1972

 Bar Admission

• British Columbia, 1976

 Leadership

• Member, Estate Planning Council of Vancouver
• Member, Canadian Bar Association - BC Branch, Wills and Trusts Subsection
• Member, Vancouver Foundation - Professional Advisory Committee
• Past Director, Arthritis Society of BC and Yukon

Client Work

Wills & Estates

• As claims under the Wills Variation Act are especially of concern in a second marriage situation, we have assisted some of our clients in setting up alter ego/joint partner trusts to deal with such Wills Variation Act issues
• The enhanced legal status of common law partners in the estate law area has meant that we now advise our clients to take into account family situations which were not of concern previously in doing their estate planning
• Assisting clients to minimize the probate fees payable to the government in light of the substantial increase in estate values due to housing price increases
• Ensuring that our clients have plans in place to deal with the possibility of a temporary or permanent incapacity
• Assisting individual clients with estate administration matters where the individual has no previous experience as executor

Articles