Area of Practice | Individuals and Estate Planning
We advise on disputes involving contracts, business relationships, unpaid obligations, service agreements, commercial arrangements, and breakdowns in business dealings.
Resolving civil disputes across British Columbia
Ratcliff advises individuals, businesses, employers, executors, trustees, and organisations on civil disputes across British Columbia. We assist with contract, business, employment, estate, trust, property, and fraud-related matters, with practical advice on negotiation, mediation, arbitration, and court proceedings where required. Our focus is on understanding the dispute early, preserving options, and choosing a strategy proportionate to the risk, cost, and likely outcome.
Focus Areas Practical strategy across the full dispute lifecycle
We act in estate and trust disputes, including wills variation claims, executor and trustee disputes, capacity issues, beneficiary claims, and fiduciary obligations.
We assist with employment disputes involving terminations, severance, workplace obligations, employment contracts, restrictive covenants, and related claims.
We advise on disputes involving property transactions, agreements of purchase and sale, leases, construction issues, title matters, and related real estate conflicts.
We act on claims involving fraud, misrepresentation, breach of trust, improper transfers, asset recovery, and related civil remedies.
We help clients assess whether negotiation, mediation, or arbitration may resolve a dispute more efficiently and at lower cost than court proceedings.
Where court action is necessary, we provide practical advice on pleadings, applications, evidence, settlement strategy, trial preparation, and enforcement.
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Frequently Asked Questions What to expect in disputes
Civil litigation involves disputes between individuals, businesses, organisations, or other parties. It can include contract claims, estate disputes, employment matters, property issues, fraud claims, and other non-criminal disputes.
No. Many disputes can be resolved through negotiation, mediation, or arbitration. Court proceedings may be necessary where rights must be enforced, deadlines are approaching, or settlement is not realistic.
Early advice is important. A litigation lawyer can help assess your position, identify limitation periods, preserve evidence, and develop a practical strategy before the dispute escalates.
Many civil claims in British Columbia are subject to a two-year basic limitation period under the Limitation Act, running from discovery of the claim. Exceptions and special rules can apply, so early advice is important.
Yes. We advise on wills variation claims, executor and trustee disputes, capacity issues, beneficiary disputes, contested administration, and other estate or trust-related litigation.
Yes. Many disputes resolve before trial through negotiation, mediation, arbitration, or structured settlement discussions. The best approach depends on the facts, cost, urgency, and risk.
Gather relevant documents, avoid deleting communications, make notes while events are fresh, and get legal advice before taking steps that may affect your position.
Yes. We advise businesses on contract disputes, employment claims, commercial disagreements, collections, lease disputes, fraud-related claims, and other civil litigation matters.