A Trusted Partner for Estate and Legacy Collections
I work with estate lawyers and notaries across Greater Victoria to digitize media collections as part of an inheritance, downsize, or end-of-life transition, efficiently and without risk to originals. Your clients' belongings never leave Colwood.
What your clients face
Formats nobody can play
VHS, Hi8, 8mm film, slides. The formats in most estates have not been playable in years. The content is still there, just inaccessible.
No way to know what is there
Until the tapes and photos are digitized, the family does not know what they have. That uncertainty complicates distribution of sentimental assets.
Originals that need to stay local
Shipping originals to a mail-in service adds risk the estate cannot afford. A local, documented transfer keeps the chain of custody intact.
I have worked with estate collections across Greater Victoria since 1991.
Estate work requires a different kind of care. Originals often cannot be replaced, timelines are real, and the family is watching. An executor or adult child is usually the one carrying the box, and I understand what that feels like. I digitize everything by hand in my secure workshop in Colwood. Nothing ships out of province. Nothing goes to a warehouse. You have a local contact who knows your specific collection and can answer questions. Every transfer is documented. Every original comes back. Every job is guaranteed.
How It Works for Estate Collections
Estate collections often run on a tight timeline. Here is how I work with your clients: Drop off the collection at my Colwood workshop. For larger estates, I can arrange an on-site assessment. I provide a written, itemized estimate within 24 hours, a transparent inventory, format by format, item by item. Work begins on approval. All originals are returned intact. Digital files are delivered on USB and via private download link, so every heir gets a copy on any device. I can provide a brief condition note for each item if needed for estate inventory.
What I handle
Video formats
VHS, VHS-C, Betamax, Hi8, Video8, Digital8, MiniDV. All major home video formats from the last 50 years.
Photos, slides, and negatives
Loose prints, bound albums, 35mm slides, film strips, and Polaroids. Scanned to high-resolution files.
Film reels and audio
8mm and Super 8 film reels, audio cassettes. Formats that require specialized equipment and careful handling.
Transparent pricing. Written estimates.
Per-item rates with bulk discounts for larger collections. Every estimate is itemized and in writing before any work begins. No surprises, no hidden fees.
Common Questions from Estate Professionals
Can you sign an NDA for an estate collection?
Yes. I sign one routinely on estate work. Send your firm's standard form, or I can provide a short two-page agreement covering confidentiality, chain of custody, and storage. I do not subcontract the digitization work, so the agreement covers everyone who touches the collection.
How do you handle chain of custody?
Every collection is logged at intake with photos, an itemized inventory, and a signed drop-off receipt. The originals stay in my Colwood workshop until pickup, locked when I am not at the bench. Nothing is shipped, nothing is subcontracted, and the originals are returned in the same condition they arrived.
Who can be invoiced, and how does billing work?
I invoice the firm, the estate directly, or split the cost among heirs. Whichever is cleanest for the file. Every estimate is itemized and approved in writing before any work begins. Final invoices reconcile against the inventory so the executor has a clear paper trail.
What is the turnaround on a typical estate collection?
A standard box of mixed media is usually finished within two to four weeks. Larger collections or jobs needing repair, photo album disassembly, or careful labelling can run six to eight weeks. I give a realistic timeline in the written estimate, and I send a status note partway through so the executor is never wondering.
What if the media is damaged or partially unplayable?
I assess every item at intake and flag anything fragile, mouldy, or end-of-life. If a tape cannot be safely played without specialty equipment, I will tell you up front and either decline the item or refer it out to a trusted lab. You will never get a surprise charge for work I could not actually deliver on.
How do final files get delivered to the firm and the heirs?
By default I deliver on a labelled USB plus a private download link that expires after 30 days. For estate files where multiple heirs need a copy, I can provide additional USBs at cost, or set up a private family viewing link that does not require an account. The firm gets the master copy and the itemized inventory for the file.
What estate clients say
“My husband thought I was crazy for being so protective of one old photo. But when you only have one 8x10 of your grandparents' wedding day, you guard it like Fort Knox! Dave understood completely and treated that precious picture like his own family heirloom. Now I have a digital copy that's clearer than the original.”
Ready to discuss a collection?
I respond to estate inquiries promptly. Tell me what you have and I'll give you an honest, written assessment.