Unexplained Wealth Orders
Last updated on April 2, 2025The 2023 amendments to the Civil Forfeiture Act (the Act) included the creation of an Unexplained Wealth Order (UWO) provision which was introduced as a result of a recommendation from the Cullen Commission of Inquiry into Money Laundering in British Columbia final report released in June 2022.
A UWO is a court order. If a judge is satisfied that a UWO should be issued, the UWO requires a person to explain how they acquired their assets.
The fundamental principle of a UWO is that the person who acquired the wealth is in the best position to explain how they obtained it.
Individuals involved in civil forfeiture proceedings always have the right to dispute forfeiture and provide evidence to support their defense. This includes the right to challenge or dispute the UWO application before a BC Supreme Court judge.