Before a person buys a franchise, there is certain information they will want to have. A franchisor must provide a potential franchisee with a Franchise Disclosure Document that contains particular information and meets a specified form, as per the BC Franchises Act, SBC 2015, c 35. This article outlines basic information necessary to understand what […]
Two overlapping legal frameworks Family law in BC is governed by two different pieces of legislation. The federal Divorce Act (the “DA”) and BC’s Family Law Act (the “FLA”). The DA pertains to married spouses and the FLA is applicable to both married and common-law spouses and provides guidance about property division, parenting arrangements and support issues. Who counts […]
Determining where property lines are is not as simple as it may seem. You cannot merely look to where an old fence happens to sit to figure it out. To know exactly where your property ends and your neighbour’s begins, you must look to the registered title and survey plans of your property. How boundaries […]
Defamation Law in BC: Libel, Slander & Online Reviews Have you or your business suffered a loss as a result of someone else’s words? Conversely, is someone alleging that you have caused them harm because you shared a review online? It can be hard to tell whether a person has a legitimate claim for defamation […]
The Scenario Two spouses each own property in only their name alone, and go back and forth between living in their respective properties together. These spouses are not each other’s primary beneficiaries. If one of the spouses passes away, leaving a Last Will and Testament which appoints a person other than their spouse as the […]
If someone owes you money or a contractor did bad work, you may be asking yourself whether you really need to hire a lawyer or whether you can just handle it yourself. Cases which do not involve a lot of money and seem straightforward may or may not be worth hiring a lawyer. The question […]
“Can My Landlord Do That?” — A Plain-Language Guide To BC’S Residential Tenancy Act The statute that governs this Tenancy agreements and rental units are governed by BC’s Residential Tenancy Act (“RTA”). When there is a dispute between a landlord and a tenant, the Residential Tenancy Branch (“RTB”) is the tribunal that resolves these disputes (most of […]
Can I Get Out of a Contract? Cooling-Off Periods and Contract Basics in BC You’ve entered into an agreement with another party, and now you would like to back out of the contract. What are your options? This article will provide an overview of contract law in BC, including the general rule when it comes […]
Many people assume that naming a beneficiary on a benefit plan, such as a Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA), Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP), Registered Retirement Income Fund (RRIF), or First Home Savings Account (FHSA), guarantees that the funds will pass directly to that person upon death. It seems straightforward. However, in British Columbia, it is […]
When a loved one passes away, we rely on their will to provide certainty and finality regarding the distribution of property. Historically, legal systems required strict compliance with formalities for a will to be considered valid, thereby ensuring the necessary certainty. However, modern estate law in British Columbia includes a significant curative power under section […]