Buying a house is one of the most exciting – and stressful – times in your life. The following top tips, from Jacqueline Tait, Notary Public, will help you to prepare for your signing meeting with your Notary and to minimize a lot of stress during that process: Read More
Registered education savings plans (“RESPs”) are a very popular tax-deferred way to save for a child or grandchild’s post-secondary education. However, many people who have established RESPs have not planned for what would happen if they pass away before the beneficiary has used the RESP assets. Read More
Travel consent letters for children travelling without a parent or guardian are not mandatory in Canada. However, the Government of Canada highly recommends that a child travelling abroad alone, with only one parent/guardian, with friends or relatives, or with a group, carry a consent letter signed by every parent or guardian who is not accompanying the child on the trip. This includes non-custodial parents who have visitation rights. Read More
One of the challenges I face in my practice is helping clients who have limited estate/personal planning options due to advanced Alzheimer’s or dementia. If you, your spouse or your parents are coping with the early stages of these diseases, don’t wait Read More
Strata title properties are more popular than ever – over one in three BC residents live in a residential strata. If you are a first time buyer, an empty nester looking to downsize, or simply looking for a more affordable housing solution, the strata market may be right for you. However, it is very important to understand the nature of strata versus freehold ownership before you make a decision.
If you die without a Will in BC, the Estate Administration Act determines how your Estate will be divided. This is called the “intestate distribution scheme”, and it may not be in line with your true wishes. For example, if you have no spouse, children or grandchildren, your estate would go to your parents (or the survivor of them). Only if your parents predecease you would your estate go to your siblings, if you have any. Read More
Shopping for your first home is very exciting, but trying to plan for all of the unforeseen costs can be stressful. Most people are aware of Property Transfer Tax (“PTT”), which is a provincial tax payable when the title to a property changes hands. However, don’t automatically assume that you qualify for an exemption simply because you are a first time home buyer (“FTHB”). This could be a costly mistake, resulting in a delay or even potential legal liability if you are unable to complete the purchase due to an inability to pay an unexpected PTT bill. Read More
The newly expanded Power of Attorney Act (the “Act”) came into force on September 1, 2011. It brought several important changes to the law governing Enduring Powers of Attorney (“EPOA”), which are those that remain or become effective after the maker of the EPOA (known as the “Adult”) becomes mentally incompetent. Generally speaking, Powers of Attorney that were made prior to the legislative amendments will still be valid. However, it is worth considering whether making a new EPOA may be beneficial for you. Read More
Buying a new home is one of the most exciting milestones in a person’s life. It is likely to be one of the biggest financial investments you will ever make. While it is a positive step forward, it can turn into a stressful experience if you are not well prepared in advance for all of the associated closing costs. Read More
Determining which parking space you are entitled to can be one of the most frustrating things about buying a condo. Parking spaces are allocated in different ways, depending upon whether they are designated on the strata plan as common property, limited common property, part of a strata lot, a separate strata lot, or common property that has been allocated under a lease or license by the owner developer. Read More
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