If one of you ends up in the hospital in emergency circumstances, you will be able to make decisions for each other. However, it is because you fall into the definition of “temporary substitute decision maker” for each other at that time. On an ongoing basis, you would need a Representation Agreement to discuss your…
Here are 5 reasons why you should have a Will: Create Certainty When There Are Changes in Your Family Creating a Will and ensuring that all documents are up-to-date is very important for the many people whose relationship status has changed. Changes can include marriage, separation, divorce, or a birth or a death in the family.…
You cannot get Power of Attorney over another individual: the individual gives you Power of Attorney for them. As such, they are in fact the only person that does need to be present to give instructions to the notary public or lawyer to prepare that document, although the Attorney appointed will need to sign the…
The Newly Built Home Exemption reduces or eliminates the amount of property transfer tax you pay when you purchase a newly built home. A newly built home includes: a house constructed and affixed on a parcel of vacant land a new apartment in a newly built condominium building a manufactured home that is placed and…
As we get older it becomes more and more apparent that no matter how much we take care of ourselves and how much we try to avoid hardship, we cannot predict the possible obstacles that the future holds. By the age of 50, you have probably learned that even the best planned strategies need a…
Many active aging boomers are downsizing to free-up funds for retirement or travel, or to make life simpler after their children leave home. If you’re considering a strata property, make sure you read and understand the strata minutes and bylaws; particularly on the topics of noise, pets, smoking and parking, which are the most frequent…
Whew! After selling our home and buying a new place 2 months ago, we just finished the construction of the improvements in our new office too and moved in the weekend of August 22nd. A number of months ago I thought this would be great! New beginnings at home and work all at the same…
Did you know? ICBC now requires all off-road vehicles to be registered. The deadline for registration has been extended from June 1st, 2015 to November 1st, 2015. Currently, registration is voluntary but it will become mandatory as of the November 1st deadline. According to ICBC, off-road vehicles include (but are not limited to) golf carts,…
A. Joint Wills, which basically combine the Will of two people into a single document, are not recognized under British Columbia law. Most couples create “mirror Wills” which are two separate Wills that are identical in all respects. For example, a husband and wife can make mirror Wills where they name each other as Trustee,…
For more information, see http://www.advancecareplanning.ca/about-advance-care-planning/what-is-national-advance-care-planning-day.aspx