While it may be tempting to DIY the homebuying process and save on legal fees, there are many benefits to hiring a lawyer, including having a faster and lower stress experience. Photo by Pavel Danilyuk from Pexels It is springtime and the start of homebuying season is here. If you are thinking of buying a home, you may be wondering whether you need a lawyer to help you through the process. With the rise of online homebuying platforms, it may seem tempting to DIY the homebuying process. Technically speaking, you can buy a home without a lawyer. But there are many reasons why you shouldn’t. Belo ..read more

In planning for end of life, we first need to be able to talk about it. Photo by ELEVATE from Pexels Death—it’s a reality of life that on a certain level we know will come for us all, but one that in our modern world we have managed to push to the peripheries. The average lifespan for a Canadian in 2020 was a hair shy of 82 years – over 84 years for women and around 80 for men. This means we are living on average a quarter century longer than we did a hundred years ago, a fact we tend to forget about when we think about the institutions established in this country in generations past. This cou ..read more

The Coalition for Justice and Human Rights’ August 2023 constitutional challenge to the City of Edmonton’s encampment removals did not succeed, but this case wasn’t the first of its kind and likely won’t be the last. Photo by Brett Sayles from Pexels As housing in Canada and Alberta becomes increasingly expensive, many people are being forced to live on the streets. Across the country, encampments are becoming more and more common. Many major cities are trying to deal with the crisis by removing encampments. (A previous LawNow article discussed whether encampments are a political or legal issu ..read more

Most of the time, our life and health insurance work as expected: You file a claim, and your insurer covers the costs per your policy. But what if you have a complaint? Photo by SHVETS production from Pexels Every day, insurance companies process thousands of life or health insurance claims for Canadian policyholders. However, mistakes or surprises can happen, leading to complaints. If you are in a dispute with your insurance company regarding a complaint, rest assured that you have options, including a free, fast, impartial, and independent review of your complaint by the OmbudService for Lif ..read more

Canada’s Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID) laws were set to change in March 2024 to include mental disorders. But the federal government has once again delayed implementation until at least March 2027. Photo by Karolina Grabowska from Pexels Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID) was legalized in Canada in 2016 and became available to eligible adults with terminal illnesses. In 2021, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (medical assistance in dying) expanded MAID to include people whose natural death was not considered reasonably foreseeable. The 2021 changes came in response to the 2019 Superior Co ..read more

The work of criminal and family lawyers exposes them to abuse and trauma, which can lead them to experiencing vicarious trauma. But help is available. Photo by Liza Summer from Pexels Lawyers practicing in family or criminal law are instrumental in advocating for and guiding their clients through some of the most traumatic times of their lives. Indirect exposure to traumatic events is an inherent part the job. Whether working on files involving domestic abuse or criminal offenses, lawyers are highly susceptible to a phenomenon known as vicarious trauma – the psychological and emotional impact ..read more

The Family Property Act says how adult interdependent partners (AIPs) divide their property on separation. But it seems to prohibit unmarried couples from signing a cohabitation agreement about property before they become AIPs. Photo by Karolina Grabowska from Pexels There is a gap in Alberta’s Family Property Act (the Act) that has not really been discussed since it became law on January 1, 2020 and replaced the Matrimonial Property Act. The Act instructs how Adult Interdependent Partners (AIPs), also colloquially known as “common law,” will divide property if they separate. For context, indi ..read more

But do not panic because Canada’s Criminal Code not only includes five hate-based offences but also allows a judge to consider during sentencing whether hate motivated any other offence. Photo by Kindel Media from Pexels In Canada, we do not have an offence in our Criminal Code that is called a “hate crime.” Yet during a time when hate speech and acts of hate towards racialized and/or marginalized communities seem to be daily and disturbing news, the lack of a hate crime offence can be alarming to some. But before you call up your local MP, know these two things about hate and criminal offence ..read more

A Will is a legal document that says what happens to your estate when you pass away. While you can make your own, there are many good reasons why a lawyer should prepare it for you. Photo by Andrea Piacquadio from Pexels There are two ways to make a Will in Alberta. A person can make a holographic Will that is entirely in their own personal handwriting and includes a date and signature. A formal Will is written or typed up and signed by the testator (the person making the Will) along with two independent witnesses. Any person can make their own Will or use a Will kit. However, there are many r ..read more

In most cases, there are things you can do to avoid court, including finding reliable information, noting up case law, understanding the general rules and exceptions, and knowing whether a law actually exists. Photo by Vojtech Okenka from Pexels If you are experiencing a legal issue, you might think court is the place to resolve it. However, this is rarely true! There are many ways to resolve a legal issue without going to court. You can also take steps to avoid going to court in many cases. Court takes time and money and should be your last resort in most cases. You can find several tips ..read more