In BC, each property’s title is registered with the BC Land Title Office which includes a list of any and all charges that are actively registered against that property. What is a “charge”? Put simply, a charge is a legal instrument registered on title that notes some form of third-party interest, rule or entitlement that…
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(A commentary by Nikita Gush, Articled Student and Dennis Ryan, Partner and Head of the Natural Resources Group, Doak Shirreff Lawyers LLP, Kelowna, BC © 2019) A new NAFTA? On November 30, 2018, the US, Canada, and Mexico signed a new North American free trade agreement called the United States Mexico and Canada Agreement (USMCA). …
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While the general rule of thumb for the maximum reasonable notice that a court will award to a terminated employee hovered around 24 months. Regardless of the length of service or other factors, the line in the sand for maximum reasonable notice has slowly eroded over the past few years, particularly in Ontario Courts. This…
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When Is a Statutory Building Scheme No Longer Enforceable? Unfortunately, the answer to that question is, “it depends”. A statutory building scheme is a document that is registered on title to properties within a subdivision imposing terms that limit what a homeowner can do with his or her property. Statutory building schemes can be very…
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Once you have an accepted offer to purchase a property the very next thing you should do is send that contract to your Kelowna real estate lawyer. Real estate lawyers want your contract as early as possible so we can collect information on the property and so we have time to complete a title review. The…
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With the recent legalization of cannabis in Canada, commercial real estate property and commercial leasing are in high demand for businesses seeking to operate legal cannabis dispensaries in Kelowna and throughout Canada. The Cannabis Act ensures a strict legal framework for controlling the production, distribution, sale, and possession of cannabis. In British Columbia, local, provincial and federal laws dictate…
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Effective January 1st, 2019 there will be new changes to REDMA (Real Estate and Development Marketing Act). The changes pertain to the assignment of contracts for developments like Ella, One Water, Brooklyn, and other strata condos in town. With these new changes, if a purchaser wants to assign their contract before they complete their purchase…
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Joint ownership of accounts between spouses is common and, in the majority of cases, advisable. However, we are frequently asked by clients if they should add an adult child to their bank accounts. This is almost always ill-advised. Joint ownership often comes with the “right of survivorship”, meaning that when one account owner dies, the…
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In the event of a left turn accident, where a left turning driver turns in front of an oncoming driver proceeding straight through the intersection, who has the right of way? Is it the driver driving straight through or the driver turning left? The answer is heavily dependent on the facts of each case. Our…
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As of October 17, 2018, cannabis is legal in Canada. The Cannabis Act ensures a strict legal framework for controlling the production, distribution, sale, and possession of cannabis. It is subject to provincial or territorial restrictions. In British Columbia , the legal age to possess or use cannabis is 19 years of age or older.…
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