You have probably heard the phrase, “With a will, there’s a way…” As estate planners, we take that quite literally! Good planning now can help reduce probate fees, taxes and unintended anguish for your beneficiaries, friends and loved ones, after you are gone. In previous weeks we talked about two of the fundamental elements for…

In our previous article, we have touched on the basics of setting up an estate plan. Apart from making a Will, you can also consider setting up your Trusts as part of your estate plan. Do you know an estate plan can include two types of trusts? Let’s recap on the concept of Trusts A…

Let’s face it, making an estate plan is probably not the activity on the top of your to-do list. Most Canadians do not have a valid will. However, having an estate plan is one of the most important things you can do for the people you care about. If you are new to the concept…

We are pleased to welcome Danica Beck to our Family Law Group. Danica joins us from a boutique law firm in Burnaby. She has experience representing clients in a variety of family, immigration and civil matters. She is also a Cabinet Member for the Easter Seals Capital Campaign Project and supervising lawyer for the Thompson…

We are pleased to announce that Watson Goepel Family Law lawyer, R. Craig Neville, is a 2021 recipient of the honorary title of Queen’s Counsel (Q.C.). This designation is given to a handful of lawyers each year for their contributions to B.C.’s provincial justice system through their work as a lawyer, their good character, professional integrity…

The B.C. government has announced a one-year extension to the deadline for pre-existing owners to file with the Land Owner Transparency Registry (“LOTR”).  Reporting bodies with an interest in land will now have until November 30, 2022 to file a transparency report without incurring penalties.  The government has explained that the rationale behind this extension is…

Business and Securities lawyers, Anand Athiviraham and Robert Galletti presented at Vancouver Startup Week 2021 earlier this year. In their one-hour presentation, Anand and Rob discuss their top legal tips for entrepreneurs and explain the importance of setting the right tone from the ground up. Click to view the presentation and see further presentation details…

We are pleased to share that, on top of her Immigration and Indigenous law practices, Anita Boscariol will be starting as an Adjunct Professor in the Faculty of Law at Queen’s University this fall. She will be teaching students in the Immigration and Citizenship Law Graduate Diploma program. Anita also teaches courses on Immigration Law…

A strong Form F8 Financial Statement is one of the most important documents in your B.C. family law case. A properly completed Financial Statement can greatly improve the standing of your case and help move your legal matter toward a swift resolution. A poorly prepared Financial Statement can not only undermine the goals of your…

Relevant corporations, trustees of relevant trusts, and partners of relevant partnerships which have an interest in land are required to file a transparency report under the Land Owner Transparency Act (“LOTA”) by November 30, 2021. Failure to do so could result in significant fines being levied against the corporation or other entity.  The following summarizes…