Articles
Sexual Assault: Understanding Your Legal Options – Criminal and Civil
Survivors of sexual assault have options. Learn the difference between criminal and civil proceedings, and how Cote & Evans can help you seek justice with care and confidentiality.
Post Secondary Education and Entitlement to Child Support
Learn when parents may be required to pay child support for adult children attending post-secondary school in British Columbia. Understand the key legal factors courts consider.
Understanding Defamation: Protecting Reputation in the Digital Era
Defamation consists of any written, printed or spoken words or of any audible or visible matters or acts which tend to lower a person in the estimation of others or cause a person to be shunned or avoided or exposed to hatred, contempt or ridicule. Key Elements of a...
The Importance of Making A Will
A Will is a written legal document which sets out how you want your property and assets distributed. As well as being an important estate planning tool, it also deals with other matters such as appointing a guardian for your children in the event you pass away before...
Executors of a Will: Rights and Responsibilities
The role of an executor in a will is extremely important. The executor acts on the instructions set out in a deceased person’s will and ensures that beneficiaries receive their testamentary gifts. The role of executor comes with a lot of responsibility. The work...
A Step-by-Step Guide to Applying for Divorce in Canada
Divorce is a significant life event that can be emotionally, financially, and legally complex. Whether you and your spouse have come to a mutual decision or are facing conflicts, understanding how to apply for divorce and navigate the process is crucial for moving...
Legal Possession of a Firearm in Canada
In Canada, there is a strict legal framework governing gun owners. The purpose of these laws and regulations is to ensure responsible use. The primary legislation governing firearm laws in Canada are the Firearms Act and the Criminal Code. In order to legally own a...
Property Ownership Disputes
Property ownership disputes can be complex, emotional, and costly. Whether you are dealing with disagreements between family members, partners in an investment, or you co-own property with friends, disputes over property are common and can arise for various reasons....
A Guide To Common-Law Partner Relationships in Canada
If you’ve been in a stable, long-term relationship, you may have joked, or been told by others, that you and your partner seem to be married. But are you perhaps legally common-law spouses? Read below to find out how you can prove your common-law relationship. ...
What is the Builders Lien Act?
The Builders Lien Act sets out rights and remedies available to individuals who work on or supply for constructions projects. Specifically, to ensure that payments from individual workers and suppliers are made and received. If you have completed or worked on a...
Pre-Nuptial Agreements, also known as “Cohabitation Agreements” or “Marriage Agreements”
What are Pre-Nuptial Agreements?You may have heard the term “Pre-Nup” or “Pre-Nuptial Agreement” colloquially used in mainstream media or on popular TV series and movies. In British Columbia, legal professionals typically refer to this type of agreement as either a...
Making Your Own Health Care or Personal Care Decisions
In estate planning we often recommend individuals ensure that mechanisms are in place in the event they are unable to make personal decisions regarding their legal affairs, financial affairs, health care and personal care. These include a Power of Attorney and...
How do I get Full Custody of my Child?
OverviewIf you are in the process of separating from your partner, one of the most important issues in your separation likely has to do with custody of your child(ren). Before we dive into the general process of working out a custody arrangement for your child(ren),...
Did you lend your boat to someone and it was seized by Fisheries Officers when in the possession of the individual you lent it to?
Perhaps you own a boat and you lent it to someone who then went out and used it for some illegal fishing activities. As a result of their actions your boat has been seized by Fisheries Officers and may be subject to forfeiture. This may not mean the boat is lost to...
Have you recently purchased a boat and does it already have or need a Pleasure Craft License?
Every boat that is used as a pleasure craft must have a Pleasure Craft License unless it is using a motor of less than 10 horsepower or has a vessel registration. Most boats are purchased with a trailer. Often individuals purchase a boat and trailer together and...
211 Reports
– By Marlise Foster, Legal Assistant Section 211 Reports Anyone sitting in family chambers will hear the term "211 report" referred to frequently by counsel and judges. While it's easy to access section 211 of the Family Law Act to see the legal requirements for the...
Can I Propose a Separation Agreement and Still File a Claim in Provincial or Supreme Court?
– By Ira Tee, Associate Lawyer Attempting to settle all legal issues from the breakdown of a relationship out of court can be a difficult thing to do, especially when parties do not often see eye-to-eye. Proposing a settlement in the form a separation agreement before...
Can I Have Family Law Proceedings in Both Provincial and Supreme Court?
– By Ira Tee, Associate Lawyer In the stress of separation, sometimes both spouses will simultaneously file claims in both Provincial and Supreme Court without the other spouse knowing. For example, one spouse will file in Supreme Court and the other will file in...
Can I Purchase New Property While Going Through A Divorce?
– By Ira Tee, Associate Lawyer After separating, oftentimes one spouse will leave the former family residence and will live elsewhere. Sometimes, by the time it takes for a family law matter to get through the courts, that spouse will have purchased a new house before...
What Else is There to Do After I Get a Judgment?
– By Ira Tee, Associate Lawyer Clients often wonder why lawyers are still working on a file even after judgment has been pronounced. It's case over, isn't it? The truth is that while obtaining a judgment from the court may seem like the end of a case and no further...
