Chown Cairns Lawyers LLP

The information that you provide to your business lawyer will be analyzed so that a legal plan can be created to meet the needs of your business. Dependent on the reason for your first meeting with a Niagara business lawyer you will need to bring a number of items for documentation and review. The following are best practice items that your lawyer will want to review and discuss. Bring the following documentation: Business Information Marketing and business plans Business name registration Corporate records – business entities Financials Business banking statements Accounting Employee and business income tax returns Debts or assets Property/Real Estate Property lease, equipment lease Deeds or titles to commercial property Property insurance Bills and Debts Budget/balance sheet Loan documents Business credit statements Bills Legal Agreements Any contracts – supplier, client, customer There are many reasons to meet with a business lawyer and the documentation required in your first meeti...

One of the most important ways that you can prepare for the end of your life is to ensure that you have established an estate plan. In order to control what happens to your assets and property at the end of your life, you must have a plan. An estate plan may encompass a number of documents including wills, powers of attorney, personal directives, and trusts. Planning your estate will allow you to determine how your assets will be transferred when you die and can help your loved ones avoid negative consequences upon your death. When you meet with a St. Catharines estate lawyer, you will work together to decide which documents will need to be prepared in order to meet your wishes. To determine this, your  estate planning lawyer  will require you to provide documents that give information specific to your situation. Bring the following documents with you: Financial statements and a detailed list of assets and liabilities (bank accounts, mutual funds, pension plans, real esta...

Succumbing to a personal injury affects you both physically and financially and often emotionally. When the injury that you have sustained is the fault of a separate party and/or if you feel that the compensation offered through insurance is insufficient, you need to hire a personal injury lawyer to fight for the compensation that you deserve. To prepare to meet with a personal injury lawyer, it is important to collect as much information as possible pertaining to your injury claim and those at fault. In your initial consultation, you will review this information with your lawyer to determine whether you require legal representation. Bring the following documentation: Accident or collision report if car accident Police reports Picture of scene incident Hospital, doctor and therapy records Any information that documents how your injuries have affected your life Work missed as a result of the injury A list of the ways your life has been affected Medical bills Insurance coverage and c...

The process of separation is emotionally charged and often feels overwhelming for families. In the course of negotiating a separation agreement, you may need to deal with a number of legal issues including parenting arrangements, spousal and child support claims, insurance provisions and property division. Once you have chosen the lawyer you will work with, how do you prepare for your first meeting with your St. Catharines family law lawyer? What should you bring to your appointment, what information should you be prepared to provide and what questions should you ask? Compile important information about your situation In order to compile your case and provide legal advice, your family lawyer will need to know specific details about your situation. Income and Expenses It will assist your lawyer to know your income and the income of your spouse over the past three years and to provide information about your monthly expenses and financial needs.  Assets a...

Real estate purchases are often one of the most expensive transactions someone will make throughout the duration of their life. Due to this fact, it is not always an easy process and can be intimidating for those who are purchasing a home. One of the most important things you can do to protect yourself financially is to have a professional home inspection completed on the property. You should consider a professional home inspection whether you are buying, selling, or remortgaging your home. All of these transactions rely on the market and the condition of your home, something that is not always what it appears to the untrained eye. Here are some of the reasons why a professional home inspection may be the best decision you make. Protecting Your Real Estate Purchase If you are ready to purchase a home, it is likely that you have been saving for many years and have worked hard to get your finances in order. That’s why it is extremely important to make sure you get the most for your hard-...

If you’ve been in a car accident, the first thing you should do is go to the doctor. Health and safety should always be your number one priority, but you could also be damaging your ability to qualify for compensation if you don’t visit a doctor. There are many reasons doing so could help you in the long run, and it is often well worth spending a few hours in the waiting room. Not going to the doctor will hurt you in court If you plan on taking the person who caused the accident to court, you will need as much evidence as possible to connect your injuries to the accident. Likewise, your opponent’s legal team will collect as much evidence as possible to use against you, including the police report from the scene of the accident. One of the worst things you can do after an accident is tell anyone that you’re “fine.” If you do, it will likely be written down on the accident report and filed with the police. The accident report is used in court, and if you don’t report injuries at the scen...

  It is with tremendous excitement that we announce that two of Niagara’s oldest and most prestigious Law Firms are joining ranks to gain strength with combined talents and synergies to better position ourselves for important legal service to Niagara residents. The partners of Lancaster Brooks & Welch LLP and Chown Cairns LLP have agreed to become Lancaster Chown & Welch LLP effective January 1, 2022, which starts our 140th year offering legal advice in Niagara. Client focused and future driven, our goals include exploring and expanding our legal practice offerings and attracting talented young associate lawyers and legal staff, while responding to our clients’ needs in dynamic new ways.   “This merger enables exciting opportunities for us to expand our legal services that will benefit our clients for decades  to come”.                        ...