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How to prepare to meet with a Niagara Estate lawyer

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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 estate, businesses

When to hire a personal injury lawyer

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Sustaining injuries from a slip and fall or car accident can have devastating effects on your body, mental health, career and wallet. If you’ve been injured in an accident, you’ve probably considered hiring a Niagara personal injury lawyer or   filing a personal injury claim   on your own. Personal injury cases are intented to compensate for what was lost by the plantiff due to the injury. The following types of dames are common in personal injury cases:  medical treatment  pain and suffering ( Tramadol 50 mg ) long-term care  property loss loss wages and loss of earning capacity maintenance/housekeeping services If you have been involved in an accident, it would be beneficial to hire a personal injury lawyer if the following situations are similar to your own: Severe Injury  If a car or slip and fall accident has resulted in severe injury, you should consult with a personal injury lawyer. Severe injuries can include immediate impact injuries such as broken bones, punctured lungs or to

The steps for divorce in Ontario

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If you want to file for divorce, have been served divorce papers or are simply considering divorce, you may have questions about what is involved. In order to dissolve a marriage in Ontario, you must prove in the Superior Court of Justice that you are legally married and that your marital relationship has broken down. The steps for divorce begin with preparing and filing an application with the court. The best way to navigate the process of a divorce in Ontario is to hire a Family Law lawyer to guide and advise you. This blog will provide information about divorce that you should know. Determine grounds for filing for divorce You will need to establish that you are entitled to a divorce.  Canada’s Divorce Act identifies the basis for a divorce as “marriage break down.” The three accepted grounds for divorce in Canada include: Adultery Abuse or Cruelty Separation A one year separation or a no fault divorce is the most common and best way to pursue a divorce in Ontario. Once you are sepa

How to plan to minimize estate planning taxes

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In Canada, an estate planning tax is just one of the costs that your loved ones will incur upon your death. Others include funeral expenses and the payment of debts. The number of potential costs and their financial impact is why planning to minimize estate planning taxes is an important part of comprehensive  estate planning . Depending on the size of your estate, estate planning taxes (or “estate administration tax”) can be significant. In Ontario, for example, this tax (formerly known as probate fees) can equal 1.5 to 2% of the value of your estate. This tax is in addition to the taxes levied on your savings accounts and capital gains upon your death. If it sounds complicated and like there are a lot of fees to worry about, it is because it is and there are. But there are methods to minimize the estate planning tax and the process less onerous for your loved ones. Here are two of the most popular methods: Joint Ownership of Assets Jointly held assets do not, typically, form a part o

The estate planning questions you will be asked by your lawyer

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Creating an estate plan is necessary to ensure that your assets are distributed and handled on your terms upon your death. Your Niagara Wills and Estates lawyer will help you to create the documents necessary to implement those wishes. The questions that you will be asked during your meeting with an estate planning lawyer will be tough, so it is  important to be prepared.  You will need to understand your personal and financial objectives and be honest about how your decisions will affect your family members and associates after your death. Establishing your estate plan When you meet with an estate planning lawyer to develop your plan, you will be setting out your estate planning goals and objectives, including how you will provide financial security for your family, the distribution options and determining who will be your children’s legal guardian in the event of premature death. In order to create your estate plan, your lawyer will ask you questions that establish your objectives an

What to expect from your first meeting with a Family Law Lawyer

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In your initial meeting with a Family Law lawyer, the goal will be to understand your specific circumstances and your legal needs. During this meeting, you and the lawyer will address a number of topics including how the process of a Family Law case works, issues related to your minor children, potential support arrangements, asset and liability resolutions, and the possible fees and costs. In order for the lawyer to address all of these matters, you will need to come prepared. Being prepared for your first meeting will enable the Family Law lawyer provide you with comprehensive information and to advise you about what to do next.  Click here to learn how to prepare for your first meeting with a family lawyer . Expect to review your potential issues   The  Niagara Family Law lawyer  will review with you the issues relevant to your circumstances and will make assessments based on the information that you have provided. You will discuss the process for your specific case as it pertains t

How to prepare to meet with your St. Catharines employment lawyer

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Employment law is complex and fact-intensive. Sometimes it can be difficult for an employee to have a case brought to trial, as a high burden of proof exists for the employee. Because of the complexity of these cases, you should talk to an employment lawyer if you believe you were a victim of wrongful dismissal, employment contract violation or any other employment issue. An employee should prepare the following before meeting with a St. Catharines employment lawyer to have an effective first meeting: A chronological and detailed summary of your employment The date you were hired Any information on performance evaluations, awards or promotions The date any dispute or issue began The type of issue (harassment, employment contract violation, wrongful termination) Who, what, why, where and when details of the issue Gather important documentation Employment contract Non-competition agreement Employee guidelines or handbook Performance evaluations Benefits plan Severance agreement Any commu