Blogs written by lawyers at Highlander Law Group in Tantallon, Nova Scotia for people in Halifax with an interest in Real Estate Purchase and Sale, Corproate, Litigation, Debt Collection, Divorce, Probate, Wills, Power of Attorney, Trusts, Child support, Spousal Support, Custody, Migration, Debt Collection, Builders Liens, Estate Planning, Trademarks, Copyright and other Intellectual Property issues. .
As a Golden Retriever Mom, I understand the desire to ensure your pets would be cared for properly if you cross the Rainbow Bridge before they do. Estate planning will help you accomplish this. Leaving a letter or talking to your family is not legally binding and opens the door to the possibility that your wishes will be ignored and your pets given away, or worse.
Read MoreThinking of buying or selling your home? This is one of the largest transactions you will complete in your lifetime, it’s important to get it "right". A real estate agent can help you do this. These are some of the reasons why:
Read MoreNon-traditional or “blended” families are becoming more and more common in Canadian society. One aspect of this movement is step-child adoption. Before deciding to adopt, it is a good idea to consider meeting with a therapist or a counsellor. In the rush of happiness about your new family it may appear there is no downside to adoption, but this is a big step to take with permanent effects. A counsellor can help you decide if adoption is right for you and the child.
Read MoreAn unfortunate reality of today’s corporate world is restructuring, outsourcing and downsizing. For many hard-working employees, the result is lay-offs. One day you go to the job you’ve devoted yourself to for years and the next you find yourself unemployed with a standardized letter letting you go, along with a request to sign a ‘Release’ in exchange for a severance package. You are reeling and have no idea if the package they are offering you is what you are entitled to. This is where an employment lawyer comes in. Many lawyers, including myself, are happy to meet with people in your shoes to review your situation and give some basic advice as to whether or not the severance package offered is within the acceptable range.
Read MoreA simple ‘texting and driving’ google search generates statistics that goes on for pages. It’s simple logic – if you’re looking at something other than the road when you’re driving, you are more likely to have an accident. One stat pops up repeatedly, and paints a pretty scary picture. A driver’s eyes are diverted from the road for an average of 4.6 seconds when reading or sending a text. In 4.6 seconds, with its driver not looking at the road, a car travelling 100km/hour travels the length of a football field. It doesn’t take a lot of creativity to imagine the deadly situations that might crop up on the road in that span. Not surprisingly, the US National Highway Transportation Safety Administration reports that you are 23 times more likely to crash if texting while driving.
Read MoreYou can obtain a hunter’s license at the N.S. Dept. of Natural Resources, or any approved vendor. You need to renew your hunters licence every year. You must be the age of 18 or older unless you have an adult with you. Hunting season in Nova Scotia is open October 1st until December 5. You are not allowed hunting on Sundays except for November 1st & 8th.
Read MoreDeciding where to live can seem overwhelming. There are a lot of factors that contribute to that choice. What you may not know is that it is not simply a choice between renting OR buying, there is also a third option: buying a home on leased land. This blog focuses on some pros and cons of each to help you decide.
Read MoreRunning your small business out of your home can be convenient and cost-effective options for many. If you’re moving and planning to operate your business out of your home. this blog outlines some important details to consider.
Read MoreDuring a meeting last week, a senior family lawyer with over 25 years of experience told me that he tells clients involved in high conflict cases to delete all their social media accounts. There can be a strong temptation to let the world know just how awful your ex is. This same senior lawyer also said, “people think if they post negative comments about their ex that everyone will agree and take their side.” It is a good idea not to post anything to social media when you are upset. There is plenty of good research that says we do not make good decisions when we are emotionally charged, and once a post has been sent, there is no taking it back.
Read MoreMany people may have heard the term "migration" with respect to property but have no idea what that means. That’s fair, a lot of people don’t. This blog will give a Coles notes overview of what it is and why it matters to you as a home owner or potential purchaser.
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George Costanza, on an episode of Seinfeld, dramatically quit his job during a meeting. Regretting his impulsive decision, he decides to act like it never happened and simply shows up to work the next day. As was often the case, things went badly for George and he did not get his job back.
Employment disputes can be very tricky to deal with because our work is a fundamental part of our identity. Not to mention that jobs are how we put food on the table and a roof over our head. To make matters worse, there are plenty of myths, out of context advice, and some just plain wrong information floating around out there.
Read MoreWhether it is time to incorporate is a question often pondered by business people. There are two primary reasons to incorporate a business:
1. Your business can realize tax savings through utilizing a corporate structure; and
2. Your business activities are risky and you would like to place this risk on the corporation’s shoulders instead of your own.
Read MoreEver drive by a school zone sign and wonder what counts as ‘When Children Are Present’? It’s even more important to know now that the speed limit in a school zone changed to only 30 km/hr where the speed limit is normally 50 km/hr. The definition of ‘When Children Are Present’ hasn’t changed. The School Area Regulations made under the Motor Vehicle Act states that a child is deemed ‘present’ if the child is ‘on land’ within 30 meters of the center line. There is no time limit to this definition. If a child is present, the reduced speed limit is in effect 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Therefore, if a child is walking along the side of the road in a school zone at 10:00 pm at night in the middle of August, the school zone reduced speed limits still apply. The logic is, regardless of the time of year, a school is an area where children congregate, whether it’s for academic learning or other pursuits that make use of the school facilities (sports leagues, drama camp etc.).
Read MoreDuring separation, figuring out "co-parenting" children is often the most difficult and important consideration. In most cases, both parents want what is best for their kids but they often have different ideas about what that looks like.
Read MoreThere are a lot of real estate agents out there, and it can be overwhelming deciding which one is right for you. But the right agent can make a huge difference in your home selling experience. The right agent can not only make the experience more pleasant, they will likely also be able to sell your house for more and in a shorter amount of time. To make the decision-making process easier, consider the following
Read MoreOne of your valued employees just announced that she is pregnant. Undoubtedly this will have an impact on your business. Among the other pregnancy related conversations you should have with your employee, you should also be discussing breastfeeding – specifically, that you are aware that, as an employer, you have an obligation (and are willing) to accommodate the employee’s choice to breastfeed. Many employers don’t know what ‘accommodating’ involves or even why they should be forced to accommodate an employee who wishes to continue to breastfeed upon return to work (thinking, can’t they just give their baby some formula?)
Read MoreAs a parent of young children, I was horrified to hear the story of a 5-year-old Nova Scotian boy who died from being pinned under a ‘Youth Model’ ATV recently. Rural Nova Scotia has a strong culture of ATV use – and why not, it’s a fun and, in a lot of cases, practical way to get around. However, though the machines can provide endless hours of outdoor entertainment it’s critical to remember that they are not toys, but rather powerful and heavy machines that can have deadly consequences if not used properly.
Read MoreThe 2017 Children's Art Show is on now at our office. It's amazing what a difference it makes to add so much colour and energy. The art is all created by local children and on sale until the end of day Friday. Proceeds of the sale will be split with 50% going to the young artists themselves and 50% going to the Paint it Forward FUNdraiser being held July 29th by Seaborn Art Studio, one of the Heroes for Hunter Marsden. We've included pictures of most of the artwork submitted below. If you're interested in purchasing a piece you are welcome to drop by the office where we can take cash, debit or credit or we're also happy to take an etransfer or credit card over the phone.
Please feel free to call us at 902-826-3070 if you have any questions about any of the pieces.
We are inviting children in the area to submit their original artwork to be displayed and sold at this year’s Children’s Art Showcase. The event, which will run alongside the Peggy’s Cove Festival of the Arts, will be held from July 12th – 14th at the offices of Highlander Law Group. A gallery space will be open to the public from the hours of 9:00-4:00pm. Following the public viewing, the firm will host a private reception on Friday evening for the artists and their family. The art will be for sale with 50% of the proceeds being donated to the Marsden family through Seaborn Art Studio and 50% going to the young artists.
Read MoreDivorces and separations can be very expensive. During a separation, families may face new expenses for custody and access visits, outfitting a new apartment with furniture. Now add to that legal fees and court costs and it can be a very challenging time financially. Thankfully, there are some things you can do to reduce you expenses.
Read MoreT 902.826.3070
F 902.826.1694
E info@highlanderlaw.ca
5288 St. Margaret's Bay Rd.
Suite #201, Upper Tantallon, NS (just outside of Halifax, Nova Scotia)
B3Z 2J1
