There are a variety of “myths” out there surrounding the legal world. Over the next few weeks we would like to take a few minutes to bust some of these myths.

“Hiring a lawyer is always expensive”

You might have heard that hiring a lawyer is always expensive, but what is expensive? You wouldn’t ask your mechanic to fix your car for free, so why wouldn’t you pay for legal services?

But that doesn’t mean it’s always expensive.

Initial consult fees are often charged & provide a starting point for clients. After the initial consult, clients can decide how they wish to proceed with various legal matters.

If you have a low income, you may be eligible for Legal Aid which is a subsidized service that provides legal services in the areas of family law, family violence matters, child welfare, immigration, and youth and adult criminal defense.

Some matters require an hourly rate, while others such as wills, and real estate deals are flat rate fees. If you are unsure, ask your local law office what the fees will be. We are always happy to help and give you a quote so you know ahead of time what you can expect to pay.

There are a lot of factors to consider when selling your property.  One of the main decisions is whether to employ a realtor or to sell your property privately.

Employing a realtor comes with many benefits namely:  

• Realtors are marketing professionals and therefore are able to provide your property with more exposure on the market.

• Realtors can assist you in preparing a purchase to offer and explain the details you may not understand or even be aware of when selling your property.

• Realtors can provide you with contact details for other professionals that can help with the process of selling your property, though you are not obligated to use their suggestions and are free to shop around to find the best professional to meet your needs.

 Whither you choose to use a realtor or to sell your home privately Bullock Law is here to assist you in all your legal needs during this process.

Have you taken the time to think about what your wishes are in the event of your passing?

Did you know that unless you make a plan for what is to happen to your estate upon your passing then everything you own will go to the first relative listed in the order of succession as per Federal Government regulations.

This can often result in everything you own going to a member of your family with whom you have not spoken to in years.

The best way to insure that your estate is handled as per your wishes is to have a will drawn up , we at Bullock Law are here to help with all your estate planning needs.

There are a number of advantages to incorporating your farming business, here are just a few:

First, there are tax benefits to incorporation over being a sole practitioner or partnership;

Second, incorporation helps to protect your personal finances from business liabilities; and

Third, you may be able to attract equity financing or business loans from investors.

Contact our team here at Bullock Law to discuss how we can assist you and your business through the process of incorporation.

This year we wanted to offer the following fun alternatives to traditional trick or treating:

1. Snuggle up with you family, eat some spooky snacks and have a scary movie night;

2. Dress up in your best Halloween costumes and go parade outside a local senior facility;

3. Hold a dunking for apples competition;

4. Stage a spooky scavenger hunt around your house;

5. Create a bingo game of costumes or spooky things to see, and go for a drive to see if you can get a BINGO;

6. Host a virtual Halloween party to celebrate with your friends and family and include a costume contest or pumpkin carving contest.

We expect everyone to be responsible this Halloween weekend however for those who choose to trick instead of treat, please remember Bullock Law is here to help.

If this is your first consult with Bullock Law, we understand that you may be feeling overwhelmed during your initial consultation process.

Below is some helpful information to guide you through this process.

1. What should you bring with you to your consult?

   a. Valid Government issued photo ID such as your driver’s licence or passport;

   b. Any court documents you already have relating to the claim, if any;

   c. Any other documents you feel are relevant to your claim, if any;

   d. Any client information sheets or questionnaires provide to you by our office; and

   e. The consultation fee quoted to you by our office during the scheduling of your consultation.

2. What can you expect during your consultation with our lawyer?

   During your consult the lawyer will fully review with you the details regarding your claim/issue. Our lawyer will then provide you with any legal options available to you regarding your claim/issue together with any quotes directly related to each of the specific options discussed.

 We hope the above helps you feel more comfortable in our initial meeting however, should you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact our office.

With the courts now re-opening to some in person appearances our office is often asked the following questions.

1. Is it necessary, I come to court if my lawyer is attending?

   Our office will always confirm to you before the court date whether you need to attend court with our lawyer.

2. What should I wear to court?

   We recommend that you dress like you are going to a job interview, wearing either business casual clothing or, nice casual clothes, without any visible rips or stains.

3. When should I arrive at court?

   We recommend that you arrive a half hour earlier than your appointed court time. This will allow you time to go through security, check in with the court clerk or your lawyer before court begins, or file documents, if necessary.

4. Can I bring my children to court?

   Please make child care arrangements and do not bring children to court.

5. What if the Judge speaks to me directly during court, how do I address them?

   In Provincial Court you will address the Judge as “Your Honour”. In Court of Queen’s Bench you will address the Judge as “Madam Justice”, “My Lady” “Ma’am” for a female judge or “ Mr. Justice”, “My Lord” or, “Sir” for a male judge.

If you have any other questions specific to your matter, please do not hesitate to contact Bullock Law.

Bullock Law wishes to extend a big THANK YOU to all of our local realtors, brokers, lenders, insurance agents, and clients for all of your hard work and dedication throughout this years busy real estate season!

Whether you have just bought a home or have owned your home for many years, many experts recommend the following fall maintenance be done each year to your property.

1. Clean and repair your gutters;

2. Drain your outdoor faucets and winterize any sprinkler systems;

3. Seal any cracks around your doors, windows, and inspect your roof for any required repairs;

4. Check your chimney for any blockages and be sure the damper is working;

5. Have your furnace serviced;

6. Change the batteries in any detectors around your home;

7. Prune your plants;

8. Prepare any summer maintenance items for storage;

9. Be sure your winter maintenance items are working such as your snow blower; and

10. Last and most important, take some time to enjoy the change of the season in and around your home!