Q&A | People's Law School

Work

Can my employer insist I provide proof of being ill when I take paid sick leave?

I thought I had COVID recently, even though I didn’t test positive. (My partner had it, and I had mild flu symptoms.) My employer is insisting I provide proof of being ill before giving me four paid sick days. Can they do that?

Work

If I get a huge cut in hours, have I effectively been laid off?

Work

If my job can be done from home, can I expect my employer to give me the option to work from home?

Coronavirus

What are my rights if I get laid off because I have COVID?

Work

What's the difference between a temporary layoff and being terminated?

Work

How does severance pay work if my temporary layoff due to shortage of work becomes a permanent lay off?

Coronavirus

Can I be evicted if I get COVID?

Wills & estates

As a beneficiary, what can I do if I’m not satisfied with the estate accounts?

Work

What can I do if my boss is bullying me at work?

Health

Can I just take my daughter to counselling or does my ex have to agree?

Health

I want my son to take an alternative health care treatment. He’s not keen. Can I decide for him?

Home & neighbours

I’m about to buy a condo. Do I need a lawyer or notary public for this, or can I do it myself?

Money & debt

I’m about to lend some money to a friend. Should I get a lawyer to do the paperwork?

Work

I just got a job offer. Should I get a lawyer to review it before I sign?

Wills & estates

Do I need a lawyer or notary public to make my will?

Cars & getting around

I rode into a pothole on a city street. I ended up with two broken arms. Can I sue the city?

Wills & estates

What happens if a beneficiary dies before the estate has been settled?

Wills & estates

What exactly does the word property mean in a will?

Wills & estates

What happens if there’s no will and an heir dies before the estate has been settled?

Wills & estates

How do I find out if I'm a beneficiary of a will in British Columbia?

Wills & estates

What can I do if I don’t like how the executor is managing the estate?

Wills & estates

As a beneficiary under a will, what's involved in requesting an estate bond?

Wills & estates

What happens when a beneficiary dies before the will-maker?

Wills & estates

What happens if a new estate asset is discovered after probate is completed?

Wills & estates

As the executor, I can't find a beneficiary. How do I move forward to get probate and settle the estate?

Wills & estates

What happens to my debts when I die?

Business & non-profits

Another company is using my images to advertise their work. Isn't this illegal?

Wills & estates

In my will, can I name multiple people to take care of my kids?

Wills & estates

I can’t find anyone to be the executor of my will. What should I do?

Home & neighbours

I live with roommates. One of them wants me out. Can I get evicted right now?

Business & non-profits

Another business is using a really similar name and logo to mine. What can I do?

Home & neighbours

Am I responsible for the cost of repairing a hole my strata cut in my wall?

Business & non-profits

I serve on a non-profit board. When are we allowed to have in camera meetings?

Plan for your future care

To be appointed under a power of attorney for someone who lives in BC, do I need to live in the province?

Home & neighbours

I want to buy a home from an estate sale. How will this affect the purchase?

Consumer

I hired a contractor to redo my kitchen. They were slow, unresponsive, and didn’t complete the job properly. Do I have to pay the final invoice?

Wills & estates

In applying for probate, what debts do I list in the affidavit of assets and liabilities (form P10)?

Home & neighbours

The unit below my rental apartment suffered water damage, apparently caused by my bathtub. Can I be held responsible?

Health

An item I bought second hand injured me. Who’s responsible?

Wills & estates

My partner didn’t have a will. What happens to his estate?

Wills & estates

My spouse died without a will. Can I deal with the estate?

Consumer

Does a contract have to be in writing to be valid?

Wills & estates

Can the executor of a will use or give away the deceased's property?

Wills & estates

My spouse died. What happens to a loan we took out together?

Plan for your future care

Is the power of attorney we made in the United States valid in BC?

Wills & estates

I'm handling my mom's estate; how many copies of the death certificate should I order?

Health

I slipped and fell going down the stairs at a friend’s home. Are they liable for my injuries?

Health

As a homeowner, are there steps I can take to protect against slip and fall claims?

Health

I slipped and fell in a store. Are they liable for my injuries?

Health

I tripped on a city sidewalk and broke two ribs. Can I sue the city?

Plan for your future care

Is it possible to add an alternate attorney to an existing power of attorney?

Wills & estates

Who is responsible for arranging the funeral?

Wills & estates

My spouse died, leaving more debts than assets. As executor, what should I do?

Wills & estates

What happens if the executor dies before the will-maker?

Wills & estates

My father died without a will. I'm told I need a grant of administration to deal with his affairs. How do I get that?

Work

I told a contractor I wasn't going to renew her contract. Should I have put it in writing?

Wills & estates

Can a will be redacted to protect the privacy of beneficiaries?

Wills & estates

In an insurance policy, can a person's estate be named as the beneficiary?

Wills & estates

Can a beneficiary transfer assets directly to a person not named in the will?

Business & non-profits

Our museum received a large charitable bequest with no strings attached. How can we use it?

Wills & estates

What can a beneficiary under a will do to speed up the process of distributing the estate?

Wills & estates

In my parents' wills, can they name me as their executor if I don't live in Canada?

Wills & estates

Do I need to probate a will in BC if the deceased was a Canadian living in the US as a permanent resident?

Work

I run a business and just declare self-employment income. Should I incorporate instead?

Business & non-profits

What are some things to consider when choosing a name for my business?

Business & non-profits

Do I need a lawyer and an accountant to incorporate a company or society?

Home & neighbours

If I build a fence six inches into my property, can my neighbour now use the six inches on the other side of my fence for their yard?

Home & neighbours

Is there a rule about how close a fence can be to a neighbour’s house?

Home & neighbours

Our fence on the property line has been damaged by our neighbour. Are they responsible for the damages?

Home & neighbours

Our shared fence is falling apart. My neighbour wants to upgrade it. Do I have to pay for any of this?

Home & neighbours

My neighbour wants to build a retaining wall between our properties. They won’t get more than one (expensive) quote. What are my rights?

Families & children

My partner and I are splitting up. What now?

Families & children

The government is threatening to take my kids. What can I do?

Cars & getting around

I'm visiting BC for a few months. Do I need a BC driver's licence?

Cars & getting around

My son wants to have my driver’s licence taken away. Can he do that?

Cars & getting around

I'm worried about my 81-year-old dad's driving. What can I do?

Environment

Can I go fishing in Howe Sound?

Environment

Can I take my dog to a regional park?

Environment

Can I take my dog to a provincial park?

Home & neighbours

My neighbour is dumping garbage on our side of the fence. Do I have to pay to get rid of it?

Wills & estates

Does a beneficiary have to approve the executor's fee?

Home & neighbours

Is there anything I can do about the unbearable smell coming from the neighbouring apartment?

Home & neighbours

Can my neighbour come on to my property without my permission?

Home & neighbours

The upstairs (head) tenant hasn’t mowed the lawn in months and garbage is piled everywhere. What can I do?

Home & neighbours

My neighbour stores boxes in our shared hallway. I can barely get past. Is there anything I can I do?

Home & neighbours

My condo neighbour’s cannabis smoke is driving me crazy. What can I do?

Home & neighbours

My building doesn’t allow pets. Is this legal?

Home & neighbours

As a roommate in a rental unit, how much notice am I entitled to get on being evicted?

Home & neighbours

I hit a dog with my car. Will I have to pay the vet bills?

Cars & getting around

The used car was described as "fully serviced." I had problems right away and my mechanic now says it's unsafe. What are my rights?

Work

I was just let go from my job. How much severance pay should I get?

Cars & getting around

The car I bought from a private seller broke down the first time I drove it. What are my rights?

Cars & getting around

I took my car in for specific repairs. The garage did additional work, and it cost three times what I expected. Is there anything I can do?

Cars & getting around

I bought a used car from a dealership. Within two months it needed multiple repairs. Should the dealer have to pay for these repairs?

Wills & estates

Can I contest my parent’s will?

Consumer

My cellphone provider just billed me for $18,000. Can they do that?

Work

As a domestic worker, am I entitled to overtime pay from my employer?

Consumer

I hired a paving contractor. They never did the job. Can I get my down payment back?

Money & debt

How is a consumer proposal different from bankruptcy?

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