Q&A

Business & non-profits Cars & getting around Consumer Families & children Health Home & neighbours Money & debt Plan for your future care Resolving disputes Rights & citizenship Wills & estates Work

Rights & citizenship

Does my insurer have the right to see my genetic test results?

"I recently had genetic testing done on my doctor's recommendation — nothing is wrong, but she wanted the information to help plan my care. Now I'm applying for life insurance and the application seems to be asking whether I've had genetic testing done. Do I have to answer that? Can they actually use that information against me?"

Families & children

My ex-husband spent years controlling every part of my life. Are there any legal options available to me?

Work

Can my employer force me to return to the office if I've been working from home?

Work

How can I get my employer to pay me the minimum wage?

Wills & estates

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

Home & neighbours

If I rent a bedroom in a house, will I be protected by BC’s tenancy laws?

Home & neighbours

What should I know before signing a mutual agreement to end my tenancy?

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?

Work

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

Wills & estates

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

Home & neighbours

Is there a time limit for a former tenant to challenge that a landlord actually moved into the rental unit?

Home & neighbours

My landlord defaulted on their mortgage. Now the bank wants to foreclose. What does that mean for me?

Home & neighbours

I own a condo, and am struggling to pay the mortgage. What if I fall so far behind I can’t catch up?

Consumer

I’ve started a formal complaint against an airline through the Canadian Transportation Agency. What happens next?

Rights & citizenship

Can I be sued for leaving a negative review of a company?

Rights & citizenship

Are there privacy laws governing the taking of videos or photos of public events such as open-air concerts?

Home & neighbours

In a rental building, is the management permitted to have security cameras monitoring the hallway?

Rights & citizenship

Am I allowed to have a nanny cam in my rental unit that’s activated when someone enters the unit?

Rights & citizenship

Is my landlord allowed to ask for my social insurance number?

Wills & estates

How do I leave a gift to a charity in my will?

Wills & estates

What paperwork do I need to file for probate?

Families & children

My wife and I are breaking up. She wants to keep our dog. So do I. Who gets to keep her?

Home & neighbours

Our landlord evicted us for “family use.” But then he didn’t move family in like he said. Can I get compensation for being unfairly evicted?

Home & neighbours

My financial situation isn’t stable right now. If I lose my job, I’m worried I won’t be able to pay rent on time. Is there anything I can do to avoid eviction?

Home & neighbours

My landlord is refusing to make repairs I’ve asked for. What can I do? Can I stop paying rent?

Home & neighbours

My landlord said I have to vacate my home in a month. What can happen if I just refuse to move out? Can the landlord change the locks?

Home & neighbours

My landlord is constantly harassing me not to have guests over. She’s also hinted at evicting me. Is there anything I can do?

Home & neighbours

The Residential Tenancy Branch ruled in my favour. They granted me a monetary order. But my landlord won’t pay up. How do I get the compensation I’m owed?

Resolving disputes

I was awarded money by the Civil Resolution Tribunal. Now I’m told that to enforce my order I have to file it in court. How do I do that?

Resolving disputes

My lawyer charged me more than I feel is reasonable. Can I challenge their fee?

Resolving disputes

I got a court judgment against someone. What are the steps to get paid?

Money & debt

I got a letter from BC Unclaimed saying they’re holding unclaimed property in my name. What does that mean?

Plan for your future care

I manage my husband’s federal pensions, because he can’t do it himself. What happens if I’m no longer able to do it?

Work

Can my 17-year-old son work while he’s on a study permit in Canada?

Work

When an employer advertises a job, do they have to include the expected pay?

Home & neighbours

I’m a landlord. My tenant agreed to regular inspections of their unit. What if they don’t show up?

Home & neighbours

As a tenant, what can I do if the property manager is ignoring maintenance issues (and giving me a hard time)?

Home & neighbours

What is and is not permitted during a landlord’s inspection of a rental unit? Can they take photos?

Home & neighbours

What happens when there are two tenants on a tenancy agreement and one of them leaves?

Plan for your future care

To plan for when I can’t make decisions on my own, do I need a power of attorney and a representation agreement?

Plan for your future care

In making decisions for someone, how can I give them the right amount of autonomy?

Plan for your future care

My spouse has dementia and has moved into a care home. How can we sell our jointly owned home?

Plan for your future care

Can a bank refuse to accept a power of attorney?

Plan for your future care

Who can witness the land title portion of an enduring power of attorney in BC?

Plan for your future care

I have a power of attorney for my mom. Do I have to show my sister my mom’s bank account statements?

Work

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

Work

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

Work

My husband’s employer makes him work overtime and never pays him for the extra time. Is this legal?

Work

I was fired and was not paid within 48 hours. What now?

Home & neighbours

I live with roommates. One of them wants me out. Can they evict me?

Home & neighbours

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

Home & neighbours

Can my roommate raise my rent on me? I’m not on the tenancy agreement.

Home & neighbours

What are my options for removing a roommate who has stopped paying rent? They’re not on the tenancy agreement.

Home & neighbours

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

Work

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

Work

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

Work

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

Work

What jobs are considered “light work”?

Work

I was just let go, and the company is offering me severance only if I sign a document they put in front of me. Should I do this?

Health

Am I allowed access to my own medical records?

Wills & estates

Do all beneficiaries need to receive a statement of account?

Wills & estates

I’m the executor of my brother’s will. Do I need to include RRSPs as an asset on probate form P10?

Wills & estates

I’m applying for probate. Who do I need to send a probate form P1 to? Do I need to send notice to myself?

Wills & estates

I’m handling my dad’s estate. How do I open an estate account?

Wills & estates

My mother-in-law died. Can I transfer her car out of her name without going to court?

Wills & estates

Do I need to probate my sibling’s will? We owned property together. I want to know how to transfer their share to my name.

Wills & estates

Do I need to probate my dad’s will if he owned most things jointly with others?

Wills & estates

Mom died without a will. She had $5,000 in the bank. And she left tax free savings accounts to me and my brother. How do I deal with her estate?

Wills & estates

Do I need to probate my spouse’s will? We owned everything jointly, except our home.

Health

Where can I find out how much has been awarded in personal injury cases in BC?

Health

Is my surgery a case of negligence?

Home & neighbours

Can we force our neighbours to cut their trees?

Home & neighbours

Who is responsible for repairing a retaining wall between two properties?

Home & neighbours

Our shared fence needs replacing, and my neighbour says they won’t split the cost. Don’t they have to?

Home & neighbours

What is the difference between a guide dog and an emotional support dog?

Home & neighbours

Can I run into legal problems if something bad happens to an animal I’m pet sitting?

Wills & estates

Is the perception true that wills are often contested and redistributed in court proceedings?

Wills & estates

My mom put an investment in both of our names. Does that money become part of her estate?

Wills & estates

What is the interplay between my will and designations I make in registered savings plans?

Wills & estates

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

Cars & getting around

Am I responsible for repairs to the used vehicle I sold privately?

Cars & getting around

A car I bought from a dealer broke down within a week. What are my rights?

Business & non-profits

If I use information or a photo that I got through a Google search, does that infringe copyright?

Business & non-profits

The directors at our non-profit aren’t doing their job. How do we deal with this?

Families & children

How can my (soon-to-be) ex and I speak with our kids about how the relationship has petered out?

Home & neighbours

I feel like my strata council is harassing me. How can I make them stop?

Money & debt

A friend I loaned money to just passed away. How do I get the money from his estate?

Home & neighbours

How do I appeal a decision of my strata council?

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?

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

Home & neighbours

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

Work

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

Work

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

Home & neighbours

Can I be evicted if I get 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?

Wills & estates

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

Health

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

Health

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

Money & debt

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

Wills & estates

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

Health

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

Wills & estates

What exactly does the word property mean in a will?

Wills & estates

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

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

Wills & estates

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

Wills & estates

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

Wills & estates

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

Wills & estates

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

Wills & estates

What happens to my debts when I die?

Wills & estates

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

Wills & estates

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

Business & non-profits

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

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?

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?

Home & neighbours

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

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

Wills & estates

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

Plan for your future care

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

Health

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

Health

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

Wills & estates

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

Plan for your future care

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

Wills & estates

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

Wills & estates

Who is responsible for arranging the funeral?

Wills & estates

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

Wills & estates

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

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?

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?

Wills & estates

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

Wills & estates

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

Wills & estates

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

Wills & estates

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

Wills & estates

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

Business & non-profits

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

Business & non-profits

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

Work

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

Home & neighbours

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

Home & neighbours

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

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

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

Cars & getting around

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

Cars & getting around

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

Cars & getting around

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

Rights & citizenship

Can I go fishing in Howe Sound?

Rights & citizenship

Can I take my dog to a regional park?

Rights & citizenship

Can I take my dog to a provincial park?

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

Home & neighbours

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

Home & neighbours

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

Home & neighbours

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

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?

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?

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

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

Consumer

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

Consumer

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

Wills & estates

Can I contest my parent’s will?

Money & debt

How is a consumer proposal different from bankruptcy?

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