Q&A | People's Law School

Wills & estates

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

The executor just asked me to approve her estate accounts. What should I be looking out for? And what can I do if I don’t want to approve the 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?

Coronavirus

Can my employer force me to take my paid sick leave during the coronavirus pandemic?

Coronavirus

As a temporary worker, can I qualify for the pandemic relief benefits for workers?

Coronavirus

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

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

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

Wills & estates

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

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?

Coronavirus

Can I be evicted if I become sick with COVID-19?

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?

Coronavirus

What rights do I have when my employer stopped me from working from home when I was self-isolating after recovering from illness?

Home & neighbours

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

Coronavirus

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

Coronavirus

While coronavirus is ongoing, can I request special accommodations from my work?

Coronavirus

Can my work tell me I have to take off my face mask and gloves when I am handling files?

Coronavirus

Can my employer change the nature of my work during the coronavirus pandemic?

Coronavirus

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

Coronavirus

If I get a huge cut in hours, am I allowed to ask my employer to lay me off?

Coronavirus

Can my employer avoid paying me my wages due to the coronavirus pandemic?

Coronavirus

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

Coronavirus

Several people I work with aren’t vaccinated. Can I insist on being able to work remotely?

Coronavirus

Can my employer say I have to get a vaccine in order to work?

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?

Wills & estates

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

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 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?

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?

Wills & estates

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

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

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

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

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

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

Wills & estates

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

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

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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