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. .
Whether 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 MoreThis year is being celebrated at Canada’s 150th birthday – but most people don’t have a clear idea of what the political and legal history is behind the “birth” of our nation or how the celebration reflects on the history of Native populations.
Indigenous people in Canada largely consider themselves Natives first and Canadians second. The 150th anniversary of Canada represents 150 years of colonialization and hardship. There is also a sentiment that Canada day ignores the history of indigenous people dating back thousands of years.
Read MoreAs the father of a four-year-old who has always been a “good eater” I am lucky that I do not have many struggles with her eating unhealthy foods. But as she gets older and exposed to more advertising, her requests for the three Cs (cookies, candy, and cake) have started to get a little louder. As a parent, I am happy for any help I can get to try to combat the slick marketing directed at her to consume foods high in fat, salt, and sugar.
Health Canada has opened public consultations about restricting advertising of unhealthy foods to young people. The goal is to decrease strain on the health care system by helping children develop healthy food habits that will continue throughout their lives.
Read MoreCanada has some of the strongest anti-SPAM legislation in the world. Starting on July 1, 2017, it is going to get even tougher. In 2014 the Canadian Anti-Spam Law (CASL pronounced “castle”) became law in Canada. The purpose of the law is to protect people from getting commercial messages they do not want.
Read MoreLorne Grabher was back in the news this week after police told him to remove an out-of-province license plate bearing his controversial last name. Nova Scotia law requires valid plates mounted on the back of a vehicle only; the plate in question was an expired Alberta plate mounted on his front bumper.
Read MoreThe Nova Scotia general election is now in it’s last week. Polls suggest that the election is in a “dead heat”, which means that a small number of votes could determine the outcome of election. Still, some people feel that voting can be a hassle. Below is some information that will help you fulfill your civic duty in the 2017 Nova Scotia general election.
First, if you are new to Canada and you want to vote in Nova Scotia:
· you must be 18 years of age or older;
· you must be a Canadian citizen; and
· you must be a resident of Nova Scotia for 6 months before the election was called.
Read MoreIn celebration of the long awaited arrival of spring, I thought I'd share some of the benefits of making your home "greener". The changes you can make to go green at home can be large or very small. It's not only an environmental benefit, butit can also be good for your wallet. Making an effort to make your home greener doesn’t have to mean making major lifestyle changes. In fact the changes discussed here are ones that would simply mean swapping one product you use for an eco-friendlier version.
Read MoreGwyneth Paltrow made headlines when she publicaly discussed her conscious uncoupling with Chris Martin. Whatever you may think of her, there is something to the idea of putting some planning and thought to your separation. Arriving at the decision to separate is hard, and it can be overwhelming to think about the changes coming your way. Planning will not make the experience painless but there are some steps you can take that can make this major life transition go more smoothly.
Read MoreWe've all heard the term "starter home". Usually it's used to describe a quaint little house that would be affordable for a young person or couple, but not really suitable for a family with more than one child. The theory being that this family will simply sell this little house and move into a larger one in the event that they have more children, or some other changes in circumstances. However, when you are buying your "starter" home, be mindful of the fact that life is full of surprises and you may end up staying in your first home longer than you anticipated. When looking for your home, don’t set yourself up to be "stuck" in a house.
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A couple of recent news stories have highlighted the way that science, society, and the legal system are changing the definition of what it means to be a family. Just ask Natasha Bakht and Lynda Collins. Ms. Bakht and gave birth to her son, Elaan, seven years ago after using a sperm donor to get pregnant. From the moment Elaan was born, Ms. Collins was there for the family, eating meals, attending appointments, even joining them on holidays. Both women felt Ms. Collins had become a second momma to Elaan. But since they were not a romantic couple, it was not easy to for Ms. Collins to become Elaan’s adoptive parent.
Read MoreThe courts found that Mr. Li was Not Criminally Responsible (NCR) for the death of Tim McLean because he was unable to appreciate the consequences of his actions. Mr. Li was held in a locked psychiatric ward for years while he was receiving treatment, and getting more freedom, including short passes, and eventually his own apartment. He was described by his psychiatrist as an “ideal patient” Just this week, a review board decided he no longer posed a significant threat topublic safety and he was granted an absolute discharge meaning that he will no longer be monitored and has no restrictions on his freedom.
Read MoreOne of the biggest challenges for small business owners is managing cash flow. Running a business is expensive, and while none of your creditors want to wait to be paid, sometimes collecting from your customers can be a real challenge. So what can a business owner do when they are having a problem collecting the money owed by their clients?
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
