How to Downsize Your Business without Violating Employment Law

Downsizing is one of the most difficult things a struggling business has to go through. Business owners are looking at letting go of employees who have been with them for some time and who might be angry at being dismissed.

When downsizing your business, your goal is to make it as lawful as possible to avoid conflicts and lawsuits.

1. Always consult employment lawyers in North Vancouver first.

Before starting laying off employees, consult with the best Employment Lawyers in North Vancouver such as Lakes, Whyte LLP first. This way, you can do the process as required by the law and not inadvertently violate said laws and become the recipient of a lawsuit.

2. Talk to your employees honestly.

Let them know of your business’ situation and that you are letting some of them go with dignity and compassion. Hiding things from them will only cause an even bigger problem.

3. Give compensation.

If they are being terminated without an opportunity to find work elsewhere or time to prepare, a compensation might due. Ask your lawyer about this and check your contract to know how much your employees are entitled to. If you an insurance policy, now is the best time to file for a claim to help you out with termination pays.

4. Give them a good referral.

Write them up a good referral so they have better chances of finding employment elsewhere.

It’s best to be very honest to your employees about your situation and to talk to them personally. They will appreciate honesty and compassion more than abrupt and heartless termination.

For mor details please visit our website: http://lakeswhyte.com/

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Challenging a Will – When Can You Do It?

There are situations when a will can be contested. If you are one of the surviving family members who is included in the will, you can hire estate Litigation Lawyers in Vancouver such as Lakes, Whyte LLP in order to help you out in contesting a will.

Generally, here are the times when you can challenge the contents of a will:

1. When the testator is not mentally capable.

The law states that the testator or the one who made the will must be in a competent state of mind during the making of the will. If it is proven that the testator lacks the mental capacity as in the case of people with dementia, Alzheimer’s disease or similar degenerative ailments, the will can be contested.

2. When the testator has been coerced.

This is called undue influence. It basically means if the testator is pressured or influenced by another person to create the will and make sure its contents will be in their favor, the will can be contested.

3. When the will failed to follow the formalities stipulated by the law.

Before a will can become valid, it needs to have the signature of the testator and to unrelated witnesses. If this was not done, the will can be contested.

4. When there are dishonesty issues with the trustee.

If the appointed trustee has a debt to the beneficiaries or the people included in the will and there are issues of dishonesty, the will can be contested.

Consulting litigation lawyers in Vancouver is the first step towards determining if you have a sound case for contesting the will.

To know more about Employment Lawyers in Vancouver please visit our website: lakeswhyte.com

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3 Frequently Asked Questions About Mortgage Refinancing

When you are stuck in a rut and unable to pay your mortgage, one of the ways you can avoid getting in a deeper debt is to refinance your mortgage. Here are some frequently asked questions about mortgage refinancing and the answers that can help you decide:

1. When is the best time to refinance my mortgage?

Not all mortgage debt cases can be solved by mortgage refinancing. What you should do is determine the break-even time of the mortgage refinance. For instance, if it will require 30 months for you to break even, you need about $3,000 in closing costs so you have about $100 in savings every month. If you don’t have plans of staying in the house a lot less than your break-even time, refinancing might not be the best option. It also helps to identify the types of refinancing there is today so you know what your options are.

2. Do you need a real estate lawyer in North Vancouver for mortgage refinancing?

A simple refinancing transaction might not require a lawyer but having a Real Estate Lawyer in North Vancouver BC go through the documents can prevent you from signing up to a scrupulous deal. You might also want to retain the services of a law firm such as Lakes, Whyte LLP if there are issues with the property or if there are problems to your previous mortgage such as mis-indexed mortgage.

3. How do I get a good mortgage rate?

Before getting refinancing, improve your credit score first. Pay as much debt as you can and find ways to boost your home’s equity such as making home improvements.

Mortgage refinancing requires careful consideration. Keep these things in mind when deciding to refinance.

To know more about Litigation Lawyers in Vancouver please visit our website: lakeswhyte.com

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Frequently Asked Questions About Property Disputes

Property disputes encompass issues pertaining to housing such as single family homes, condominiums, townhouses, apartments and other real estate properties. A property dispute can be an issue between the owner of the property and the tenants, disputes between the home owner and the mortgage lender or institution, issues between neighbors and issues between a homeowner and visitor to the property.

What Cases are Included in Property Disputes?

The most common would be disputes over title and boundaries. When homeowners are not clear about the transfer of ownership or the property line, this can lead to disputes with neighbors or sellers. Foreclosure of a property or dispute with mortgage lenders are also very common. For those living in condo units or apartments, property disputes can include issues when it comes to rent or downpayments and deposits. Insurance claims can also be included in property disputes as well as properties that are being argued upon after the death of a person.

How Can Property Disputes Affect People?

Legally speaking, properties that are under property disputes will have a hard time being sold off in the market. Retaining lawyers in North Vancouver is needed so that a legal proceeding can occur in order to solve disputes, especially when it comes to title disputes.

Will I Need the Help of Lawyers in North Vancouver?

Nearly all property disputes require the help of law firms such as Lakes, Whyte LLP because of the legalities involved, especially in title or property boundary disputes.

If you have more questions, it’s better to discuss it with your lawyer. Property disputes should not be taken lightly as it can affect your ability to sell off a property.

 

To know more About Lakes, Whyte LLP please visit our website: lakeswhyte.com

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What To Do When Your Boss Says “You’re Fired!”

“Fired” is a word no employee would want to hear from their boss. No one wants to suddenly find themselves without a job or a source of income, especially after investing so much time building up that career. But it’s a reality that can happen to anyone. Knowing what to do if this happens is essential.

1. Don’t zone out. Listen to what your boss is saying when meeting with you for your termination.

Get a hold of your feelings and listen to what is being discussed around you. Calmly find out the reasons why you are being terminated. Try not to do or say anything that might eventually be used to justify the termination.

2. Read the contents of the termination papers before signing.

Better yet, hold off signing it until you have collected your thoughts and put a rein on your emotions. Ask to take it home for you to review.

3. Contact employment lawyers in North Vancouver.

Start looking for employment lawyers in North Vancouver such as Lakes, Whyte LLP as soon as you get home. You would want a licensed lawyer to have a look at the termination contract, especially if there are things you don’t understand. Your employment lawyer can also determine if it’s an unjust termination and help you get the right compensation.

4. Go over previous contracts.

Your contracts might have certain limitations on what you can do in the future. For instance, if you decide to pursue the same industry or build your own company, there might be clauses in the contract that can prevent you from contacting the company’s previous clients.

Lastly, give yourself a break before planning what to do next with your career. It helps to collect your thoughts first before rushing to find another job.

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What to Expect When Meeting with Employment Lawyers

Most employees would rather walk away from a dispute with their employers and not do anything about it. But you would be surprised how many employers actually violate employment laws and how many employees have a fighting chance for compensation or litigation.

Hiring Employment lawyers in North Vancouver might be the last thing you would want to do right now but if you have a lot to lose, it might actually be worth the extra time, money and effort. Here are the things you should expect when meeting with your employment lawyers:

1. Expect to tell everything.

Like your doctor, you would want to divulge everything about your case to the lawyer. Your lawyer will need information he or she can glean from you as this is needed to determine the best way to solve the case.

2. Expect that they will ask necessary documents.

Before your employment lawyer can ask, already bring the documents that can support your case. Also bring with you a chronological written statement of incidents that happened in the work place.

3. Expect that your lawyer will be on time.

When meeting with law firms such as Lakes, Whyte LLP, being on time is crucial. Because you will be paying your lawyer by the hour, you would want to maximize every second.

4. Expect a professional environment.

This is why you shouldn’t bring other people who are not involved in the case when meeting with your lawyer as this can be distracting. You will also have a hard time preserving the secrecy of the details of your case with other people in attendance.

When dealing with employment cases, work with a law firm you will feel comfortable with. This way, it won’t be intimidating when meeting up with them.

For more details About Lakes, Whyte LLP please visit our website: http://lakeswhyte.com/

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Power of Attorney for Couples – When Is It Needed?

Couples can benefit from hiring lawyers in North Vancouver to give someone power of attorney. There are many ways a power of attorney can help couples, even those who are still in a right frame of mind. Here are the times when Litigation Lawyers in Vancouver such as Lakes, Whyte LLP is needed for couples:

1. You foresee a long future together.

Even when you still have full grasp of your mental faculties, it makes sense to appoint each other power of attorney to oversee all of your financial matters. The future can be long and unpredictable so you would want to make sure you both have access to your investments, businesses and finances.

2. You have a spouse who has an illness that prevents making mentally sound decisions.

If one spouse is ill and is not capable of making mentally sound decisions, now is the best time to create a power of attorney. It doesn’t have to be the other spouse. It can be another person such as a child who can decide in behalf of the person who is not capable of doing so.

3. You need help in dealing with finances.

Keeping track of expenses at home, paying bills, dealing with investments – these things can be difficult to oversee, especially if both spouses are busy. Appointing someone else with a power of attorney can ease up the load and help you distribute your financial planning work.

4. When one spouse do not like to be the recipient of the other spouse’s financial responsibilities.

There are cases when one spouse isn’t keen on inheriting businesses, debts or other things involving the financial responsibilities of the other spouse. A power of attorney can be given to another person to oversee these things.

These are the instances when a law firm’s help is needed. Create a power of attorney to act as your third set of eyes and pair of hands.

For more details About Lakes, Whyte LLP please visit our website: lakeswhyte.com

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