Tips for Choosing a Whitby Law Office

There's more to choosing a law office in Whitby to manage your legal matters than just selecting those that handle a lot of high-profile clients. While having popular clients usually means that the law firm has highly qualified attorneys, it doesn’t necessarily follow that any of those lawyers are the best fit for you.




It’s not wise to make any decision based solely on the law firm. Instead, focus on finding a good lawyer, whether he or she is part of an established law office or a sole practitioner. A good attorney who has the right combination of expertise, professionalism and trustworthiness can make all the difference in helping you win your case and make the whole experience a pleasant one for both of you.




Take the necessary steps to help ensure that you choose the right firm for your legal situation.




Determine what type of legal service you need




Different law offices house many lawyers that specialize in different practice areas, such as business law, employment and labor law, tax law, personal injury law, family law, estate planning law, immigration law, and many other areas of law. Understanding the different legal practice areas and what they cover can help you choose a specific lawyer to handle your legal matter. Business attorneys, for example are highly specialized in corporate laws governing new businesses, small or medium-sized companies and large corporations and can help you with business taxation issues or assist with mergers and acquisitions. Some business lawyers are also specialized in Intellectual Property Law and can handle issues pertaining to copyrights, patents, trademarks to help protect the intellectual capital of the business.




If you need help with transactions that involve the buying and selling of your home, then a residential real estate attorney can give advice on real estate liens, help you understand your home purchase agreement before you sign or manage disputes you may have with neighbors over real estate boundary and property lines.




If you are seeking legal representation to handle a claim involving a medical malpractice, car accident, defamation and invasion of privacy, and other accident or serious injury claim, then you will need to hire the services of a personal injury lawyer, also known as a plaintiff lawyer or trial lawyer to help you get legal remedy for all losses you have sustained as a result of the accident or other incident caused by another party.




Find a lawyer you can work with




Choosing a lawyer you trust and can communicate with is crucial. Your legal matter may deal with highly sensitive issues and you may need to disclose confidential or embarrassing information to your attorney to help in the defense of your case. It will help if you have a close and harmonious relationship with your lawyer so you can both understand one another and communicate well.




When interviewing potential candidates, always make sure to ask these questions:

• Can the lawyer explain things in a way that makes sense to you? 
• Does he or she listen to you?
• Was the lawyer able to answer all your questions? 
• Does the lawyer empathize with your situation? 
• Do you feel comfortable talking to him or her and feel like you can trust this person?

Do not hesitate to ask any other questions that you think are pertinent to your particular situation. This will help you form your first impression of the lawyer you are considering and help you get a feel of whether the both of you will be able to work well together.




Choosing the best law office in Whitby for your legal needs is a very important decision to make. The best move is to always take sufficient time to gather information about the firm’s reputation, resources and manpower and that you make sure to meet with each potential candidate before making any final decision. Remember that your focus is not on your relationship with the law firm but with your lawyer, so always take the initial consultation as a way to assess who among your prospects have the legal skills and personal qualities that will best serve your needs.

3 Things to Consider when Choosing a Toronto Estate Planning Lawyer

Finding a Toronto estate planning lawyer who can help you put together a good estate plan can be a very difficult task, especially when you have limited idea about what needs you have to be concerned with when planning your estate. The right lawyer can help you make sound decisions when you are developing an estate plan and will make sure that all the appropriate details are in place to protect your family and legacy in the future.




Choosing the right person involves a great deal of careful consideration. You can’t simply go on the internet or the Yellow Pages and choose the first name that you see. Keep in mind that anyone can buy ads and advertise themselves as the best estate lawyer in your area, but they actually have little or no experience in this area of practice..




There are certain factors that you’ll need to take into account to help you make the right choice:




Choose an attorney that you are able to share lots of personal information with




The process of estate planning covers virtually every area of your life. You’ll need to disclose sensitive information about your finances, properties, insurances, investments, businesses, family relationships, medical issues, and your plans and goals for the future so that your lawyer can provide proper guidance and advice when planning your estate.The more comfortable the attorney-client relationship, the more at ease you can open up about yourself, and the more information you give your lawyer about yourself, the better he or she can help you fully plan out your estate. It’s also wise to take into consideration that the lawyer you choose can get along with other members of your family particularly since they will need to work together to carry out your wishes after your death.

Choose a lawyer whose primary focus is on estate planning




Estate law covers a very broad category that includes estate planning, estate and trust administration, probate, elder law and more. There are estate lawyers who specialize in more than one area and others who have more expertise in specific issues. Each practice area requires extensive knowledge of the particular area of law, including rules and regulations for interstate succession which will vary from state to state, tax consequences of gifting property, and the necessary requirements for creating a valid will.




Ideally, you'll want to hire an estate planning lawyer who regularly handles transactional side of estates, but who also knows enough about other areas of law so he can cross-check whether a particular plan or action might conflict with certain legalities in other fields. It’s important to choose an attorney who regularly practices in this field so he stays knowledgeable on the latest updates concerning estate law and keep up with applicable changes to the law and what effects it might have on your estate.




Choose an attorney who can meet your special needs




During the estate planning process you may have specific requests and an attorney who is able to accommodate these special needs is more likely to be a better fit for you.

• Do you need an attorney who can speak a certain language you are more comfortable using other than English?
• Is money tight and you need to find a lawyer who charges a moderate fee?
• Do you need wheelchair accessibility when you visit the lawyer’s office? 
• Does planning your estate require an attorney who is familiar with estate laws in multiple states? 
• Do you prefer a lawyer who works nearby so you can communicate face to face on a regular basis?
• Is it okay for you and your lawyer to communicate by phone, email or web calls from time to time?

You can successfully find the right estate planning lawyer in Toronto if you take sufficient time to evaluate your needs carefully and screen prospective candidates thoroughly. Don’t hesitate to ask questions during your initial meeting as this will help ensure that you will hire an attorney that you can trust with the security of your hard-earned assets and property and that your family is protected from trouble in the future.

When Do You Need a Toronto Bankruptcy and Insolvency Lawyer?

Many people looking for a solution to their debt problems think about filing for bankruptcy to get immediate debt relief. For many contemplating it as a way out of financial trouble, one of the very first things they usually do is to find a Toronto bankruptcy and insolvency lawyer. It is a common misconception, perhaps because they think that it is the same process as in the United States where a lawyer is needed to file for bankruptcy.




Under the Bankruptcy law in Canada, however, only a Licensed Insolvency Trustee is licensed by the Office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy (OSB) to administer specific types of insolvency procedures for a debtor. These procedures include:





Bankruptcy – A legal process where assets of an individual or company are applied to pay off creditors.


Consumer Proposal – A legal alternative to bankruptcy where an offer is made to creditors in an effort to settle the debt.


Receivership – A legal procedure available to companies that have financial problems. Assets of the company are turned over to an independent third party receiver or an official appointed by a bankruptcy court or a secured creditor. The Receiver, who must also be licensed as a Licensed Insolvency Trustee by the Office of Superintendent of Bankruptcy, is in charge of liquidating all assets to ensure that as much debt as possible is paid back to creditors.

Insolvency lawyers cannot file a bankruptcy or consumer proposal or act as a Receiver. They can give advice on bankruptcy matters but will have to refer you to a Licensed Insolvency Trustee who can provide more in-depth information and guidance about other debt relief options, in particular, the consumer proposal and bankruptcy processes.




The primary reason why the Canadian bankruptcy system is set up in this way is to help lower the costs associated with filing for bankruptcy or even a consumer proposal. Bankruptcy lawyers are highly specialized in insolvency law, which makes them very expensive. In fact, a big part of costs in any legal proceeding goes towards attorney’s fees. So, by not involving lawyers in the insolvency procedure, all related costs are reduced to the lowest amount possible and, in turn, more money can be paid to the creditors.




Trustees, on the other hand, are mostly professional accountants. Their accounting designation and extensive financial training and experience make them uniquely qualified to provide comprehensive financial advice to people who need help with restructuring their debts. They have licensed debt experts who can guide you not just with bankruptcies and consumer proposals, but with other formal debt relief methods as well to eliminate your debt such as credit counseling or a debt management plan (DMP). Trustees will generally cost you less because their fees are regulated by the federal government.

In most cases of personal bankruptcies, insolvency lawyers do not get involved at all. Only the Trustee manages the entire insolvency proceeding from start to finish. If the case involves any contentious issue, the trustee will advise that you hire an attorney to challenge the matter and make an argument on your behalf. However, a client may choose to retain an insolvency lawyer throughout the entire proceeding to work alongside the trustee, particularly if the case involves a fairly large amount of money and very complicated financial issues.




If you are undergoing a bankruptcy, a Toronto bankruptcy and insolvency lawyer can give the added protection of providing you with independent legal advice in case you may need it at any point in the process. A specialized attorney can work together with your trustee and give you a double dose of expert opinion on how to resolve your financial problems and ensure that your rights as a debtor are not abused.

Don’t Hesitate to Get Professional Help from a Toronto Tax Litigator

What do you do if you have received a Notice of Assessment or Reassessment from the Canada Revenue Agency, and you believe that they are wrong and that you should not be paying so much? The first thing you should do is consult with a Toronto tax litigator who is a specialist in tax law and who can counsel and represent you in resolving tax disputes.




When Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has a question on your tax report, they will issue a notice of reassessment. If you disagree with the CRA, you definitely have the right to dispute this decision, following certain rules and procedures. It is prudent that you get professional advice at this stage of your tax problem. An expert tax lawyer can provide a clear interpretation of the law and inform you whether there are grounds to fight the tax assessment and if you have a realistic chance on objection or appeal.




Resolving a tax dispute may require discussions with the CRA, or involve a written appeal to the Appeals Office, or, potentially, litigation before the Supreme Court of Canada, the Federal Court of Appeal, or the Tax Court of Canada. Either way an attorney specializing in tax disputes may assist in many ways.




He can simply serve as an advisor to the taxpayer and to his or her accountant and provide his expertise regarding substantive tax laws that can support the tax controversy. He can also offer insights on how the CRA works and how decisions and approvals are made inside the CRA and make recommendations on how to best deal with revenue agents. He can help formulate an audit strategy and review all the issues and the potential issues that could arise during the examination process.





If you decide to pursue a review of the CRA assessment in the federal, state or local court, a tax litigation attorney is very experienced in pursuing administrative or judicial appeals and can play a leading role in helping you fight for justice in Court in order to obtain reduced interest, lower penalties and a fair and reasonable repayment term. In addition, a tax attorney can help you in planning transactions in order to ensure that you comply with state and federal laws to avoid future disputes.

Highly specialized tax litigators can also assist you in criminal tax matters, such as criminal tax fraud or tax evasion charges. If the CRA accuses you of willfully violating the tax laws such as:

• Intentionally understating your income 
• Failing to file tax returns 
• Hiding income and/or assets 
• Engaging in and concealing illegal activities 
• Failing to make estimated tax payments 
• Filing false documents 

A tax litigator can provide skillful representation in criminal investigations by the CRA, the Department of Justice, or other state taxing authorities. A knowledgeable attorney understands the court system and can help you go through the complex process of criminal trials, sentencing proceedings, and appeals.



Canada Revenue Agency is bound by the law to administer and enforce our income tax system as set out in the Income Tax Act. If they have a question and come at you, you can’t simply ignore your tax situation and hope it will just go away. Matters involving tax litigation can have serious consequences to your business or personal finances. You can face potential jail time or be penalized with significant fines. No matter the breadth of your tax issues, a Toronto tax litigator can help you navigate all stages of tax litigation and dispute resolution, including audits, objections, and appeals before the courts and make a difficult process easier to handle.

Hiring the Right Civil Lawyers in Toronto to Win Your Case

Civil lawyers in Toronto regularly deal with non-criminal disputes. They solve problems or private complaints between individuals and/or businesses or organizations who are embroiled in a civil lawsuit and are seeking some form of compensation, whether monetary or otherwise, instead of criminal sanctions.





Civil attorneys focus their practice on civil law, which covers all laws except criminal, military, or political law. A civil attorney can be specialized in one or two areas of civil law, such as business law, corporate law, intellectual property law, family law, personal injury law, probate law, real estate law, tax law, contract law, labor law, environmental law, art and culture law and other specific areas of non-criminal law.





A civil lawyer can help individuals with a wide range of civil transactions depending on his area of practice. He can simply provide you with legal advice or representation in legal proceedings if you need it, but it’s essential that you go to the right type of civil attorney who is well-versed for your specific needs. For instance, if a creditor sues you an experienced consumer attorney can help you evaluate your personal circumstances and determine if the creditor has a strong case against and then recommend the best course of action you can take. If you are seeking tax planning advice and tax planning solutions, then you should go to a civil lawyer who specializes in taxation laws. A civil attorney who has focused his practice in family law will be able to help you out if you are filing for a divorce or seeking custody of your child. If you get injured in an accident and you want to file a lawsuit to seek damages, you will need the services of a civil lawyer who has knowledge and experience in personal injury lawsuits.

Civil lawyers can also play a prominent role in many business matters. If you are starting a small business, for instance, you need competent advice from a business lawyer to help you choose the right legal structure for your new business and even assist you in obtaining licenses and permits. Corporations are complex types of businesses and may involve a cross-section of legal areas, such as antitrust and consumer protection laws, contract law, employment law, environmental law, finance law, and tax law and may greatly benefit from the guidance of a civil attorney who has special knowledge of corporate law, and may even need several attorneys who have specialization in the areas of law that apply to the business to help protect it from costly civil law litigation. When your business has been sued, a civil litigation lawyer can work with you and assess the potential liability exposure on the case and help you figure out how to respond to the lawsuit. Corporate real estate transactions are complex business deals that may involve many different undertakings, such as purchase and sale agreements, lease transactions, secured and unsecured transactions, escrow transactions, and a corporate lawyer who is well versed in all transactional and non-transactional aspects can competently manage the whole range of commercial, banking, and tax liabilities which need to be taken into account.

Civil lawsuits are complicated. They involve many steps, require all kinds of forms, adhere to strict timelines and follow rigid procedures. Canadian courts usually require individuals and business entities to retain a lawyer to represent them when they are under a civil dispute. In almost every instance, it’s best advised to hire civil lawyers in Toronto who have the right skills and experience necessary to win your case.

Finding the Right Family Lawyers in Toronto

In a very challenging time when your family’s peace is at stake like when you are going to have a divorce or you are faced with any other related family-oriented legal case, finding the right family lawyers in Toronto so you can have a dependable legal representation in court can be considered as one of the wisest, first action you can take. Similar legal issues concerning one’s family like separation, child custody, divorce, and the like are not at all that easy to handle. They will put you in a tight and disorienting disposition, hence you will need a good, practical help in the form of legal assistance. They will all necessitate from you a bunch of requirements that you will need to comply with. All these and aside from the fact that you will also have to commit time, effort, energy and money on them.




If you find yourself trapped in a legal quandary involving your family, you need the services of a Family Lawyer who will take on the legal representation in court for you. These professionals are considered as legal experts since they are knowledgeable in handling court issues that revolve around the Family Law.




It is given that no one can handle the complexities of a legal case on their own, it is then necessary to enlist the services of a Family Lawyer to help you get by. The following points will help you understand why you need to hire a Family lawyer:

You will have less effort to Exert

If you enlist the legal services of a Family Lawyer, he will practically handle everything for you. Entrust and commit your case to your enlisted family lawyer, so he will take charge in handling all engagements on your behalf. Practically speaking, you just need to wait and be on standby for further instructions.

Save on Costs

Enlisting the help of a Family Lawyer who has a broad range of experience in that specific legal process that you are currently having will help you save on costs for unnecessary legal processes. The greater majority of Family Lawyers of today will provide you with affordable legal assistance. You will save significant amounts of money on the lawyer and legal process fees if you know how to carefully choose a competent Family lawyer to handle and manage your legal case.

Save Your Time

With all the legal technicalities running in your head, the addition of several paper works might be too much for you to bear. Hiring a lawyer with a relevant background of expertise in Family Law would be helpful because he can indeed help you secure and submit a certain number of legal requirements which you might not be able to take charge at all by your own. Besides, technically you will not be familiar with them. Afterwards, should there still be additional remaining requirements they can be efficiently handled by him later on.




If you are facing a legal issue concerning your family or it involves the Family Law, you will have no choice but to commit time and evaluate your disposition whether or not you will need a legal representation. The ultimate benefit you will get from finding the right Family Lawyers in Toronto is they will take all the burden away from you since they have the legal expertise and experience to handle such court cases.

What Does a Toronto Insurance Defence Lawyer Do?

An insurance defence lawyer in Toronto focuses his area of practice on defence work relating to legal issues on insurance policies and claims. A lawyer who practices in insurance law offers legal advice and advocacy in matters pertaining to general liability, property and casualty claims, professional errors and omissions insurance, directors and officers insurance, bad faith claims, class actions and all aspects of associated coverage issues.




Specialization


There are many different types of insurance, health insurance, home insurance, vehicle insurance travel insurance terminal illness insurance flood insurance, earthquake insurance, mortgage insurance, lenders mortgage insurance, liability insurance, business owner's policy, chargeback insurance, etc., and each type of insurance covers different aspects of people’s life. Generally, insurance defence lawyers have the specialized education and training relating to some aspect of insurance law. Personal injury and medical malpractice lawyers, for instance, is knowledgeable about medical insurance law. Similarly, auto accident insurance lawyers are familiar with the laws relating to life insurance and accident insurance. In the same way, real estate attorneys are very educated on legislation relating to homeowners' insurance policies. Also, probate lawyers routinely deal with different types of life insurance arrangements and may be called upon to help beneficiaries claim the payments from life insurance policies.





Job Responsibilities


Insurance defense attorneys can either work for a law firm that is contracted exclusively by an insurance company or they can be hired directly by an insurance company to work in its legal department. The work involved in insurance defence tends to be high volume and can range from the routine, such as reviewing documents and analyzing state regulations to actually participating in litigation.




One primary function is to investigate the validity of a claim made against an insurance policy. This will involve evaluating policyholder liability and determine any coverage issues to make certain that the claim being made is something that is accurately covered in the terms of the insurance contract.



Insurance defense lawyers are also responsible for reviewing whether the types of contracts and business practices that the insurance company they work for complies with industry regulations. Insurance legislation may vary from state to state, so insurers must be certain that all policies meet the terms and are in accordance with the law.



When a lawsuit is ultimately filed, case management becomes another critical function of an insurance defence lawyer. This involves hands-on responsibilities for preparing the defense of a lawsuit such as tracing documents, marking calendar entries and tracking deadlines for cases.



Another key responsibility in insurance litigation is reviewing records and documents that are relevant to the lawsuit. The defence lawyer will go over case files, medical records, manufacturer's warnings, and other applicable documents and then prepare a chronological record of things as they happened, which will include extensive knowledge of procedures and terminology.



These are just some of the typical tasks that a Toronto insurance defence lawyer carries out on a regular basis. The practice of insurance defence covers a wide area and the legal issues are particularly complex, finding a good lawyer will be your very best defense toward resolving your legal issue.

3 Things to Look for in a Toronto Family Law Lawyer

Choosing a family law lawyer in Toronto can be challenging as there are thousands who are actively practicing. However, it’s important to take the time to choose the right one especially if he is going to help you decide on life-changing issues in your life such as getting a divorce or separation, obtaining child custody or seeking spousal support and child support.


Experience


Finding someone with a thorough knowledge of family law is an important first step. Family law is a very specialized field so you need the right kind of lawyer who has experience in dealing with the kind of legal problem you have. Additionally, you also want to look for a lawyer who has lots of experience in both negotiation and litigation so that he can, first of all, help smooth the road through mediation, arbitration, or other non-adversarial negotiation, and also, as a last resort, know how to use the court system to fight for your rights in the event you decide to take your case to court.


Accessibility


Accessibility is another important factor to consider when you’re finding the right lawyer for you.

There are basic reasons why it’s good to look for someone local:


· He is well-known in the area,

· He has established connections with people who can help with your case, and

· He is familiar with the provincial court system.



Accessibility is also measured by convenience on your part. Can you easily reach him when you need to meet or communicate with him? Or do you need to wait for a couple of days because he still has to fly in from somewhere? Proximity is an advantage because both you and your lawyer will need to work closely for the whole duration of the case.



Comfort Level



Comfort level is another essential factor to take into account when you’re working with a lawyer.


A good working relationship based on effective communication can make a huge difference in helping you get what you hope for out of your case. Look for someone you can easily talk to, someone you will feel comfortable disclosing personal and intimate information and not someone who intimidates you. In turn, a potential lawyer also needs to be someone who can talk to you truthfully, someone who can tell you frankly what you can realistically expect. Some lawyers will try to sell you on fancy talk that they can win this case for you, likely setting you up for disappointment, but a trustworthy lawyer will point out the strengths and weaknesses of your case and let you know upfront where you stand and what your chances are.



In the process of searching for a family law lawyer in Toronto, it’s best to narrow down your choices by interviewing at least three potential candidates. This way you would already have done a background check on each one and reviewed their credentials thoroughly, and all that’s left to do is to weigh them up during your initial consultation to see who the right fit is for you. You’ll probably need to use more of your gut feel when making a final decision, so some sound advice: Always go with the one you feel really has your best interest in mind.

Insurance Lawyers in Toronto Can Help With Your Insurance Dispute

In the business of insurance everyone will encounter different types of risk, one of which is the very common occurrence of having benefit claims denied. In some cases, the issue is easily resolved such as when there are documents or information that are lacking and all you have to do is comply with the requirements. In some instances, however, the best course of action is to get professional help from insurance lawyers in Toronto to properly find a resolution for the matter.

Insurance claims may be denied for many different reasons. Usually they are rejected when:

• Claims are filed too long after the date of service.
• The insurance company misplaced your claim and it did not make it into the system before the deadline.
• You have non-covered charges.
• Services were provided without the proper authorization.
• You used an out-of-network provider.
• There may be typos or minor data entry errors.
• Your claim may have outdated insurance information on file for you.
• The insurance company claims that the policyholder intentionally caused a loss.
• The insurance company claims it did not receive a premium payment on time.

Most people would like to believe that insurance companies will honor their obligations when a valid claim is made and that when there is a denial of a claim the insurance company can provide valid reasons for the denial. The truth of the matter is that insurance companies have a financial self-interest to not pay a claim. Payments made to insurers simply diminish the cash reserves that insurance companies must maintain to stay afloat. As a result, insurance companies often interpret policies to minimize required payments towards valid claims or, especially in some situations affecting large numbers of people or things, they simply refuse to pay.

Insured parties who may feel that the denial of their claim is unreasonable can always choose to file an appeal for reconsideration. You can choose to represent yourself in an insurance dispute, but hiring an insurance attorney with experience in insurance litigation and the nuances of interpreting insurance policies will prove to be more advantageous to you.

There are many benefits to getting an insurance lawyer in Toronto to handle your insurance dispute:

1. The right lawyer can go through the policy and assist you in understanding the terms and conditions of your policy, in particular the critical conditions in the fine print that you cannot easily interpret that may have an impact on your claim.
2. He or she can review the basic facts of your policy such as the potential worth of your claim, the deadlines you need to follow, and direct you in completing the documents or requirements you have to submit in order to properly file the claim under the policy.
3. An experienced dispute insurance law attorney can help you file suit and litigate through trial on your behalf in the event you will need to fight the denial of your claim in court.
4. Attorneys can help you determine the best course of action once your dispute turns into a legally complicated matter.
5. An expert lawyer has handled many cases and will definitely have a standard process in collecting evidence and presenting them for evaluation in order to make sure you get the compensation you deserve.

When your insurance dispute becomes too difficult to handle, you don’t have to stress about your case and deal with the insurance company on your own. Working with insurance lawyers in Toronto can help relieve a significant burden on what to do next. They will be able to guide you on your legal options and help you figure out the best strategy to use to win your case.

How Toronto Corporate Lawyers Can Help your Business

Corporate lawyers in Toronto, and in other areas of Canada, build their careers working with a corporation managing the legal responsibilities and obligations that the business faces. Some may work at a law firm and be retained by a corporation, but they could also work in-house in a small corporation as the lone legal adviser, or with numerous other lawyers of different field specialties in the legal department of a large corporation. They can also be hired as a temporary contract lawyer, offering business advice to companies of all sizes on a few different projects, or on a single project for a longer period of time.

Typically, the large corporations such as banks, insurance companies, hospitals, retail stores, oil firms, biotechnology and manufacturing companies, and energy and communications companies require corporate lawyers for full-time services. Small companies on a tight budget typically consult a lawyer on a need-to basis.

Corporate lawyers are highly specialized in various areas of corporate law, including contract negotiations, securities and tax law, code compliance, mergers and acquisitions, intellectual property, tax law, bankruptcy, financial reporting, employment, collections, patents and trademarks, real estate, incorporation, litigation, international commercial law and many other areas of specialization. Their tasks can be as routine as drafting standard contracts, or as rigorous as resolving conflicts or facilitating mergers and acquisitions.

Small businesses can benefit in many ways from a corporate lawyer:

1.         Obtaining advice on the best legal structure for the business. Choosing whether your business should be established as a sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation, or a Limited Liability Corporation can be complex. A corporate lawyer will be able to discuss with you all the legal and administrative requirements, tax consequences and liabilities of each to help avoid errors or omissions that may result in financial and tax penalties.

2.         Drafting and executing employment agreements. Employer and employee relationships are subject to certain labor and tort laws, that a carefully drafted contract can make a difference in protecting the interests of the business. A corporate lawyer can word the contract accurately and include important elements, such as a non-disclosure clause or a non-compete clause that benefit both employer and employee.

3.         Provide legal counsel in the event of a reorganization, merger and liquidation. Major changes in the structure of a company involves very complex transactions and numerous actions. Corporate lawyers can help facilitate activities such as the adoption of resolutions, drafting contracts, negotiating agreements and the completion of administrative paperwork that are related to corporate and tax matters.

4.         Exit strategies. Selling the business, retirement, or if a business partner dies or leaves the company can involve substantial personal and financial consequences. A corporate attorney can help you develop your exit plan well in advance and provide advice for business entity organization, structuring business operations and intellectual property development strategy to help you make the right decisions and maximize the value of your business.

5.         Represent business owners in equity transactions. A corporate lawyer can represent companies from the earliest stages of formation and through multiple rounds of innumerable corporate financings and provide necessary documentation for all financial transactions. They can provide legal advice on critical corporate legal issues so you can minimize risks and make informed choices to maximize the reward.

Whether you are operating a small business or a company with shareholders, Toronto corporate lawyers can only add value to your business. The invaluable legal counsel they can provide will ensure that your business risks are minimized and corporate functions conform to all local, state and federal applicable laws on every level so as to prevent legal problems that can potentially affect bottom line.

How Can Toronto Tax Litigation Lawyers Help You in a Tax Dispute

Practice Group Lawyers

•  Larry W. Keown
•  Lawrence Hansen
•  Shawna M. Sosnovich
•  James M. Satin
•  Carrie Kennedy
•  Justin R. Winch
•  Flora M. Poon
•  Marty Rabinovitch
•  Christopher W. Statham
•  Alexandra J. Tratnik
•  Sara Mosadeq

Toronto tax litigation lawyers are a special breed of litigators. They are all professionals highly specialized in taxation law, and some of them have additional qualifications as chartered professional accountants or chartered accountants (CPA or CA). In addition to understanding tax laws, they are also knowledgeable about the administrative procedures that govern the day to day workings of the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) and the Tax Court of Canada.

If you are facing a tax dispute with the Canada Revenue Agency, tax litigation attorneys can help in every stage of the process.

Tax Audit

All personal and corporate tax returns are usually evaluated by Revenue Canada. In some cases, they find numerical or clerical errors that may lead them to question whether a person or a business has paid the right amount of taxes, and they might request an audit.

During a tax audit, auditors will examine documents either at your place of business (on-site audit) or at his or her office (office audit). He may ask to see one or more of the following documents:

• Invoices
• Contracts
• Bank statements (yours and other family members), and
• Previously filed tax returns

A tax litigation lawyer can represent you throughout the audit process to make sure that your legal  rights are protected and to see to it that auditors stay within their boundaries and only obtain information that are within what the law allows.

Tax Reassessment

Once the audit is completed and auditors determine that you need to pay additional tax, they will send out a Notice of Reassessment, which will tell you the reasons for the reassessment and the total amount of tax that you still owe.

Once you receive the Notice of Reassessment from the CRA, you will have 30 days to respond. It is critical at this point that you consult with a tax dispute lawyer to review the CRA’s explanations of the reassessment  in order to determine if their decision is justified. If you disagree with the CRA’s decision, your tax attorney will help you prepare the Notice of Objection

Tax Appeal

The Notice of Objection will serve as your appeal for a reversal of the decision. It is highly recommended that a tax dispute attorney prepares your Notice of Objection. Your lawyer will be able to set out the relevant facts and your reasons in a fluent and persuasive manner, using applicable laws of the Income Tax Act to to strengthen your position and support your appeal. Aside from this, a tax lawyer at this point can provide guidance and sound advice to help you understand your rights, what points you can appeal, and what to expect during the entire process.

Tax collections and penalties

Every person and business in Canada are required to pay a variety of local, state, and federal taxes, which may include income tax, sales tax, payroll tax, and excise tax to name a few. Tax lawyers can help you understand what taxes you are required to comply with as well as the corresponding penalties the CRA can impose for any unpaid taxes.

Nothing causes such panic to any individual or business owner than receiving a letter from the Canada Revenue Agency. If you are being assessed and need representation, Toronto tax litigation lawyers can competently handle litigation matters and settle all types of tax disputes whether outside of the courtroom or at the many different levels of provincial or federal courts.

3 Reasons Why You Need to Hire a Barrie Estate Planning Lawyer

There are so many variables and factors covering estate planning that an ordinary person may not think of that can lead to mistakes that can end up to long-drawn-out delays and extra expenses for you and your heirs. Investing significant time and effort to find a qualified Barrie estate planning lawyer to help you establish a solid estate plan can really make a huge difference.

With so many do-it-yourself legal documents and estate planning software that are being sold online and in retail supply stores, some people are being led to believe that they can handle all their estate planning needs all by themselves. Do you really need an attorney to help put your affairs in order, and organize your estate, in case you die or become disabled?

There are plenty of good reasons to get personal advice from a trusted and qualified estate planning lawyer.

There are unique laws pertaining to estate planning

In Canada, estate laws differ from province to province. These laws are very technical and very specific about what can and can't be included in wills and trusts, in healthcare or financial power of attorneys or in beneficiary or guardianship designations. There is also a standard process involved that require certain formalities to be followed when signing wills and trusts, or medical or financial power of attorneys. In addition, there are tax implications that may affect the value of your estate and how it is distributed after your passing.

If you plan your estate yourself, you’ll need to study the law, take into account other states’ laws as well since different states may have different laws and also keep up with frequent changes in the law to update your estate plan. That’s not a very easy thing to do.

If you hire a Barrie lawyer who specializes in estate planning he will be able to give you the most basic legal advice relevant to your specific needs at the very least. If your estate needs to address a number of specific concerns,  qualified attorneys can provide more comprehensive planning services, such as specific advice on tax implications and related laws on the guardianship of minor children, care for elderly or disabled dependents, or dealing with extensive real estate holdings or complex charitable gifts.

Estate planning involves a lot of very detailed work

The most basic estate plan should include:

●     Will or Trust

●     Durable power of attorney

●     Beneficiary designations

●     Letter of intent

●     Advance Health Care Directive

●     Guardianship designations

All these documents should be articulated in a way that is legally valid in your state and in other states’ laws to be considered legally binding and also to minimize heirs’ tax implications. Completing these forms will require a great deal of attention to detail. One wrong word or one missing signature can make the document invalid and could cause legal problems that can get expensive.

Estate lawyers are properly versed in the law and will know to use the right words and phrases to accurately convey your intentions, as well as the requirements for the proper execution of these documents in order to limit any possibility of misinterpretation and invalidity.

Estate planning involves many issues

The planning process involves heavy decisions that affect family members, your health care, the control of your business, finances and real estate properties. A relatively simple estate can be challenging enough to plan for. However, if your estate needs to deal with complex family or financial situations, such as divorce, second or late marriages, non-married couples, minor children, children/relatives with special needs, disabled family members, no heirs, multiple real estates, multiple businesses, a taxable estate, etc, then you will need legal and tax guidance to ensure that your estate will be taken care of properly in the event of your death or disability.

Planning your estate carefully requires critical knowledge necessary to maximize the value of your estate and make it immune to potentially hefty tax consequences and lengthy court processes. It’s best to seek the advice and services of a knowledgeable and experienced Barrie estate planning lawyer to guide you through the process to ensure that you protect your family from trouble in the future.

Consult With Toronto Insurance Defense Lawyers for Your Claims and Disputes

When you get into an accident or are brought into disrepute or danger in any way and you file a claim with your insurance company, you would naturally expect them to accept your claim to cover the costs of damage. That is, after all, the very reason why you bought insurance in the first place. In some cases, however, it is not always easy and you may find that the insurance company can either undervalue, under-pay, delay, or even completely deny payment of your claim without proper reason or warning. Toronto insurance defense lawyers can defend your interests when you are faced with any issues relating to your insurance coverage.

Insurance defense attorneys are highly specialized in the practice of insurance defense law. They have extensive experience in numerous areas of insurance claims and disputes, such as the following:

●     Personal injury

●     Health insurance claims

●     Homeowner claims

●     Condominium insurance claims

●     Automotive disputes

●     Insurance fraud

●     Construction insurance claims

●     Property damage

●     Product liability

●     Professional liability insurance claims

●     Malpractice insurance claims

●     Insurance coverage disputes

●     Insurance class action defense

●     Cybersecurity and data privacy

●     Life insurance claims

●     Disability insurance claims

●     Bad faith claims

There are many different types of insurance and each may cover very different types of claims which will warrant their own types of disputes, depending on the way that the claims are paid or denied. Usually insurance companies provide common reasons for denying insurance claims:

●     Your claim is not covered by your policy

●     Coverage has lapsed for the time period specified in the claim

●     Missing or incorrect information within the claim

●     Your claim is perceived to be false, lacks legal merit, or is made in bad faith

●     Related costs are considered excessive or unnecessary

To avoid these issues, it’s advisable to carefully read all aspects of your insurance policy and to  make sure that you fully understand your coverage and claims before purchasing any kind of insurance policy.

Practice Group Lawyers

•  George O. Frank
•  David G. Lavkulik
•  Lawrence Hansen
•  Pamela L. Blaikie
•  Jodi E. Herszkowicz
•  Jennifer M. Hetherington
•  Maya Krishnaratne
•  Pradeep Chandrashekhar
•  Lianne Sharvit

In some cases, insurance disputes can be resolved by filing an appeal or working things out with an insurance representative. If your dispute cannot be settled in any of these ways, then you will need an experienced defense attorney to negotiate your position and, if necessary, take the claim or dispute to a court of law.

Many people passively accept denials of their insurance claims without question because they don’t want to go through the bother of appealing, negotiating and, possibly, litigating their case. This is why some people have the wise sense to consult with an experienced insurance attorney even before a claim is denied in order to avoid any possible denial.

As soon as you see these warning signs, make it a point to consult with an insurance defense lawyer immediately:

●     The insurance company tells you that your claim has been transferred to a “special investigation unit”

●     You have been asked to attend an “Examination Under Oath”

●     Your claim remains unresolved after 6 months or more

●     You notice that the insurance adjuster is asking you too many questions and/or asking for too many documents

●     You feel that the insurance adjuster is showing cautious distrust and is suggesting or insinuating

A claim denial can be very disappointing and frustrating and going head to head with your insurance company for any type of dispute can be scary and intimidating. No doubt your insurance company will have their attorneys working for them. It would benefit you a lot if you have your own attorney fighting on your side. Toronto insurance defense lawyers understand the twist and turns of the claims process and are experienced in the courtroom and will take appropriate steps to protect your rights and, possibly, hopefully, change the outcome of your case.