Our ninth day of giving was chosen by our Law Clerk, Joshua Goetz. He chose the Hamilton Foundation for Student Success by seeing first hand how too many children were going to school without lunches. With this program, no child has to feel embarrassed to ask for food or remain hungry. The Hamilton Foundation for Student Success provides lunches for these children in need. Any child going to school should have proper nutrition to aid in proper learning, and should never have a hungry belly. Thank you Joshua and thank you Hamilton Foundation for Student Success.
12 Days of Giving- Day 8
Our eighth day of giving has been chosen by our Business Development and Operations Manager, Chad Blundy. Unfortunately, cancer has been something that has impacted a number of Chad’s family members, in various ways. He has lost loved ones much too early as a result of this disease, and there are many important people in his life, both friends and family, who continue to fight. Recently, Chad’s aunt, Judy Kelly, was diagnosed with cancer and will require a full hysterectomy. Chad has selected Ovarian Cancer Canada since it supports the latest version of cancer to directly affect his family. “I am proud in knowing that my aunt will put up a strong fight, and I am also proud to work for a firm that will make a contribution to support her recovery … I encourage anyone and everyone to get to know all of the charities that the Carson Law staff have chosen and consider donating to whichever one they feel strongly about.”
*A donation to Ovarian Cancer Canada has been made in honour of Judy Kelly.*
12 Days of Giving - Day 7
These wonderful charities were chosen by two of our Law Clerks, Lisa Esposto and Rachel Melia, and our Administrative Assistant, Jan Christmas. All three of the lovely ladies have such passion for those who cannot care for themselves. From not wanting to see strays on the street, to adopting from these shelters themselves, they focus on those who give us unconditional love and who also need our support this time of year. “Love for all living creatures is the most noble attribute of man” - Charles Darwin
12 Days of Giving- Day 6
For our sixth day of giving, we will be donating to the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society! This charity was chosen by our receptionist and brand ambassador, Kayla Wagstaff. She feels strongly about the work that CPAW does and hopes to preserve this country, that we are fortunate enough to call home, for future generations to cherish and enjoy. For over 50 years, CPAWS has been the only charity of its kind solely dedicated to protecting and preserving Canadian ecosystems and we hope they can continue on for many more years to come. Thank you Kayla and thank you CPAWS. “If you think you are too small to make a difference, you haven't spent the night with a mosquito.” – Dalai Lama
12 Days of Giving - Day 5
The Heart and Stroke's vision is a simple one... to see that Canadians live healthy lives, free of heart disease and stroke. Heart and Stroke’s selection as our Day 5 charity has been made by three of our caring staff; our real estate manager, Julie Saliba, our financial clerk, Joanne Stross, and our newest team member, our office administrator and client relations, Hilary Nixon. They all feel strongly about the work that Heart and Stroke does and have been personally affected by this life threatening disease. The hope is that one day there will be no more stroke victims.
For a limited time, one time donations to the heart and stroke will be matched by Manulife.
12 Days of Giving - Day 4
The Canadian Cancer Society has been chosen by one of our Lawyers, Erika Warren. Erika has chosen this charity because a number of her relatives, both recent and over the course of her life, have passed away from different forms of cancer. Erika hopes that by donating to the Canadian Cancer Society, it might help them in their research towards finding a cure.
12 Days of Giving - Day 3
Our third day of giving is dedicated to The Canadian Mental Health Association, chosen by our Real Estate Clerk, Crystal Liberty. This charity resonates with Crystal as being someone with a history of mental health struggles. “There is still a lot of stigma plaguing mental health. It took me a while to get to where I am today and I want others to know that they are not alone and they can achieve whatever they want. They do have support, no door is closed, no back is turned. All you need to do is ask for help. Yes, that may be hard at first, but worth it in the long run.”
12 Days of Giving - Day 2
Our second day of giving is dedicated to Kidney Cancer Canada. This charity was chosen by our Real Estate Clerk, Courtney Holland. Courtney’s mother was recently diagnosed with stage 4 kidney cancer. Kidney Cancer Canada was able to help Courtney and her family in a time of unknowns with information and avenues for support. We thank Kidney Cancer Cancer for their caring and support to thousands of Canadians and thank you Courtney for bringing this charity into our lives.
12 Days of Giving - Day 1
Our first day of giving was chosen by one of our law clerks, Denise Crockford. Denise loves all things horses so no surprise that this is her second year choosing this charity. Big Red is why Denise is so fond of this rescue. She was able to see first hand the care for him, the dedication of the volunteers, and how a rescue can be transformed into a confident animal within a short period of time. Thank you Denise and thank you Whispering Hearts Horse Rescue for all your hard work and dedication!
12 Days of Giving starts December 13, 2019
Carson Law is proud to continue with an initiative that first took place last Holiday season with great success! Friday, December 13 will mark the beginning of our 12 Days of Giving.
Staff members have been asked to select a charity that each of them feels strongly about. From this list, we will donate to one or more charities each day running from December 13 to December 24. During this time, we will post which charities are selected daily and why they are important to us.
We welcome you to check in with us regularly, hear our stories, take stock in what is important at this time of year, and reflect on your own schedule of giving. Also, accompanying each post will be a verse to a song, sung to the tune of (you guessed it) 12 days of Christmas. On December 25, we will be able to sing this song from start to finish.
From all of us at Carson Law, we wish you nothing but joy and good cheer for this giving season.
DAY 1
On the first day of giving, my law form gave to me, Hope for the Horses.
Day 2
On the second day of giving, my law firm gave to me, Kindness to Kidneys
Day 3
On the third day of giving, my law firm gave to me, Making a difference for Mental Health.
Day 4
On the fourth day of giving, my law firm gave to me, A donation to the Cancer Society.
Day 5
On the fifth day of giving, my law firm gave to me, Help for Heart & Stroke.
Day 6
On the sixth day of giving, my law firm gave to me, Room for Nature.
Day 7
On the seventh day of giving, my law firm gave to me, A helping hand for the Animals.
Day 8
On the eighth day of giving, my law firm gave to me, End to Ovarian Cancer.
Day 9
On the ninth day of giving, my law firm gave to me, A place to help Children.
Day 10
On the tenth day of giving, my law firm gave to me, Wishes for Children.
Day 11
On the eleventh day of giving, my law firm gave to me, A place to turn to.
Day 12
On the twelfth day of giving, my law firm gave to me, Relief from hunger.
Carson Law parts ways with Spencer Cuddy
Estate Executors: Where to Begin
Being an estate executor can feel overwhelming. A loved one trusted you to carry out their wishes upon their passing. Naturally, you want to make sure that you’re fulfilling this duty to the best of your ability. Where do you begin?
First, and most importantly, take a moment to reflect. Your loved one chose you as their estate executor for a reason—you can do this.
Then, remember that every estate looks different, so there is no one-size-fits-all checklist that every estate executor can follow. However, we’ve put together some suggestions for the first steps all estate executors should take.
Establish a record-keeping process.
You will want to ensure that you are recording the amount of time that you are spending working on the estate, the activities that you are doing, and the costs that you are incurring. You should keep these records as thoroughly as possible for as long as you are working on the estate. You may need them later on for compensation, tax purposes, or court purposes.Determine whether the deceased had a will.
If they did have one, locate it and review it. At this point, don’t worry if you’re not sure what everything means. Just ensure that you are the estate executor, and check if the deceased left specific instructions for their funeral and/or burial.If applicable, plan the funeral and/or burial for the deceased.
Obtain a death certificate for the deceased.
Ensure that the provider gives you multiple originals. This step is important, as many of the people and organizations that you work with as an estate executor will require an original death certificate.Secure the deceased’s assets. If possible, prepare an inventory of assets.
This step is especially urgent if the assets are valuable, perishable, or “mobile” (pets, livestock, etc.). Ensure that these assets are properly secured, and insured if necessary, for the duration of the estate administration. You may wish to have certain assets valuated.Gather information about the trustees and beneficiaries of the estate.
You will want to ensure that you set up an open line of communication with the trustees and beneficiaries for the duration of the estate administration process. Begin by collecting the full legal names, dates of birth, and contact information of all trustees and beneficiaries.Retain a lawyer.
They will be able to explain many estate administration matters, like your role as estate executor, the validity and interpretation of the will, the probate of the will, deadlines, and so on. As a professional with estate experience, the lawyer can also guide you in the right direction when it comes to your next steps.Seek financial advice.
A financial advisor will be able to help you with the specifics of managing the deceased’s finances, taxes, and so on.
From here, you will be able to get into the “nitty-gritty” of estate administration. There will be many more steps that become clear to you throughout the estate administration process—like managing the deceased’s finances, handling the estate administration tax, and ultimately, distributing the assets in the estate—but these steps should give you a strong foundation to guide you through the process.
Please note that this is not a comprehensive guide; it simply covers the steps that you should take to get started. If you are looking for more information, please feel free to contact our office.
Carson Law Rated as Top 3 Intellectual Property Lawyers
Top 3 Intellectual Property Lawyers Burlington, ON
Congratulations to our lawyers, Jim Carson & Erika Warren, on this amazing achievement.
Their dedication to high quality service and effort, not only for Carson Law, but the Burlington Community, has led them to being acknowledged with this special recognition. We are truly proud to have them on our team!
Jim Carson has acquired extensive knowledge during his years in the law community, and will continue to add to his long list of achievements that will continue to greatly benefit Carson Law.
Erika Warren not only practices Intellectual Property law, but wears many different hats here at the firm. She also handles Corporate and Commercial Law, making her an asset to our already distinguished panel of lawyers.
Not only is Carson Law now Top three in Intellectual Property Law, but our amazing team has also accomplished the following within the Burlington area:
Top three in Real Estate Law
Top three in Business Law
Top three in Estate Administration
See for yourself why we are continuously being recognized, and book an appointment for your legal needs today!
Please feel free to view our rating at https://threebestrated.ca/intellectual-property-lawyers-in-burlington-on
Three Best Rated® was created with a simple goal to find you the top 3 local businesses, professionals, restaurants, health care providers, etc., in your city. They display only businesses that are verified by their team since customers deserve only the best.
Everything You Need to Know About Notarization at Carson Law
What is notarization?
A notary public is a person who has been recognized by the Attorney General of Ontario as an individual trusted to commission oaths, affidavits, and other declarations; and to verify that signatures, copies of documents, and other marks are genuine. When a person becomes a licensed lawyer in Ontario, they can receive a lifetime appointment as a notary public, so it is very common for law offices to offer notary services.
Notarization is when a notary public commissions a document or verifies that a signature, copy, or other mark is genuine.
What are some examples of notarized documents?
Travel consent letters: A person may need to have their signature witnessed by a notary public if they are providing a letter of consent for their child to travel without them. In this case, a notary public would be verifying, for any border official who reads the travel consent form, that they have checked the signer’s identity, and that they witnessed the parent/guardian sign the document freely and willingly.
Declarations: A person may need to have their signature witnessed by a notary public if they are making a declaration of certain facts. In this case, a notary public would be verifying, for the reader of the declaration, that they have checked the signer’s identity, and that they witnessed the person make the declaration and sign the document freely and willingly.
Copies of original documents: A person may need to have a copy of their passport certified by a notary public as a true copy of the original if they are sending their identification to a person or organization by mail or email (for example, if someone needs to include identification as part of an immigration application). In this case, a notary public would be verifying, for the viewer of the copy of the identification, that the document is an exact copy of the original piece of identification, so that the holder of the identification does not need to part with their original copy.
In each of these situations, a notary public will write a brief statement on your document specifying what they are notarizing, they will sign and date the document, and they will affix their seal.
What can a notary public not do?
A notary public cannot:
Certify that the information contained on a document (whether an original or a copy) is true. A notary public can simply verify that a document is a true copy of an original document, or that a signature on a document was made by the person who is supposed to have signed it.
Verify that a certain person was the signer of a given document if they have not themselves witnessed that person sign the document.
Provide legal advice if they are a lawyer, but they are only providing notary services.
How can I get a document notarized at Carson Law?
Carson Law is pleased to provide walk-in notary services. If you need a document notarized, simply attend our office with a piece of government-issued photo ID, which cannot be a health card. Our receptionist will have you fill out an ID form, will take a copy of your ID, and will coordinate notarization with one of our lawyers.
In most cases, one of our lawyers will be available to notarize your document right away. Sometimes, however, our lawyers are in overlapping appointments. If you need to find a time where your document can be notarized while you wait, please call ahead at (905) 336-8940 x1000.
Our fee is $20.00 per notarial signature, which can be paid with cash or with a personal cheque. We are not able to accept card payments. If you are paying with cash, please bring exact change.
Reminders
If you need a certified true copy of an original document, do not make your own photocopy. Bring the original document to our office, and we will photocopy it for you. This way, we can ensure that the lawyer notarizing your document has seen the original document. This is essential if the lawyer is to certify that the copy is a true copy of the original document.
If you need to have your signature witnessed, or if you need to have a declaration commissioned, do not sign the document before coming into our office. Bring the unsigned document to our office, where the lawyer notarizing your document will witness you sign it. Again, this is essential if the lawyer is to certify that they have verified the identity and willingness of the signer.
Ensure that you bring valid, current photo ID with you. It must be government-issued, and it cannot be a health card.
Please allow for some time to have your document notarized. It is always best to have your document notarized several days before your personal deadlines, as we cannot guarantee that a lawyer will always be available for same-day notarization.
FAQs
Where can I find a travel consent form? The federal government provides a sample travel consent form, which you can find here. We are happy to notarize this form for you.
Who can I speak to about notarization at your office? If you have questions about notarization, please reach out to our receptionist at (905) 336-8940 x1000.
Do I need an appointment to have a document notarized? No, you do not need an appointment to have a document notarized. We are pleased to offer notary services on a walk-in basis, but, because of our scheduled client appointments, we cannot guarantee that a lawyer will always be immediately available to help you. We suggest that you call in advance of coming in so that we can tell you if a lawyer will be available at your preferred time.
How do I know if I need a document notarized? Most documents that require notarization contain a note specifying that the document must be notarized. Alternatively, the document may have a space for a notary public to sign and affix their seal. However, these indicators do not always appear on documents. If you are unsure about whether you need a document notarized, please call our office in advance of coming in, and we will be pleased to help you.
How can wills and powers of attorney change over time?
Wills and powers of attorney (POAs) are extremely useful pre-planning documents, because they can provide security and peace of mind in times of ill health, and at the end of a person’s life. But these documents are necessarily written well before we anticipate that we will need to use them. This means that our wills and POAs can become outdated.
In this short article, we’ve flagged a few circumstances where you should consider updating your will and POAs, and we’ve described a few ways that each type of document can be changed.
As always, when you are working with wills and POAs, it is best to retain a lawyer.
You should consider updating your wills and POAs if:
You get married or divorced
Your spouse passes
You show or your spouse shows early signs of losing capacity
You have your first child
All of your children reach the age of majority
You become estranged from a person named in your will
You are a business owner and you are selling the business
You are moving to different province or country
Your financial situation changes drastically, or your financial wishes change drastically
You experience other drastic changes in your life
How can you update your will?
You can update your will in two main ways:
writing a new will, or adding a codicil to your existing will.
A codicil is a document that is read together with the original will. This means that all of your original intentions will still be read when you pass. By contrast, writing an entirely new will means that the original will can be entirely destroyed, without anyone reading it after you pass.
Anyone considering using a codicil should think about whether the contents of the codicil would contradict the contents of the original will, because this kind of inconsistency can lead to people challenging your will after you pass. So, if you are planning on making a relatively small change to your will, like changing your executor or adding a particular gift, a codicil may be the best option for you. On the other hand, if you are planning on making significant changes to your will — such as changing your beneficiaries or what they receive, or changing multiple sections of your will — an entirely new will may be the best option for you.
How can you update your POAs?
There is no real process to “tweak” a POA. POAs for property and for personal care are quite short and specific documents. Therefore, if you need to make changes to your POA(s), you will almost certainly need to write entirely new POAs.
Carson Law presents Toronto Rock Athletics PA Day Camps 2019-20
Carson Law Gives Back to Food4Kids
Trademark Opposition No Walk in Jurassic Park
AN ATHLETE’S RIGHTS TO PROTECT AND EXPLOIT THEIR PERSONAL BRAND
While the recent strong performance of the Toronto Raptors in the NBA finals has brought joy and hope to Toronto sports fans and supporters of Canadian basketball, it has also brought with it a flood of media coverage. The daily spotlight being shone on the team should come as no surprise to anybody, nor should the fact that anything even remotely associated with Raptor’s star forward, Kawhi Leonard (“Leonard”), is met with an exceptional amount of scrutiny. So, one can imagine just how much attention a story might receive involving one of the NBA’s biggest stars and the sports industry’s largest apparel company. As was widely reported earlier this week by just about every single news media outlet in North America, Leonard has initiated legal action against sports apparel giant Nike Inc. (“Nike”) over control of his personal branding.
Copyright Comparison Series - Part 3: Case Law
This is the third and final part of our copyright comparison looking at rules and regulations in Canada and the United States. Part 3 looks at different landmark cases that have helped shape the landscape of how copyright law is interpreted in Canada. Make sure to check out parts 1 and 2 in the series.
