We Love Questions!

1. BY E-TRANSFER

Please send e-transfers to info@gbclaw.ca, note your file number or invoice number in the comments, and set the security password as “burnaby”.

2. BY PHONE

Payments by Visa and MasterCard can be processed over the phone. Please call our reception during our business hours from Monday to Friday from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm (except 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm) at 604-437-0461. 

3. BY CHEQUE

Cheques made payable to “GBC Law” or “GBC Law In Trust” (if  you are making a retainer payment) can be mailed to our office or dropped off in person at #485-6400 Roberts Street, Burnaby, BC V5G 4C9.

 4. ONLINE

By request, we will send you a link by email to complete your online credit card payment via Clover.

Generally speaking, our services are charged at our lawyer’s hourly rates currently ranging from $300/hour to $375/hour. Once we have an understanding of what needs to be done, we will provide you with a fee estimate based on the information provided.

We do offer some services based on a fixed fee. These include residential purchase and sale files, incorporations, corporate annual maintenance, and certain other corporate work. To view our current rates for residential conveyancing, click here. If you have any questions about the scope of work that our fixed fee covers, we encourage you to ask us for clarification.

All of our legal fees are subject to 5% GST and 7% PST. You will be responsible for paying for disbursements and third-party costs that our office pays on your behalf as part of carrying out the file. Some disbursements and third-party costs are also subject to GST. This will all be outlined in detail in our invoices.

Our consultations fees are based on each lawyer’s respective hourly rates currently ranging from $300/hour to $375/hour.

We do offer up to 15 minutes of complimentary discussion during an initial in-person or phone consultation. We use this time to learn about you and your situation, while providing you with an opportunity to determine if we are a good fit for you.

We understand that cost is an important consideration for many people and our goal is to handle your matter as efficiently and effectively as possible. Here are some our top 10 tips for how you can help keep your fees down:

1. Complete our intake form/questionnaire (if applicable) to the best of your ability.

2. Carefully read through any instructions/resources that we provide you with.

3. Provide clear and complete instructions.

4. Provide us with all information/documents that are relevant to your matter.

5. Inform us ASAP If there is a change of circumstances or facts that may affect the work that we are doing for you.

6. Respond to our inquiries in a timely manner.

7. Gather your thoughts and provide us with one set of comments/responses in an organized manner.

8. Keep us updated so that we don’t have to follow up with you.

9. Whenever possible, contact the assistant on the file first before contacting the lawyer.

10. Carefully consider decisions and avoid changing your mind.

Before your consultation, we may ask you to gather certain documents and/or information to bring into the appointment. Beyond that, no extra preparation is needed. We may ask some tough questions, but it’s ok if you don’t know the answers. We’ll guide you through it!

The initial consultation allows us both to assess whether we are the right advisors for you. This helps us put together a realistic service estimate.

The Law Society of British Columbia requires that we verify the identity of all of our clients. Therefore, barring exceptional circumstances (such as COVID-19), the initial consultation will be an in-person meeting at our office. However, once we have begun working together, we are happy to accommodate your preferred method of communication. Depending on your situation, we may require you to come into our office from time to time to sign documents.

Any information that you disclose to us during the initial consultation and in communications thereafter will remain confidential.

If your loved one passes away without a Will, you may need some help to figure out the next steps to deal with the estate. We are here to help you through this difficult process by advising you on what needs to be done and assisting you with the process. Please see our Law for Life page for more information on administering an estate without a Will.

Not preparing a Will means that you may be leaving a burden of personal, financial, and emotional stress on your loved ones. That in turn may lead to lengthy court proceedings and a considerable amount of legal fees that could have been avoided by preparing a Will. The best approach is a proactive one. Please see our Law for Life page to learn more about how we can help you prepare a Will. 

First and foremost, your executor should be someone you trust to carry out your wishes. Your executor will not only have to deal with your estate but will have to be in contact with your beneficiaries. Consider someone who is proactive, good at getting things done, and is likely to survive you. You should let your executor know where you are keeping your original Will and ideally, you should keep up to date records of your assets and liabilities. 

There are many factors to consider, which we are happy to walk you through! Here are a few important questions to start the process.

1. Who do you wish to leave your estate to?
2. Do you have an up-to-date Will?
3. Is there a need or any benefit to creating a trust – for a spouse, your children, a disabled child or adult?
4. If you have a blended family, how will you account for your spouse and your children?
5. Do you have sufficient life insurance in place?
6. Have you designated beneficiaries under your life insurance policy and registered savings accounts (such as a TFSA, RRSP, RRIF)?
7. Have you spoken to an accountant regarding the possible tax consequences of your estate plan?
8. Do you have a Representation Agreement to deal with your personal care and health care matters if you become incapable?

The main advantage of incorporating federally is that you will have name protection across Canada. While a federal company has no restrictions on which province its head office can be located in Canada, an extra-provincial registration still needs to be completed in each province where the company will be carrying on business. This can lead to higher setup costs and ongoing corporate filing requirements.

A BC company is still able to carry on business in other provinces by extra-provincially registering in each of those provinces. However, there is no guarantee that the same business name can be used, as a separate name reservation process needs to be completed in each province.  

Ultimately, the decision to incorporate in BC or federally will depend on your business goals and scope of operations.

It depends on the jurisdiction (aka legal authority) under which the company is incorporated. There is no residency requirement for BC companies. For federal companies, 25% of the directors must be Canadian residents. 

A holding company doesn’t engage in any business activities, but owns shares or assets of another company or other companies. A holding company may be used for a variety of reasons, the most common ones being asset protection and tax planning.

1. NAME RESERVATION

The first step is to reserve a name for the company through the BC Registry.

2. INCORPORATION DOCUMENTS

Once a name has been reserved, the incorporation documents should be prepared and signed. This consists of an Incorporation Agreement, an Incorporation Application, and a set of Articles for the company. Once these documents have been signed, the Incorporation Application can be filed with the BC Registry.

3. POST-INCORPORATION DOCUMENTS

After the company has been incorporated, certain post-incorporation documents need to be prepared and signed in before the company is considered to be fully set up. The incorporation documents and the post-incorporation documents will form a part of the company’s corporate records.

Not sure how to get started? Contact us and we can help!