Tips For Successful Co-Parenting After A Separation Or Divorce

Co-parenting after a divorce or separation is different from parenting together as a couple. It can take work to make the transition. While the co-parenting relationship that you develop should always focus on the best interests of your children, it can take a variety of forms, depending on the relationship you have with your co-parent and with your children.

Our Edmonton family lawyers may be able to provide more tips for successful co-parenting after a divorce or separation.

Keep Your Children's Best Interests in Mind

Children are generally resilient, and are likely to cope well with their parents' separation - provided the parents make an effort to keep any conflict between them to a minimum.

When navigating joint custody, some tips to reduce conflict in your dealings with your co-parent include:

• - Keep communications brief, formal, and focused on the children.
• - Be polite and respectful when dealing with your co-parent.
• - Put aside your personal feelings towards your co-parent and concentrate on the best interests of the children.
• - Set ground rules about communications (for example, each co-parent will respond to emails within 24 hours, or you could set a regular schedule for communicating with the co-parent to avoid receiving several texts per day).
• - Avoid using sarcasm, especially in written communications, where misunderstandings can easily occur.

Get Professional Help

Developing an effective and healthy co-parenting relationship can take time and effort, but it does not need to be something you and your co-parent work on alone. Your family lawyer may be able to help ensure that your children's legal rights are taken care of, so that you can focus on parenting. Your lawyer can refer you to a number of co-parenting resources, including:

• - Alberta's Parenting After Separation course gives newly separated co-parents some basic tools for co-parenting.
• - Therapy for you and/or your co-parent (either together or separately, however you are most comfortable) may help you both learn to communicate in new ways that are necessary in order to co-parent.
• - Therapy for your children or you and your child together may help your child to cope generally and improve your communication with each other and help to solidify the expectations you have of each other now that the living situation and family dynamics have changed.
• - Parenting coaches, who are often mental health professionals, who work with co-parents to help them develop new strategies and problem-solving skills with respect to co-parenting.
• - Parenting coordinators, who may be lawyers, psychologists, social workers, or mediators. They help co-parents reach agreements about the children. If the parents agree, they may also act as arbitrators in the event the co-parents are unable to reach a particular decision.
• - Mediators and arbitrators can be helpful, particularly immediately after separation, when difficult and important decisions need to be made, such as where will the children live and what will be the parenting schedule. They may also be useful in the future if one co-parent proposes a major change affecting the children, such as moving with the children.

Contact Our Edmonton Family Lawyers Today for a Consultation

If you are separated or divorced and looking for support in shaping your co-parenting strategy, our Edmonton family lawyers would be happy to address your questions and help you and your family navigate this time of change. Contact us today to schedule a consultation and see how our family lawyers may be able to help you.

*Please note that the information presented in this article is not intended as legal advice. It is an introductory overview on the subject of co-parenting after a separation or divorce. For legal advice, please consult with a lawyer.

How To Annul A Marriage In Alberta

An annulment of a marriage is a court order declaring that the marriage was invalid and, as a result, did not exist. They are rarely granted because the grounds for obtaining one can be difficult to prove in court.

Our Edmonton family lawyers may be able to provide you with more information on how to annul a marriage in Alberta and help you determine if an annulment is right for you.

How Is an Annulment Different Than a Separation or Divorce?

In contrast to an annulment, a separation or a divorce do not affect the validity or existence of your past relationship. Rather, they end the past relationship. People who are married or in an adult interdependent relationship can separate by deciding that they want to end their relationship and beginning to live separate and apart from each other.

A divorce is a court order that declares your marriage is over as of a certain date. They typically come into effect 30 days after the order is made.

On What Grounds Can You Obtain an Annulment?

The court will only grant an annulment if you can prove a situation that renders the marriage invalid. Examples may include:

• - You married a person who was already married to someone else at the time.
• - You agreed to marry because you were physically threatened by someone.
• - You were impaired by drugs or alcohol to an extreme degree and were not aware that you were getting married.
• - You were mistaken about the identity of the person you married.
• - You married a person who is unable to consummate the marriage (sterility – the inability to have children – is not grounds for an annulment).
• - You were under 18, did not have your parents' consent, and did not consummate the marriage.
• - You married someone to whom you are too closely related.

How Do You Get an Annulment?

An annulment is obtained through a court order called a Nullity Decree. To obtain one, you must apply to the court and provide them with the evidence necessary to prove one of the above grounds. Some of the grounds for an annulment are more difficult to prove than others. A court may be more willing to grant an annulment where there is corroborating evidence that backs up your claim, such as documents verifying that the person you married was married to someone else on the date of your marriage.

Religious Annulment

You may be under the impression that you must obtain an annulment rather than a divorce in order to be eligible to get remarried under the purview of a particular religion. Generally, what you require in these situations is an annulment from your religious leader. This is different from a legal annulment, and some religions may permit you to obtain a legal divorce as well as a religious annulment. You will have to contact your religious leader to determine the criteria for obtaining a religious annulment. However, if you want to be remarried, you must also first obtain either a divorce or a legal annulment in order for your next marriage to be legal.

Contact Our Edmonton Family Lawyers Today for a Consultation

If you have any questions about how to annul a marriage in Alberta, schedule a consultation with our Edmonton family lawyers today. Contact us online through our booking form, and see how we might be of assistance to you.

*Please be advised, each case is unique, and the information in this article is intended as an introductory overview. This does not constitute legal advice. For legal advice specific to your case, please speak with a lawyer.

Matrimonial Home Considerations

In Alberta, the Family Property Act governs the division of the assets and debts of a couple who are married or in an Adult Interdependent Relationship when they decide to separate or divorce. The Act treats the matrimonial home differently than other property.

Understanding the law relevant to the matrimonial home is important for participating in negotiations relating to the division of assets in general. Our Edmonton family lawyers may be able to help ensure that you appreciate the matrimonial home considerations that relate to your circumstances.

How to Identify the Matrimonial Home

In Alberta, the legislation refers to the matrimonial home as the "family home" and defines it as a property that is:

• - owned or leased by either one or both spouses or adult interdependent partners
• - is or has been occupied by the parties as their home
• - is a house, part of a house that is a self-contained unit, part of a business used as living accommodation, a mobile home, a condo, or a suite.

Most of the time, it is relatively simple to identify the matrimonial home. However, it can be more difficult in circumstances wherein people move frequently between residences for work purposes or to exercise parenting time with children. In these situations, the determination of the matrimonial home may depend on the specific facts. Contact our Edmonton family lawyers for help determining whether a particular residence may qualify as your matrimonial home.

Possession of the Matrimonial Home

When spouses or adult interdependent partners separate, one of the first questions that they must ask themselves is who will live in the matrimonial home? When there are children living in the home, the parents may decide to continue to share the home for a period of time after they have separated, or may each obtain a separate residence and take turns living in the home with the children during their respective parenting time. If one spouse or partner has access to another residence, it may make sense for that party to move out. What you decide will depend on the particular circumstances of your family.

If you and your spouse or partner are unable to come to an agreement, you can apply to the court for an order granting you exclusive possession of the family home. You can apply for an order even if your spouse or partner is the sole owner of the home, or is the only person whose name is on the rental agreement.

The order can also apply to the contents of the home, which can include furniture, vehicles and personal possessions.

These orders are temporary in nature. They typically remain in place until the court makes a final order with respect to the division of the family property, including the matrimonial home, unless the parties come to an agreement earlier.

Division of the Matrimonial Home

When it comes time for family property division, the value of the matrimonial home is usually divided equally between the parties, even if one party supplied more or all of the purchase price. Whether or not your matrimonial home will be divided equally will depend on the circumstances.

Contact Our Edmonton Family Lawyers Today for a Consultation

Questions surrounding the matrimonial home, including how to identify it, who possesses it, and how to divide its value, can be challenging to navigate. Our Edmonton family lawyers are dedicated to addressing a range of questions, and may be able to help you understand additional considerations in the context of your family's situation. Contact us today and see how we might be of service to you.

*Please be advised that this article does not constitute legal advice, but is intended as a general overview on a legal topic. For legal advice concerning matrimonial home considerations, please consult with a lawyer.

How Negligence Is Proven In Personal Injury Claims

A personal injury claim grounded in negligence will not result in an award of damages unless four aspects can be successfully proven in court:

• - The defendant owed the plaintiff a duty of care.
• - The defendant's behaviour failed to meet a set standard of care.
• - The plaintiff suffered some damage.
• - The plaintiff's damage was caused by the defendant's breach.

Each of those aspects must be proven in court. In civil (non-criminal) cases, each aspect of the case must be proven on a balance of probabilities, which means that the judge or jury decides that it is more likely than not that the thing to be proved occurred.

Our Edmonton personal injury lawyers may be able to answer your questions about how negligence is proven in personal injury claims.

Different Types of Evidence

In personal injury law cases, evidence is typically presented to the court in one of two ways:

• - Oral testimony is presented to the court by a witness to an event. A witness can talk about what they saw, heard, or otherwise experienced first-hand. Only a person who is deemed an expert on a subject can testify about their opinion on a subject.
• - Documentary evidence can include photos, videos, receipts, bank statements, emails, and contracts. In a personal injury case, common documentary evidence may include medical test results and receipts for physiotherapy.

In some circumstances, evidence is presented to the court in the form of an affidavit. Instead of giving evidence orally in the courtroom, the witness transcribes their statement and swears it is true in front of a lawyer. Affidavits are not used in trial unless the judge determines that the case is suitable to be heard under the summary trial rules. This procedure is generally used for more straight-forward cases that do not involve conflicting evidence.

It is very common for personal injury plaintiffs to hire experts to give evidence. There are several aspects of a personal injury claim that often require the opinion of a medical expert. The plaintiff can generally give evidence about the incident or accident itself and the effects of the damages on the plaintiff's life.

Duty and Standard of Care

A duty of care owed by the defendant to the plaintiff is proven by showing a relationship between the parties. For example, a driver on the highway owes a duty of care to other drivers and passengers on the road. A doctor owes a duty of care to their patient. An occupier of premises owes a duty of care to visitors. Duties of care have been established in many common situations, but novel situations may occur that require more in the way of proof.

A person who owes a duty of care must behave as a reasonable person in that position. What that entails will depend on the circumstances. A driver, for example, should follow the rules of the road. In a medical malpractice case, the standard of care, and whether the defendant's behaviour breached that standard of care, is usually proven through the use of expert evidence, because what a medical professional should have done in a given situation is a matter of opinion. However, it is possible that expert evidence may not be required.

Contact Our Edmonton Personal Injury Lawyers Today for a Consultation

Each case is unique, and the process of proving a party's negligence can vary. Our Edmonton personal injury lawyers would be happy to address your questions, and see how negligence might be proven in your personal injury claim. For more information and to speak with our personal injury lawyers, contact us to schedule a consultation today.

*Please be advised, the information in this article does not constitute legal advice. It is an introductory overview of a legal topic. For specific legal advice, please contact a lawyer.

Powers Of Attorney For Property To Manage Financial Or Business Affairs

In Alberta, a power of attorney is a document that enables you to give a specific person (or persons) the power to make decisions on your behalf, in relation to your property. It can take effect immediately, if you want someone to be able to make decisions while you are still capable of making decisions, or it can take effect at some point in the future. Many people choose to make their power of attorney effective if or when they become incapable of making financial decisions for themselves.

Everyone should have a power of attorney, but it may be especially important for those who run a business. Our Edmonton probates and wills lawyers may provide you with more information on powers of attorney for property to manage your financial or business affairs.

Why You Need an Enduring Power of Attorney

An enduring power of attorney lets your attorney carry on making financial decisions on your behalf. If you become incapacitated without an attorney, someone will need to apply to the court to become your trustee. Not only is this process expensive and time consuming, the delays caused can be financially catastrophic - especially if you have business interests in relation to which time-sensitive decisions must be made, such as making debt payments on business assets, or paying employees.

Tasks That an Attorney May Do on Behalf of the Donor

You can give an attorney either wide-ranging or specific powers. The types of powers they will need may depend on your financial and business needs. It is important to draft your power of attorney carefully to ensure that your attorney will be capable of doing everything you need them to do.

Financial and business decisions that your attorney can make include:

• - signing cheques, including paycheques for your employees;
• - buying or selling property;
• - borrowing money;
• - using your property for your care and maintenance and that of your spouse or children
• - hiring professionals for advice (for example, lawyers or accountants);
• - filing your income taxes, making tax remittances on behalf of you or your business, and making tax-related decisions; and
• - managing or selling business interests and investments.

Tasks that an attorney cannot do

Your attorney cannot:

• - make or change a will on your behalf;
• - make or change a power of attorney or personal directive on your behalf; or
• - add, remove or change a named beneficiary on an RRSP, insurance policy or pension plan.

Despite the fact that your attorney can use your property to pay for your care, your attorney does not have the power to make decisions about what that care entails. Personal decisions, such as where you will live and who will provide you with any necessary care, are made by the agent named in your personal directive. Should you choose, this may, however, be the same person you appoint as your attorney in your enduring power of attorney.

Contact Our Edmonton Probates and Wills Lawyers Today for a Consultation

Even a short period of incapacity could put your business at risk. Contact us today to schedule a consultation with our Edmonton probates and wills lawyers, and discuss any questions you may have about powers of attorney for property to manage financial or business affairs.

*Please note that this article is intended as a general overview on the subject of probates and wills law, and does not constitute legal advice. For legal advice, please consult with a probates and wills lawyer.

Things To Consider When Acting As An Estate Trustee During Litigation

In Alberta, the estate trustee is known as the personal representative. Under the Estate Administration Act, the court may appoint a personal reprentative either before or after estate litigation has commenced, whether the litigation regards the validity of the will, an application for a grant, or an application to revoke a grant. The personal representative appointed by the court in such a case will be subject to directions by the court, and lack the power to distribute the estate - but otherwise they will have all the powers of a personal representative appointed in a will.

If you have been named as a personal representative, either in a will or by a court, our estate litigation lawyers may help ensure that you are aware of the most important things to consider when acting as an estate trustee during litigation.

Duties of an Estate Trustee

The core tasks of the personal representative are:

• - the identification of the assets and liabilities of the estate
• - the administration and management of the estate
• - the payment of debts and obligations
• - the distribution of the estate, and accounting for its administration

If estate litigation is pending, the personal representative is still responsible for all of the core tasks, except for the distribution of the estate. Distribution will be delayed until after the litigation is resolved. The Court may issue specific directions to the personal representative requiring them to perform additional tasks, such as tracing an allegedly missing asset, or providing information relevant to the litigation.

When Does Estate Litigation Occur?

Estate litigation can occur for several different reasons. The deceased may have been involved in litigation before their death, in which case the personal representative may be required, or may have the option to, continue the litigation on behalf of the estate.

Someone may contest the validity of the will, or otherwise challenge the administration and management of the estate. Disputes can also arise with respect to the compensation to be paid to the personal representative, or with respect to the accounts prepared by the personal representative in relation to the administration of the estate.

When Will You Be Responsible for Costs of Estate Litigation?

In the past, it was common for the legal costs associated with estate litigation to be paid out of the estate. This, of course, diminishes the value of the estate available for distribution to the beneficiaries. As a result, the modern rule with respect to costs of estate litigation is that they are treated in a similar fashion to costs in other civil litigation: the successful party is entitled to recover costs from the unsuccessful party.

When the position taken by the estate's executor, or personal representative, is unsuccessful at trial, a personal representative who has conducted themselves "reasonably" should not be required to pay costs in their personal capacity. However, if a court finds that a personal representative has taken unreasonable steps during the litigation, they may be found personally responsible for paying the successful party's legal costs.

Contact Our Edmonton Estate Litigation Lawyers Today for a Consultation

The circumstances of each individual case are unique. For a consultation tailored to your case, contact us today and speak with our Edmonton estate litigation lawyers. Our team is available to address your questions and offer information on things to consider when acting as an estate trustee during litigation, and more.

*Please be advised that this article does not constitute legal advice. For legal advice, please consult with a lawyer.

What Is A Subrogated Claim?

Generally, an insured accident victim may be able to recover damages directly and immediately from their insurer, without having to sue the person who caused the damage. In relation to this, insurance coverage often includes a provision that allows an insurer - such as an insurance company - to then seek compensation from the person who is liable for the injury and any other harm done to the insured. This is referred to in insurance law as a subrogated claim.

Keep in mind that if you do decide to sue someone in relation to the insured damage, you may be responsible for repaying the insurance payout. Our Edmonton personal injury lawyers may be able to explain whatever you need to know in relation to subrogated claims.

What Is the Point of Subrogation?

Today's insurance schemes involving subrogation developed for a reason. The objectives of subrogation include:

• - ensuring that the insured is compensated promptly
• - shifting the financial loss from the insurer to the wrongdoer in situations where there is a wrongdoer
• - reducing the cost of insurance by enabling insurers to recoup some losses.

The Crown's Right to Subrogation for Healthcare Expenses

In Alberta, the province is the primary healthcare insurer. As such, it can make a subrogated claim whenever someone causes an injury or illness that results in the provision of health services in the province.

Health services costs that may be recoverable by the province include:

• - ambulance costs
• - in-hospital treatment
• - diagnostic costs
• - out-patient services
• - specified devices or aids
• - medications
• - mental health treatment

In general, the province is limited to recovery from a wrongdoer in cases that do not involve motor vehicle accidents. This is because there is a separate system in place to compensate the Crown for health services costs caused by motor vehicle accidents.

Motor Vehicle Accidents

In Alberta, the Insurance Act was recently amended to establish a system of direct compensation for property damage. This means that your insurance company is no longer able to make a subrogated claim against an at-fault driver, at least with respect to property damage caused in an accident.

Personal injury related expenses arising from a motor vehicle accident may still be subrogated. If you are injured in an accident, your insurance company may pay your benefits and pursue compensation from the insurer of the at-fault driver or drivers, if applicable. This is built into the province's insurance scheme and not something with which individual drivers often become involved.

However, if you are seriously injured in a motor vehicle accident and decide to sue the at-fault driver personally, your own insurer may make a subrogated claim in relation to benefits they may have already paid on your behalf. Typically, individual drivers only start a personal injury claim when they are very badly injured and the capped amounts of their insurance benefits will not be sufficient to compensate them for the damages.

Contact Our Edmonton Personal Injury Lawyers Today for a Consultation

While some of the more common examples of subrogation involve personal injury, it is a part of most insurance coverage, including home and property insurance, as well as liability insurance coverage. If you have more questions related to subrogated claims, we may be able to help. Contact us today to speak with our Edmonton personal injury lawyers.

*Please be advised that the information in this article is not intended as legal advice, but as an introductory overview on a legal subject. Please consult with a lawyer for legal advice.

What Is Incapacity Planning?

While most people understand the importance of preparing a will, not everyone is aware that it is equally important to plan for incapacity. This is true no matter what your age or current health. Incapacity can strike suddenly and unexpectedly. If you have not planned for incapacity, then no one will be able to make certain decisions on your behalf without first obtaining a court order enabling them to do so. Being prepared will ensure that you and your family are protected.

Our Edmonton probates and wills lawyers may be able to answer whatever questions you have about incapacity planning.

What Is incapacity?

Incapacity is defined as the inability to understand:

• - the facts relevant to making a particular decision,
• - the potential consequences of making (or not making) the decision.

For example, someone who lacks the capacity to make financial decisions may lack the ability to understand the facts about their financial assets or income, or the consequences of deciding to use those assets or income in a particular way.

Incapacity is not only something about which elderly people need to be concerned. Many of us think of dementia, Alzheimer's, and related illnesses when we think of incapacity, but there are any number of medical conditions and injuries that can lead to either temporary or permanent incapacity, many of which are not age-related.

Anyone over the age of 18 can plan for incapacity by making a personal directive and an enduring power of attorney. You can revoke or replace your personal directive or enduring power of attorney at any time as long as you still have the capacity to do so.

Personal Directive

A personal directive allows you to name a person to make personal decisions for you in the event of your incapacity. Personal decisions can include those related to:

• - medical treatments
• - where or with whom you want to live
• - instructions for the care of any minor children you have
• - instructions related to recreation, employment and/or education

Your personal directive can include specific instructions for your agent or agents, or can give them the discretion to make decisions that they think is best for you in the circumstances.

Enduring Power of Attorney

An enduring power of attorney allows you to name a person you trust (the attorney) to make financial decisions on your behalf. You can prepare an enduring power of attorney that comes into effect immediately or at a specified time in the future. If you want your enduring power of attorney to come into effect only in the event that you lose capacity, then the document should indicate how you want your capacity determined. If the document does not specify, two separate medical practitioners will be required to make a written declaration as to your incapacity before the document comes into effect.

Contact Our Edmonton Probates and Wills Lawyers Today for a Consultation

In order to be valid, both a personal directive and an enduring power of attorney must have been prepared before your loss of capacity. It may be in your best interests to prepare sooner rather than later. Contact us today to discuss your specific circumstances with our Edmonton probates and wills lawyers. Our team is here to help address your questions on incapacity planning, and more.

*Please note that this article does not constitute legal advice, but is a general overview on the subject of incapacity planning. For legal advice, please consult with a lawyer.

5 Ways to Help Children Cope with Divorce

When a child's parents decide to divorce, this generally introduces a lot of changes to the child's life. Any period of change can cause stress and children are often less equipped to cope with stress when compared to adults. As a parent, it is up to you to help your children cope with your divorce. Our Edmonton family law lawyers may be able to help guide your family through the divorce process.

You can help guide your family through this process with these five ways to help children cope with divorce:

1. Know your rights and those of your child.

Your first step when contemplating a divorce should always be to ensure that you and your children are safe and cared for. An Edmonton family law lawyer can help you understand your rights and those of your children, which will provide the basis for a happy and healthy life after your divorce or separation.

2. Take the Parenting After Separation Course.

The province of Alberta provides a Parenting After Separation Course, which can be taken online or in person in Edmonton or Calgary. The relatively short course is mandatory for parents in certain situations, such as before filing for divorce or if ordered by a judge. However, even if you are not legally required to take the course, it is a good idea, particularly if you are concerned about helping children cope with divorce.

If you have taken the course already and feel that you could use additional guidance, a second course, entitled Parenting After Separation for Families in High Conflict, is available. This course builds on the first course to teach parents techniques for disengaging from the other parent and developing parenting plans in high-conflict families.

3. Work with the other parent to develop new routines.

New homes can cause your child stress, but developing new routines will go a long way to help the child settle in and accept those changes. If you and your co-parent can work together to develop a routine around the transition from one home to the other, that can go a long way towards normalizing the process of moving back and forth between homes and reducing your child's stress.

4. Be conscious of what you say to your child.

This is not limited to restricting yourself from saying rude or unkind things about your co-parent. It is natural for both you and your child to have feelings stemming from the divorce. Ideally, you should create an environment where your child is free to express their feelings and concerns about the divorce without making the conversation about you and your feelings. This can be challenging, and you may need support from friends, family or professionals.

5. Consider counselling for yourself or your child.

If you have specific concerns about how your child is coping with your divorce, counselling for yourself and/or your child may offer a solution. A counsellor may help either you or your child to deal with feelings of anger, reduce blame and develop techniques for dealing with stress.

Contact our Edmonton Family Law Lawyers Today For a Consultation

One of the largest causes of stress for children whose parents are divorcing is the unknown. The sooner you come up with a plan for how you and your co-parent will deal with the children going forward, the easier it will be on the children. Contact us today to discuss how an Edmonton family law lawyer may be able to assist your family.

*The information in this article is intended as a general overview on the subject of family law and divorce law and does not constitute legal advice. If you are in need of legal advice, please speak with a lawyer.

How to Incorporate a Business in Alberta

Incorporating a business is an option for any person running a business, no matter its size or purpose. You can even incorporate non-profit companies and societies for social, recreational or religious purposes.

Incorporating a business is not difficult. Our Edmonton corporate lawyers can walk you through how to incorporate a business in Alberta quickly and efficiently and ensure that you end up with the right corporation for your business model.

Why incorporate your business?

There are several advantages to operating your business through a corporation rather than as a sole proprietorship (if you run the business alone) or a partnership (if you have at least one partner). Advantages include:

• - Limited liability. If the company goes bankrupt or gets sued, the shareholders are not responsible for any debts of the corporation beyond what the corporation can pay with its own assets and income.
• - Lower tax rates. Corporations enjoy lower tax rates than personal income tax rates, which can provide tax savings and deferral mechanisms for a business owner.
• - Corporations can sell shares to investors to raise money.
• - The existence of the corporation is not tied to the life of the owner.

In addition, a corporation is legally a person and can do all the things you can do as an individual, including owning property and entering contracts.

Should you incorporate provincially or federally?

You can incorporate your business federally or provincially. Neither option is necessarily better than the other. The better option for you will likely depend on the nature and size of your business.

Federally incorporated businesses can be based in any province and can operate in any province or territory under the same business name. This can be advantageous if your business requires you to move periodically.

Out-of-province corporations can still carry on business in another province or territory. They need to register in the province they intend to do business in and the government of that province will charge a fee for registration.

Depending on the circumstances, the costs may differ for a federally or provincially incorporated company. Be sure to consider not just the costs of incorporation but any ongoing fees associated with maintaining the corporation.

The steps required to incorporate a business

The first step to incorporating your business is to choose a name. An Alberta corporation must have a distinctive element, a descriptive element and a legal element. For example, Ernie's Piano Tuning Ltd. contains all three elements: "Ernie's" is the distinctive element; "Piano Tuning" describes what the business does; and "Ltd." lets people know that it is a corporation.

Choosing a name that meets all the legal requirements can be the most difficult part of incorporation. As an alternative, you can use a numbered name, where the Corporate Registry simply assigns you a number.

The next step is to gather and submit all the information needed for your articles of incorporation. Then you will need to determine and record your corporation's address, elect at least one director and appoint an agent for service. There will be a fee associated with your application.

Contact our Edmonton Corporate Lawyers Today For a Consultation

While incorporation is fairly straightforward, there are different ways to go about it, and you want to be sure to choose the method that is best for your business. Contact our Edmonton corporate and commercial lawyer today for more information on how to incorporate a business in Alberta.

*The information in this article is intended as a general overview on the subject of corporate and commercial law and does not constitute legal advice. If you are in need of legal advice, please speak with a lawyer.