LawNow articles from December 1 1994

LawNow archives from December 1 1994

Before you open the door: legal considerations for the entrepreneur.
December 1, 1994... All those who have started their own businesses know there are a myriad of considerations to take into account. Several of these are non-legal in nature, such as security of a regular pay cheque vs. risk of investment, long hours, stress of...

Operating out of your basement? Make sure it's legal.
December 1, 1994... Most municipalities allow home-based businesses which are usually described as homecrafts, office-in-the-home businesses, or home occupations. Before you start up your home business, you should consider whether * Your municipality's...

Keeping secrets: the protection of confidential information.
December 1, 1994... Many inventors have questions on whether they need a confidentiality agreement when disclosing their invention to others, and if they do need one, what kind of agreement they should have. It is not surprising that these questions occur....

Workspace in the home: what expenses can be deducted?
December 1, 1994... The traditional job in our economy used to come with security and full employment benefits until retirement. This, however, is now virtually a relic of the past. Canadians are obliged to demonstrate more resourcefulness in the marketing of...

Where the buck starts.
December 1, 1994... Business Structure You or a group of individuals have an idea and want to develop it with the view of making a profit. There are a number of ways in which an individual, or a group of individuals, may pursue a business venture. Although...

Teaching the foundations of law.
December 1, 1994... Soon high school law teachers in Alberta will be teaching a new curriculum. The introductory modules of the Legal Studies curriculum allow teachers some flexibility in deciding when to discuss topics such as the nature and purpose of law, the...

Can a husband apply for spousal support?
December 1, 1994... When one hears the words "spousal support" one typically thinks of money paid to women by men after the breakdown of a marriage. One may also think that the individual getting spousal support is getting it only because she is impoverished and...

In the place of a parent (what are the rights and obligations of stepparents upon divorce).
December 1, 1994... Following divorce and remarriage, a new family may be created, consisting of a married couple and children who may be hers, his, or theirs, all living together. Such a blended family can work very well. But what happens if that couple splits...

DNA paternity tests: the objective "witness".
December 1, 1994... Questions of paternity have become more prevalent in today's society. And in many paternity suits, there is naturally much strife and emotional turmoil which does not create ideal conditions for discussing the paternity of a child. So, with...

Tax & support.
December 1, 1994... General At writing, the case of Thibaudeau v. R. is on appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada. Thibaudeau is the case of Suzanne Thibaudeau who thought she should not have to pay tax on the child support payments she received. The...

Assisted reproduction and the law.
December 1, 1994... Advances in technology have changed many aspects of ourlives, including the ability to have children. Not so long ago, if a couple was unable to conceive a child their only option was to adopt a baby. Now there are other alternatives...

Could I have that in writing?
December 1, 1994... Last month's business column examined the reasons why contracts should be in writing. This month, we look at three ways business people might obtain a written contract: retaining a lawyer to draft one; using a standard commercial form and...

But am I liable -- whatever that is?
December 1, 1994... If for-profit enterprises have profit centres, not-for-profit endeavours have worry centres. Volunteers in a variety of roles concern themselves about whether they are doing the right thing. With limited exceptions, the men and women who...

Choosing a process.
December 1, 1994... In the last two articles I have focused on mediation as one of the principal dispute resolution processes. The other three are litigation, arbitration and negotiation. Here is a brief outline of the characteristics of the remaining three. ...

Life cycle of a residential tenancy pt2: before a tenancy is born: gestation.
December 1, 1994... I will continue our somewhat tourtured metaphor of a life cycle. Last time, I looked at some things to consider before deciding whether or not tenancy is right for you... the "do we or don't we" stage. The life cycle continues with a stage...

Messages in blood.
December 1, 1994... The obsession of the American media with the O.J. Simpson case has waxed and waned from the time the legendary running back and occasional movie actor was charged with butchering his exwife and a young man. At times, the media fixation with...

Last call for the $100,000 lifetime capital gains exemption.
December 1, 1994... On February 22, 1994, the Canadian government eliminated the $100,000 lifetime capital gains exemption. You need not resign yourself entirely to despair if you did not make use of the exemption prior to that date: the government has seen fit...