How Much is Land Transfer Tax in Alberta?
When you close on your home land transfer tax will make up the bulk of your closing costs. It is also the one part of your closing costs that can’t be rolled into a mortgage or paid directly by the seller (though they can offer you credits to cover the costs in other ways). First…
How to Avoid Probate in Canada
Do you really need to avoid probate? Is it even desirable? While sometimes it can be advantageous to pass certain assets straight to your beneficiaries, probate is not necessarily the problem that some publications make it out to be. Here is what you need to know about probate. What is probate and what does it…
The Canadian Home Buyer’s Definitive Guide to Closing Costs
It’s very common for first-time home buyers to forget all about closing costs. Even experienced home buyers may be caught off-guard by them, or may struggle to account for them. This guide will help you understand closing costs, account for them correctly, and understand them as a potential point of negotiation. What are closing costs?…
CAN WE HELP YOU WITH AN ESTATE LAW DISPUTE IN ALBERTA
How Long Does an Executor Have to Settle an Estate in Alberta? Sometimes heirs are frustrated by the amount of time that it can take to settle an estate in Alberta. Sometimes the delays are legitimate and unavoidable. At other times, executors are dragging their feet, especially if they currently have use of certain properties…
Questions to Ask a Real Estate Lawyer
When you retain an Edmonton real estate lawyer you’re rarely looking for someone who will guide you through a single transaction. You are instead looking for a partner who will be with you through all the real estate transactions you might make over a lifetime. This is especially true of those who wish to invest…
4 Things You Need to Know About Motorcycle Cases in Calgary, AB
Motorcycle accident cases don’t necessarily play out the same way car accident cases do. If you’ve been injured in a motorcycle accident there are some special considerations you’re going to have to take into account as you contemplate your next steps. Here are four things you need to know about getting into a motorcycle accident.…
Personal Injury 101 for Calgary Delivery Drivers
The Covid-19 pandemic has created a lot of opportunity for delivery drivers. Food, grocery, and package delivery can offer a lucrative source of income, but they do put you at greater risk for an accident. Here’s what you need to know about getting into accidents while you’re a delivery driver. You need to check…
How Do Punitive Damages Work in a Calgary Personal Injury Case?
Punitive damages go under a lot of names. You may also hear them referred to as exemplary damages, vindictive damages, or retributory damages. These damages are set aside for acts above and beyond mere negligence. For example, in a car accident they might be levied for a driver who was driving intoxicated, or engaging in…
What Counts as Distracted Driving in Calgary, Alberta?
Alberta recently tightened up its distracted driving laws. If you don’t know the new ones you could end up with a ticket…or, worse, find yourself being held at-fault during a personal injury case because you broke the law. Breaking laws while driving can even open you up to punitive damages. Of course, most people also…
Tips for a Safe Summer Road Trip in Alberta
The road calls as more and more Albertans get vaccinated and as warm summer weather beckons. Yet that means there is a potential for car accidents. The team at Merchant Law wants you to be safe this summer. While we’re happy to help you win your personal injury case we’d just as soon you stay…
Personal Injury 101 for Uber Drivers in Calgary, Alberta
If you are an Uber driver that has gotten into an accident then you might have a lot of concerns about what happens next. After all, you already know you’re not considered an employee, which means you won’t be getting workers compensation. You may even worry that you’re more likely to be found at-fault for…
Is it Better to Settle My Calgary, Alberta Personal Injury Claim or to Take it to Trial?
There are a lot of myths about the legal profession. One of them is that settlement is what weak lawyers do, while real attorneys to go trial. Here’s the truth. At Merchant Law we are fierce litigators. We never shy away from a courtroom battle. But we’d be the first to tell you that battling…