Topics

‘Small Claims Court’ and How It Works
Date:      Wed., Sept. 29, 2010        Times:   12:00 noon - 1:30 p.m.
This is an introduction to ‘Small Claims Court’ (now called Provincial Court - Civil). It will give you a chance to learn about:
•   What kinds of cases the court hears
•   The limit for claims
•   How lawsuits in the court are started and defended
•   Procedure before trial including processes like mediation
•   Evidence and witnesses; and
•   Conducting trials and what actually happens there.
  
Residential Tenancies
Date:      Wed., Oct 6, 2010              Times:   12:00 noon - 1:30 p.m.
•   Rent
•   Security deposits
•   Termination of tenancies, and
•   Notice.
These are some of the things that will be discussed in this look at legal rights and responsibilities of people renting places to live.
  
Separation and Divorce
Date:      Wed., Oct 13, 2010      Times:   12:00 noon - 1:30 p.m.
In the course of exploring what can happen legally when a couple decides to separate or divorce, the speaker will discuss issues like:
•   The process – what is the court process? – are there other ways, like mediation or collaborative law, to try and how do they work?
•   Child maintenance, custody (parenting) and access (contact) – how the children will be looked after
•   Spousal maintenance – the extent to which one separating or divorcing spouse will have to support the other
•   Matrimonial property – how the property will be divided.
 
Losing A Job And Wrongful Dismissal
Date:      Oct 20, 2010 Time:   12:00 noon - 1:30 p.m.
In this presentation you’ll learn about:      
·          When a dismissal is ‘wrongful’
·          Rights and responsibilities of employers in situations where an employee is dismissed
·          Rights and responsibilities of someone who loses a job, and
·          The amount of compensation that may be awarded to wrongfully dismissed
     employees and how it is determined.
  
Looking After Dependent Parents – Dealing With the Legal Issues
Date:        Wed., Oct 27, 2010      Time:   12:00 noon - 1:30 p.m.Our parents took care of us and we take care of our children. That’s the usual assumption about how things should go. However, sometimes our parents, (or other adults we know), lose the legal capacity to make their own decisions and we’re called on to assume this responsibility. This presentation is an opportunity to learn about the legal issues involved in these situations and the options available to address them. Areas for discussion include:
·         Determining when capacity is lost – how does this happen and is the loss always total?
·         When are guardians or trustees needed and how are they appointed?
·         What parts do personal directives and enduring powers of attorney play?
·         How can accountability and liability issues be addressed?
  
Law and Living Together
Dates:      Nov 3, 2010        Time:   12:00 noon - 1:30 p.m.
What are the legal rights and responsibilities of unmarried people living together as spouses and how do they differ from those of married people? What is a cohabitation agreement and how important is it for people in such relationships to have one? What is an adult interdependent partner and what is the significance of becoming one? This presentation provides an opportunity to look at questions like these. The topics for discussion include care and support of children, inheritance, and property.
   
An Enduring Power of Attorney • A Personal Directive • A Will: A Legal Toolkit
Dates:      Nov 10, 2010           Times:   12:00 noon - 1:30 p.m.Planning for disability or death is never pleasant. However, it is an important part of identifying what you want done when something like this happens to you and helping those around you carry out your wishes. An enduring power of attorney, a personal directive, and a will are basic to building your plan. With them you can set out respectively:
•   Who will handle your financial affairs and how, if you become mentally incompetent
•   If you become mentally incompetent, who will handle your medical and other personal life decisions and the kinds of choices they can make for you
•   How you want your estate to be dealt with at your death.
In this presentation you’ll learn about these basic legal tools and what’s involved in acquiring them.
 
Being An Executor - Legal Rights and Responsibilities
Dates:      Nov 17, 2010            Times:   12:00 noon - 1:30 p.m.
This presentation will provide an overview of the legal rights and responsibilities of an executor (also known as a personal representative) as that person:
•   Gathers in the estate assets
•   Pays the debts
•   Distributes to beneficiaries
•   Generally administers the estate.
 

‘Small Claims Court’ and How It Works
Date:      Wed., Jan. 26, 2011         Times:   12:00 noon - 1:30 p.m.
This is an introduction to ‘Small Claims Court’ (now called Provincial Court - Civil). It will give you a chance to learn about:
•   What kinds of cases the court hears
•   The limit for claims
•   How lawsuits in the court are started and defended
•   Procedure before trial including processes like mediation
•   Evidence and witnesses; and
•   Conducting trials and what actually happens there.
 
Residential Tenancies

Date:      Wed., Feb. 2, 2011     Times:   12:00 noon - 1:30 p.m.
•   Rent
•   Security deposits
•   Termination of tenancies, and
•   Notice.
These are some of the things that will be discussed in this look at legal rights and responsibilities of people renting places to live.

Separation and Divorce
Date:      Wed., Feb 9, 2011    Times:   12:00 noon - 1:30 p.m.
In the course of exploring what can happen legally when a couple decides to separate or divorce, the speaker will discuss issues like:
•   The process – what is the court process? – are there other ways, like mediation or collaborative law, to try and how do they work?
•   Child maintenance, custody (parenting) and access (contact) – how the children will be looked after
•   Spousal maintenance – the extent to which one separating or divorcing spouse will have to support the other
•   Matrimonial property – how the property will be divided.

Losing A Job And Wrongful Dismissal
Date:      Feb 16, 2011 Time:   12:00 noon - 1:30 p.m.
In this presentation you’ll learn about:      
·          When a dismissal is ‘wrongful’
·          Rights and responsibilities of employers in situations where an employee is
dismissed
·          Rights and responsibilities of someone who loses a job, and
·          The amount of compensation that may be awarded to wrongfully dismissed
     employees and how it is determined
                                                            

Grandparents, Grandchildren and Law
Date:        Wed., Mar. 2, 2011      Time:   12:00 noon - 1:30 p.m.
Grandparents often play a significant role in the lives of their grandchildren and the emotional ties can be deep. If parents separate or divorce, it can become difficult for grandparents to maintain this relationship with their grandchildren. Other times, such situations can result in grandparents providing much or all of the care for their grandchildren. How does the legal system respond in these types of situations? This session looks at subjects like parenting of and contact with children (also referred to as custody and access), maintenance, and guardianship from the grandparent-grandchild perspective.

Law and Living Together
Dates:      Mar. 9, 2011   Time:   12:00 noon - 1:30 p.m.
What are the legal rights and responsibilities of unmarried people living together as spouses and how do they differ from those of married people? What is a cohabitation agreement and how important is it for people in such relationships to have one? What is an adult interdependent partner and what is the significance of becoming one? This presentation provides an opportunity to look at questions like these. The topics for discussion include care and support of children, inheritance, and property.

 
An Enduring Power of Attorney • A Personal Directive • A Will: A Legal Toolkit
Dates:      Mar. 16, 2011          Times:   12:00 noon - 1:30 p.m.
Planning for disability or death is never pleasant. However, it is an important part of identifying what you want done when something like this happens to you and helping those around you carry out your wishes. An enduring power of attorney, a personal directive, and a will are basic to building your plan. With them you can set out respectively:
•   Who will handle your financial affairs and how, if you become mentally incompetent
•   If you become mentally incompetent, who will handle your medical and other personal life decisions and the kinds of choices they can make for you
•   How you want your estate to be dealt with at your death.
In this presentation you’ll learn about these basic legal tools and what’s involved in acquiring them.
 
Being An Executor - Legal Rights and Responsibilities

Date:     Mar 23, 2011         Times:   12:00 noon - 1:30 p.m.
This presentation will provide an overview of the legal rights and responsibilities of an executor (also known as a personal representative) as that person:
•   Gathers in the estate assets
•   Pays the debts
•   Distributes to beneficiaries
•   Generally administers the estate.