Calgary Real Estate, Wills and Estates, and Business Law Blog

Anyone in Alberta who has been fired from a job will likely question the legality of the employer's actions. According to the Employment Standards Act, an employer should give a worker fair warning before termination of employment. For example, an employee who worked at a company for 10 years deserves 10 months' notice of an employer's intention to fire him or her. Otherwise, the fired worker must get 10 months' wages paid out -- not necessarily in one lump sum.

A fired worker might suspect that his or her employment was terminated because of a disability. Other questionable situations include termination while the worker is on pregnancy or parental leave or during an absence caused by a medical condition. An employer cannot use such circumstances as the reason for dismissal; however, if there was some type of misconduct on the worker's part during the time of absence, it might be enough motivation to warrant termination of employment.

Many people in Alberta might avoid thoughts about their mortality. However, the sooner they realize that death is not negotiable and debilitating injuries or illnesses can happen at any time, the better they could plan for such occurrences. Essential estate planning can be done as soon as a person starts to earn an income and acquire assets, and it can then be modified along with the twists and turns of life.

Estate planning typically involves the drafting of a will, but the benefits of establishing a trust should not be overlooked. While a person can use a will to make sure each beneficiary receives what is intended for him or her, transferring the assets to the heirs might be simpler if it is done by way of a trust. A significant advantage is the fact that the testator can transfer assets into a trust while he or she is still alive, while a will only becomes effective after his or her death.

Along with the legalization of marijuana in Canada, including Alberta, come risks that might need careful consideration. Civil litigation might result from a variety of possible circumstances involving cannabis. It must not be forgotten that marijuana is a drug, and although it has medicinal qualities, it could be harmful. Precautions must be taken not only for the welfare of cannabis users but also to protect children who might be offered marijuana containing candy or other edibles.

Children are at higher risks because they might not know the difference between cannabis-containing gummy bears or brownies and those to which they are used. Parents might ensure that their personal cannabis products are stored safely, but children must learn about the risks of taking candy from others -- even if they are not strangers. Using marijuana along with other medications can also have severe consequences, and it should only be done with a doctor's approval.

People in Alberta will no doubt agree that many important events occur at different times in their lives. Some of those are anticipated are planned for, while others happen without proper plans being in place. When it comes to wills and estates, plans are drafted for those events that are anticipated, and occasional reviews and modifications are done to address circumstances that were not part of the plans during the original development.

Estate planning should not be seen as a one-time event, nor is it something to only consider when a person is older. Anyone who earns an income and owns any assets can start with basic estate planning at a young age. Accidents can happen at any age, and although most people do not like to consider death or disabling injuries at a young age, it might be smart to get the plans in place and then review them when significant events occur.