An Alberta law blog.

It is not a legal requirement in Alberta to have your will prepared by a lawyer, you may use a will kit. Many will kits even promise to offer a cheaper alternative to having your will prepared by a lawyer. However, while the cost of a will kit is often less expensive than retaining a lawyer to …

In recent years, increased social media use has sparked debate about reasonable expectations of privacy on social media, accountability for online activity, and the line between personal and professional life. There have been a few high-profile stories in Canada and elsewhere where people have been …

Barristers and solicitors are both lawyers, but they differ in the types of law they practice. These areas of practice are not mutually exclusive and in Canada, the practices are not formally split. As a result, Canadian lawyers will typically include both “Barrister and Solicitor” in their title. …

As Alberta has entered phase 2 of the Covid-19 Relaunch Strategy, many businesses are reopening their doors and calling employees back to work. An important concern for employers is how to return employees to work in a safe manner and ensure a workplace outbreak does not reclose their business. …

Employers have many obligations to their employees when it comes to paying them, and employees can enforce these obligations through a lawsuit or by making a complaint with Employment Standards. While the province has implemented new workplace rules as a result of COVID-19, employers still have …

Covid-19 has caused a significant shift in the way Albertans run their companies. Many businesses are suddenly faced with a large portion of their workforce working from home. For many employers this is a temporary arrangement, but others are considering the benefits of this model for their …

Whether you need to seek a Grant of Probate versus a Grant of Administration depends on whether or not the deceased person has a will.

As our society begins to slowly reopen, the courts have announced the first stages for resuming normal court operations. One of the first steps in reopening is resuming family law matters. The Provincial Court of Alberta has announced Part 1 of their reopening, which will last from May 25 through …

There are several common misconceptions about what happens when people separate or divorce in Canada. Although our experienced Family Law team members have heard many others, five myths stand out from the crowd: Myth #1: When parents separate, children can decide who they live with. Until a child …

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, Emery Jamieson LLP is offering flexible payment arrangements and fee deferrals for the preparation of wills and other estate documents, in certain cases. We recognize that many have had their financial circumstances negatively impacted by the pandemic. …

Emery Jamieson LLP is committed to ensuring the health and safety of its clients, staff and community. In this regard, we have implemented a variety of measures to mitigate the risk of coronavirus transmission while remaining firmly dedicated to serving our clients, who may need us now more than …

Despite legalization, employees cannot expect to attend work while intoxicated, and employers can still insist on sobriety in the workplace. It is therefore important that employers have clear policies surrounding cannabis in the workplace. Just because cannabis (including edible products) are …

Over the past two years, Alberta has seen significant changes made in legislation surrounding workplace safety, minimum wages, overtime compensation, and other areas affecting employment. Following the recent change in government, changes to minimum wage requirements and a host of amendments to …

Michael Kraus, Q.C., a partner at Emery Jamieson LLP, has been appointed a justice of the Court of Queen’s Bench of Alberta in Edmonton. He replaces Justice A.W. Germain, who elected to become a supernumerary judge effective May 10, 2018.

The Court of Queen’s Bench has confirmed that a registered owner of land can, in certain circumstances, defeat the claims of lienholders, even when the owner is aware that work is being done on the land.