When and How to Begin the Process of Estate Planning
The best time to start the process of estate planning is today! You can start by making a list of your wishes and reading through this basic guide.
What Does Probate Mean?
Probate is a legal step that proves a will to be valid. It’s an essential step to take before distributing assets. Here’s how probate lawyers can help.
Understanding the Different Roles Involved in Planning and Executing Wills and Estates
Planning your estate and creating a will requires different roles and trusted appointees. We’re here to make estate planning easier to understand.
MerGen Law Employee Spotlight: Joan Michaels
At MerGen Law, we're proud to have a diverse team of incredible individuals. We're all here to ensure our clients are heard and fairly represented, from our lawyers to legal support staff to administrators. We want to shine the spotlight on one of our lawyers who was recently called to the bar h...
What Is Alberta's Guarantees Acknowledgement Act & When Do You Need a Lawyer?
Looking for a lawyer or notary public in Calgary to advise on a personal guarantee or the Alberta Guarantees Acknowledgement Act? Our lawyers can help.
Court of Appeal: Gordon v Cote, 2023 ABCA 22
Estate of William Anthony Gordon (the “Gordon Estate”): The Alberta Court of Appeal affirmed the decision of the Alberta Court of King's Bench (the “Court”) which struck an Expert Report due to late filing and failure to file any interlocutory applications to allow for its filing By Paul LeClair...
10 Things to Know About Entertainment Law
The entertainment industry in Calgary, Alberta, is thriving and constantly evolving. With a dynamic and rapidly growing population, there are many opportunities for artists, musicians, actors, producers, and other professionals working in the entertainment sector. Therefore, alongside their t...
Prohibition on Purchase of Residential Property by Non-Canadians
As a result of concerns that foreign investment in Canadian real estate was making homes less affordable for average Canadians, the Federal government responded by passing The Prohibition on the Purchase of Residential Property by Non-Canadians Act. Also, Regulations for the Act were passed on De...
What Does an Entertainment Lawyer Do?
The entertainment industry in Calgary, Alberta, is thriving and constantly evolving. With a dynamic and rapidly growing population, there are many opportunities for artists, musicians, actors, producers, and other professionals working in the entertainment sector. Therefore, alongside their thr...
The Benefits of Hiring an Estate Planning Lawyer
While nobody wants to spend too long thinking about their death, knowing that your family will be protected after your passing is one of the most rewarding and reassuring things you'll ever do. Estate planning is an essential feature and a responsibility you cannot overlook. Contacting a de...
Re Mackasey Estate, 2022 ABKB 662: An Interesting Case of a Codicil within a Codicil
Case Summary On August 8, 2022, I appeared before the Honourable Justice M.A. Marion (Justice Marion) in Calgary morning civil chambers on behalf of my clients, the named Personal Representatives of the estate of their late mother (the Deceased), to seek the validation of the Deceased's testamen...
3 Essential Steps to Take Before Remortgaging Your Home
Here are some of the essential steps to take and documents you'll need to collect for remortgaging your home in Alberta.
How Can a Lawyer Help in Estate Planning?
Partnering with an estate planning lawyer can help protect your wealth, assets, and loved ones. Learn more in this guide by MerGen Law.
The Importance of Hiring a Modern Legal Team
The importance of hiring a modern legal team is more profound than ever. Read this post to discover how it helps protect your business.
Legal Requirements To Be Aware Of When Starting A New Business In Canada
If you're thinking of starting a business in Canada, don't miss this post outlining some of the legal requirements to account for.
What is the Difference Between a Personal Directive and a Will?
Do you need a Will, a Personal Directive, or both? This blog post discusses their important differences and when each is used.
Ride the AI Train or Be Run Over Part 2: Time May Not be Your Friend
Kevin Weeks, while acting as the Director of Government Relations & Ethics for the Alberta Mortgage Brokers Association (AMBA) from 2013 – 2019, wrote numerous articles in the context of generally where we were at then, where we are at now and what we should be thinking and planning about going forward. Oh and PS Knock Yourself Out WillRobotsTakeMyJob.com (https://willrobotstakemyjob.com/) which is based on the US Bureau of Labor Statistics database referenced as the University of Oxford and Deloitte study in the “Ride the AI Train” Part II article. See 'The Future of Employment: How susceptible are jobs to automation’ (https://www.oxfordmartin.ox.ac.uk/downloads/academic/The_Future_of_Employment.pdf)
Ride the AI Train or Be Run Over: Accounting for the Exponential Factor - Part One
Kevin Weeks, while acting as the Director of Government Relations & Ethics for the Alberta Mortgage Brokers Association (AMBA) from 2013 – 2019, wrote numerous articles in the context of generally where we were at then, where we are at now and what we should be thinking and planning about going forward. Oh and PS Knock Yourself Out WillRobotsTakeMyJob.com (https://willrobotstakemyjob.com/) which is based on the US Bureau of Labor Statistics database referenced as the University of Oxford and Deloitte study in the “Ride the AI Train” Part II article. See 'The Future of Employment: How susceptible are jobs to automation’ (https://www.oxfordmartin.ox.ac.uk/downloads/academic/The_Future_of_Employment.pdf)
Trains, Quarterbacks, & Architects
In summary Kevin Weeks, while acting as the Director of Government Relations & Ethics for the Alberta Mortgage Brokers Association (AMBA) from 2013 – 2019, outlines that during any real estate transaction, the journey is the important part to the client: It is all about a memorable experience. Trains are the journey of which successful arrival at the destination is the exercise while Quarterbacks are the specialty players involved for part or all of the journey, and the Architect is, often by default, also the client. It is important for all Quarterbacks to consider the details, timelines, responsible parties, and deliverables they are responsible for and how they impact the process of others quarterbacking parts of the transaction.
Privacy is Dead Part 2: Time to Check Your Pulse
A highly anticipated follow-up to Part 1, Kevin Weeks continues the conversation on your secrets and your currently politically designed, government-legislated "private information". He discusses what everyone needs to be aware of, and what is critically important to remember as this topic of concern continues to rapidly change.
Privacy is Dead & Death Rattles Can be Very Shakey!
The echoing anthem first struck in the 1980s by The Police continues to reverberate, "Every breath you take/And every move you make/Every bond you break, every step you take/I'll be watching you"... And Somebody Will Be! Can you keep a secret? The correct answer is that depends on the secret and circumstances and, most importantly, the person who has the secret. And avoids the real question, which is what is a secret and why? Kevin Weeks, while acting as the Director of Government Relations & Ethics for the Alberta Mortgage Brokers Association (AMBA) from 2013 – 2019, broadly discusses Privacy Legislation and its implications in modern society. Oh and PS Knock Yourself Out WillRobotsTakeMyJob.com (https://willrobotstakemyjob.com/) which is based on the US Bureau of Labor Statistics database referenced as the University of Oxford and Deloitte study in the “Ride the AI Train” Part II article. See 'The Future of Employment: How susceptible are jobs to automation’ (https://www.oxfordmartin.ox.ac.uk/downloads/academic/The_Future_of_Employment.pdf)