Cassidy Ramsay Blog

As with many things in life, flexibility is vitally important when it comes to your will and estate plan. Death is something that is unpredictable and which sometimes takes us by surprise. With the potential for uncertainty present, an estate plan should acknowledge this by allowing as much flexibility as possible.

If you're in the process of drawing up an estate plan, or you will be in the near future, there are some things you should know. Read this blog to learn different ways to keep your estate plan flexible. 

A family attorney can be a great asset for many Canadians. Over two years, family law cases accounted for one-third of all the country's 907,000!

In the following article, we'll look at how you can find the right attorney in five easy steps. Keep reading to learn more.

Two out of three households in Canada own their home. This is the highest homeowner rate in Canada since 1971.

If you are a homeowner in Winnipeg, have you ever considered refinancing your mortgage? It could make your life easier and save you money.

Refinancing a mortgage means you are exchanging your original mortgage with a new one. A lender pays off (refinances) the old mortgage using the new one.

Why should you consider refinancing your mortgage? Your expert real estate lawyer in Winnipeg has the answers. Let's explore the truth about refinancing your mortgage

Divorce can affect every aspect of a person's life. It can affect the way they live, and it can even affect estate planning that has been underway. If you're trying to figure out how your estate planning will change once you've undergone a divorce, you're in the right place.

Below we're going to detail everything you need to know to prepare to make the necessary changes after a divorce.

Have you drawn up a will? Everyone at some point in their life will need to start estate planning, no matter where you live or how much you have in your name. The process isn't just for the wealthy.

If you do not go through estate planning in Winnipeg, the big decisions after your death will be determined by the province. It might seem like a complicated process, but lawyers in Winnipeg can help, and if you follow this advice, you will avoid a lot of pitfalls.

Being charged with criminal defence should not be overlooked. You must know how to find a criminal defence lawyer.

A criminal defence lawyer in Winnipeg can do several things to help you with your case. Not only will they file paperwork for you, but they will also provide you with legal advice so you can win.

Finding the right criminal defence Winnipeg lawyer is crucial to winning a case because they will ensure that everything is done correctly. If you try to represent yourself, you will have a hard time proving your innocence.

Here is how you can find the right criminal defence lawyer!

Winnipeg family lawyers at Cassidy Ramsay provide clear legal advice and guidance to clients going through separation and divorce. It is often the case that a marriage breaks down gradually over a period of months or years. Once the marriage ends, the process of separation begins – this too happens gradually over a period of time. Divorce does not (an in fact, cannot) happen overnight. When you are living through the period that follows the breakdown of your marriage, it can be difficult to know what steps to take and whether you need legal advice. Read on for some of the signs it is time to consult a divorce lawyer, prepared by our Winnipeg family law firm.

If you have been charged with impaired driving, Winnipeg defence lawyers at Cassidy Ramsay are here to provide you with legal advice and to explain your options – and that is the #1 point you need to know if you are charged with a DUI: you have options. In this article, our Winnipeg impaired driving lawyers will discuss some of the important things you need to know if you are charged with a drinking and driving offence.

At Cassidy Ramsay, we have observed many people charged with criminal offences choose to represent themselves in court. If you are charged with a criminal offence, one of the options available to you is to represent yourself, and this may seem like a way to save money in the short-term – but it will likely cost you in the long run. Before deciding to represent yourself, consider the full picture. The criminal justice system is complex. A criminal conviction can have extremely serious consequences including imprisonment, driving prohibitions, and fines. A criminal record can have a significant impact on your life, including preventing you from getting a job and barring you from travelling outside of Canada.

Commercial and residential leases are unique contracts in Manitoba. While residential leases are governed by the Residential Tenancies Act and must comply with the legislation, commercial leases are like any other contract between two parties. The presumption is that the two businesses entering the contract (the landlord and commercial tenant) are generally on equal footing. Thus, it is essential that you understand the key terms of the contract before entering a commercial lease.

If you have children and are in the process of separating from your spouse, understanding the law surrounding child custody and visitation will be very important. Winnipeg lawyers Cassidy Ramsay explain how child custody arrangements are decided, and issues that can arise.

Planning for the future is one of the most important things that you can do for your family and loved ones. A major component of this is taking steps to prepare and execute a will that reflects your intentions when you pass. A will is a legal document which outlines your wishes about distribution of assets and, if applicable, the care of any minor children. Without a properly drafted will that reflects your wishes when you die, you may subject your loved ones to unnecessary conflict and financial difficulty. Below are some issues to consider if you fail to make a will or if you leave an outdated will.

If you have ever leased a property, purchased a house or condo, or leased commercial space for your business, then you may understand the complexity of real estate transactions. The agreement that you ultimately reach can have serious legal consequences and practical implications in real life. As such, it is always essential to consult a knowledgeable real estate lawyer in Winnipeg to ensure that your lease, purchase, or sale, meets your needs. Below are a few of the reasons why.

If you are beginning divorce proceedings, you may initially believe that using an online toolkit or navigating the process yourself will save time and money. However, understanding elements of family court can be complicated, and divorce can bring up unfamiliar legal issues. If you represent yourself, you risk drawing out the process and spending more money than needed.

Divorces can be emotional, and if you wish to safeguard your financial and legal interests, you should consider hiring a divorce lawyer in Winnipeg. If you unsure about how to navigate the legal system, don’t know your legal rights, obligations & options, if custody and access are in dispute, or if relations with your former partner are highly acrimonious, do consider hiring a divorce lawyer in Winnipeg.

If you are getting separated or divorced, it is important not to stress yourself. Instead, you will want to learn about your rights and obligations from your divorce lawyer in Winnipeg, including the payment of spousal support. Also known as alimony or maintenance, spousal support is money paid from the higher income partner to the other after a separation or divorce; it is intended to try apportioning the family income in a fair way between the spouses. Spousal support may be compensatory (for what one party gave up in the marriage) and/or based on need.

Child support is a legally binding obligation on a parent to pay for the raising of children after that parent’s relationship with the other parent breaks down. Child support may be court-ordered or it may come about after seeking assistance for matters pertaining to family law in Winnipeg. One parent, typically the “non-custodial” parent, whose children do not stay with them, pays the other, the “custodial parent”, on a regular basis.

When it comes to Winnipeg family law matters surrounding wills and powers of attorney, most Winnipeggers can feel a little lost. At Cassidy Ramsay, a law firm in Winnipeg, we think that it is important for everyone to know what a will and a power of attorney are, as well as why it is important to have these two legal documents.