A new guide, Electronic Signing and Remote Witnessing , has been added to the Reference Materials folder on all By Lawyers matter plans. Electronic signing and remote witnessing are available for many, but not all, transactions and documents encountered by lawyers in everyday practice. The new guide summarises the legislative and practical considerations under federal and provincial legislation in Alberta, British Columbia, and Ontario, helping lawyers understand when electronic signing and remote witnessing are permitted and how they can be done.

The Court of King’s Bench has started a pilot project allowing for a trial date to be set earlier in the litigation process. Publications have been updated to include the procedural steps and requirements for an application to set a trial date under this pilot project.

From June 1, 2024, lawyers must file general filing and claims documents for Family Law actions through the King’s Bench Family and Divorce Filing Digital Service. Publications have been updated to reflect this new mandate.

From April 8, 2024, the original will and testamentary documents part of a Surrogate Digital Service application must be sent to the wills repository in Edmonton by registered mail. The publications have been updated in line with the change.

Enhanced the Retainer Instructions - Purchase Of Real Estate.

As part of the continual updates and enhancements that take place across all our guides, we have revised and updated the Real Estate guides.

New precedent added: Promissory note - No interest.

As part of the continual updates and enhancements that take place across all our guides, we have revised and updated the Real Estate guides.

As part of the continual updates and enhancements that take place across all our guides, we have revised and updated the Real Estate guides.

We have revised and updated the Family Law guides as part of the continual updates and enhancements that occur across all our publications.

The title of Master is replaced with the title Associate Judge.

The will precedents and library of clauses have been reviewed and updated to ensure clarity and uniformity across all the will precedents. Updates to the automation have also been made.

The commentary and precedents have been updated surrounding client details, verification of identity and source of funds to take into account the new Law Society requirements for authentication of client identity documents and monitoring of source of fund information.