CHARLOTTE A. SALOMON, Q.C.

Her preferred area of practise is wills/estates/probate/estate administration; real estate conveyancing and commercial and personal injury litigation.

Charlotte comes from a background of real estate development and corporate commercial financing.  her community & professional work includes:

In 2008 she became a principal of McConnan Bion O'Connor & Peterson.

• Chair of the Canadian Bar Association, Civil Litigation Section, Vancouver Island, 2007 - 2009 [s/a cba.org/BC...]
• Vice President for the Victoria Bar Association , 2009 [s/a vicbar.com].
• Treasurer of the Victoria Bar Association 2007
• She has also been the Chair of the BC CBA Civil Litigation Section for Vancouver Island and a member of the Audit Committee, Government Relations Committee and Court Services Committee of the BC CBA.
• As well, Charlotte has also served as a member of the Board of Governors, Victoria Conservatory of Music and is interested in Federal politics, having served as President in two Federal Riding Associations.

Charlotte A. Salomon, Q.C., Barrister & Solicitor
McConnan Bion O'Connor & Peterson Law Corp.
Suite # 420 - 880 Douglas Street,
Victoria, B.C. Canada V8W 2B7
Phone:  250-385-1383  
Toll free:  1-888-385-1383
Web site: www.mcbop.com/charlotte-a-salomon-qc
Email:  csalomon@mcbop.com
Map to office:www.lawyers-bc.com/img--maps/victoria/McBOP-Victoria-street-map.html

PATRICK EDWARD BION
Business-Commercial Services Lawyer
B.A. (UVIC - 1970), LL.B. (UVIC - 1973)

Patrick practises in the wills, estates, and estate planning areas.  He also has extensive experience in real estate development, complex commercial transactions, financing, incorporations and advising small business generally.

Patrick is one of the three founding principals of McConnan Bion O'Connor & Peterson and has practised with the firm since 1975.

McConnan Bion O'Connor & Peterson Law Corporation
Suite # 420 - 880 Douglas Street,
Victoria, B.C. Canada V8W 2B7
Phone:  250-385-1383    Toll free:  1-888-385-1383
Email Pat Bion:  pbion@mcbop.com
Web Site:  www.mcbop.com//patrick-e-bion
Map to office:www.lawyers-bc.com/img--maps/victoria/McBOP-Victoria-street-map.html

What Are Representation Agreements?
and
Powers of Attorney?

This information is provided courtesy of the wills & estates lawyers at McBOP.com

Representation Agreements - Reference Info

• Authorizes and empowers another person (your representative) to make health care and personal care decisions of you, including a decision regarding "life support"
• Allows you to identify the type of health care and personal care decisions your representative can or cannot make
• Allows you to specify under what circumstances or events the representative may exercise these powers
• Permits a person under diminished capacity to empower a representative to make routine financial and health care decisions for that person
• Can include provisions to appoint a monitor to ensure your representative carries out your health care and personal care wishes
• Can include power to act in financial or legal matters, as if under a general power of attorney
• Survives subsequent incapacity

Must be in a form that meets prescribed signing and witnessing requirements

Powers of Attorney - Reference Info

• Permits adults to grant authority to another person (the "attorney") to act on legal or financial matters on behalf of the adult
• Can be general or specific as to the legal and/or financial matters covered
• Can be expressed to survive any subsequent mental infirmity (an "enduring power of attorney")
• Can name more than one attorney, to act together, or provide for an alternate attorney
• Is automatically revoked on the death of the grantor
• Is a useful and popular estate planning and management tool
• Avoids expensive applications to court to appoint someone (a "Committee") to act on your behalf in the event you are incapacitated
• Does not extend to making health care or personal care decisions

Must be in a form that meets prescribed signing and witnessing requirements

Contact MICHAEL R. MARK, BA, LL.B. at McConnan Bion O'Connor & Peterson Law Corp. for more information on the above services.

RETURN TO HOME PAGE LawyersWorld.org

Footnotes & Archive notes

Definition of "E S T A T E"

1.  What is included in my estate?

Generally, assets that are in your name would be included in your estate.  Exceptions are assets that you hold jointly with another - those assets will go to the surviving owner, and assets for which you are able to designate a beneficiary - such as RRSPs and insurance policies.  The dollar value of the assets actually in your name that are not held jointly or designated to a beneficiary form the assets that comprise your estate, and it is the dollar value of those assets that are used to calculate probate fees.

Definition of "P R O B A T E"

Probate......What is meant by the term "probate"?

Probate is the court order that is issued by the Supreme Court of British Columbia allowing your executor to "execute" the provisions of your will.

Probate is the legal sanction to your executor to carry out the terms of your will and distribute your estate in the manner described in your will.Your executor requires a Grant of Probate before he can obtain control of a number of the assets in your estate including investments held in financial institutions, real estate and the like.

Once the Grant is obtained, an executor can then proceed to liquidate the estate in preparation for distributing it as set forth by your will. If there are persons that have an entitlement under the Wills Variation Act to make application to vary your will, the executor must wait 6 months from date of probate prior to distributing your estate or alternatively, obtain the consent of all those persons who are entitled to apply and/or named in the will to an earlier distribution.

An executor must also obtain a Clearance Certificate from Revenue Canada before wholly distributing your estate.

3.  How much are probate fees in the province of British Columbia?

Probate fees are calculated on the value of your estate, at date of death, in accordance with the following formula:
GO TO www.ag.gov.bc.ca/legislation/shareddocs/wesa/qa.pdf

N. NIMA ROHANI

Nima was born and raised in Victoria .... Has a degree from the University of Victoria, in anthropology and a law degree from Australia's James Cook University.

His solicitor practice is primarily in real estate law and construction law, as he has had hands-on experience working with trades, engineers, and home owners

His practice areas include:

• Business Law
• Creditors' Remedies
• Estate Administration
• Real Estate
• Wills, Trusts & Incapacity Planning
• Residential Tenancy Branch Disputes and Hearings

N. NIMA ROHANI,
Partner,
McConann Bion O'Connor & Peterson Law Corp.
Suite # 420 - 880 Douglas Street,
Victoria, B.C. Canada V8W 2B7
Phone:  250-385-1383    Toll free:  1-888-385-1383
Web Site: www.mcbop.com/n-nima-rohani
E-mail: nrohani@mcbop.com

REID FRASER, J.D.

Reid was born in Victoria and has been active in the community all of his life. Upon returning home Reid completed his articles with McConnan Bion O'Connor & Peterson working in both the litigation and solicitor practice groups.

In his first year of practice Reid has represented clients at all levels of court in British Columbia and has trial experience in both the Provincial Court and Supreme Court of British Columbia.

Practice Areas
· Civil Litigation
· Creditors Remedies
· Employment Law
· Family Law
· Personal Injury
· Wills, Trusts & Incapacity Planning

Education
· Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.), University of British Columbia (2013)
· Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.), James Cook University, Honours First Class (2016)
· Certificate of Qualification, National Committee of Accreditation (2017)

Call to the Bar
· British Columbia Bar, 2018

Awards
· Top of Class, Contract Law, James Cook University (2014)
· Masters of Coursework, James Cook University (2016)

REID FRASER,
Barrister & Solicitor,
McConann Bion O'Connor & Peterson Law Corp.
Suite # 420 - 880 Douglas Street,
Victoria, B.C. Canada V8W 2B7
Phone:  250-385-1383    Toll free:  1-888-385-1383
Web Site: http://www.mcbop.com/
Email: rfraser@mcbop.com

BHAVI TATHGAR

Has a law degree with honours from the University of Leicester, England, following completion of his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, International Relations from the University of Victoria.

Bhavi is a product of diverse mentorship and prides himself on possessing 'old school' work ethics and values while adapting it to the fast-evolving world of law.

He works primarily in the area of
· Real Estate Law,
· Wills & Estates and
· Business Law.

Bhavi is inspired by the resilience and growth of young people and has volunteered extensively through Big Brothers and Big Sisters Mentorship Program and has dedicated countless hours to helping the elderly in his community.

Bhavi is also fluent in Punjabi.

BHAVI TATHGAR,
Barrister & Solicitor,
McConann Bion O'Connor & Peterson Law Corp.
Suite # 420 - 880 Douglas Street,
Victoria, B.C. Canada V8W 2B7
Phone:  250-385-1383    Toll free:  1-888-385-1383
Profile: www.mcbop.com/bhavi-tathgar
Firm Web Site: http://www.mcbop.com/

ADAM LEWIS,
B.A. (hons) Queens U. & J.D. UVIC

Adam has experience in a variety of areas of law, including: insurance litigation, contractual disputes, and personal injury claims.
During law school he participated in the Gale Cup moot and represented low income clients at The Law Centre of the University of Victoria. Adam also has international experience; in 2016 he worked as a legal intern with the United Nations overseas. Adam has represented clients in both the Provincial Court and Supreme Court of British Columbia. He takes pride in understanding the unique needs of clients and using the legal system to provide them with optimal outcomes.

His areas of practice include:
· Civil Litigation,
· Creditors Remedies,
· Estate Litigation
· Family Law
· Personal Injury

ADAM LEWIS,
Barrister & Solictor
McConnan Bion O'Connor Peterson, Law Corp.
Suite #420 - 880 Douglas Street,
Victoria, B.C. Canada V8W 2B7
Phone:   250-385-1383
Toll free:  1-888-385-1383
Email: alewis@mcbop.com
Web: www.mcbop.com/ lawyer/adam-lewis/
Map to office:www.lawyers-bc.com/img--maps/victoria/McBOP-Victoria-street-map.html

The Capital Regional District, CRD, includes the Municipalities of:
Central Saanich / Colwood / Esquimalt / Highlands / Langford / Metchosin / North Saanich / Oak Bay / Saanich / Sidney / Sooke / Victoria / View Royal (on southern Vancouver Island) and they in turn ar part of the Electoral Areas of: Juan de Fuca, Southern Gulf Islands, and Salt Spring Island. (see [www.crd.bc.ca/govlink.htm for more information]

Victoria Bar Association
"... The Victoria Bar Association (the "VBA") is the local bar association in Victoria, British Columbia.
The Association acts as a liaison between the lawyers of Victoria and other institutions such as the Courts, government, and the University of Victoria Faculty of Law. It also works closely with the Law Society of British Columbia, the Canadian Bar Association and other legal organizations.
The VBA provides scholarships for students and contributes to law related charities.
The VBA also organizes 4 dinner social events and a number of sporting events each year that are generally well-attended by its members and guests.
[quote 2009.01.11 vicbar.com]

Canadian Bar Association, Civil Litigation - Vancouver Island Section
"... What We Do
Deals with law, which regulates the jurisdiction of the courts in civil matters and the procedures for the conduct of civil cases and the enforcement of judicial decisions of a civil nature.
Join this Section and play a role in shaping legislation and government policy..." [quote 2009.01.11 www.cba.org/BC/s_civil_visl

MICHAEL R. MARK, BA, LL.B.

Preferred areas of practice in civil litigation include:  estate litigation (e.g. wills variation), personal injury, and commercial disputes.

If you have been treated unfairly by a deceased parent or spouse under the terms of his or her will, consider obtaining the advice and assistance of an experienced estate litigation lawyer.  Wills can be varied by the court to ensure adequate, just and equitable provision for a spouse or child of the deceased.

Challenging Provisions of a Will & Estate Litigation

A child or spouse of a person who dies leaving a will can challenge the provisions of will and seek a variation pursuant to the Wills Variation Act.

The court will consider whether, in all of the circumstances, the deceased person (testator) made adequate provision for the claimant under the terms of the will.  The considerations are wide and varied, but they include the nature of the relationship between the testator and the claimant, the size of the estate, and the relative needs of the other beneficiaries to the will.

Claims must be made within 6 months from issuance of probate of the will. 

Probate is the process in which the executor of the will probates or proves the will to the court.  If a child or a spouse is not satisfied that the will makes adequate provision for him or her, legal advice ought to be obtained promptly so that legal action, if warranted, may be commenced in a timely way.

Michael Mark has extensive experience in both civil litigation and in criminal litigation as a Federal prosecutor in drug, and complex tax evasion prosecutions.

Michael has practiced in Victoria since his admission to the Bar in 1991 and he became a principal at McConnan, Bion, O'Connor & Peterson Law Corporation in January 2000.  He is also a past executive member of the Victoria Bar Association.

Michael Mark, LLB - Estate Litigation / Wills Lawyer
Senior Partner
McConnan Bion O'Connor Peterson Law Corp.
Suite #420 - 880 Douglas Street,
Victoria, B.C. Canada V8W 2B7
Phone  250-385-1383   
Toll free  1-888-385-1383
E-mail:  mmark@mcbop.com

Web Site:  McBOP.com/michael-r-mark
Map to office:www.lawyers-bc.com/img--maps/victoria/McBOP-Victoria-street-map.html

see also Representation Agreements vs Powers of Attorney

MICHAEL JAMES O'CONNOR, QC
B.A. (UVIC - 1971), LL.B. (UBC - 1974), Admitted to the BC Bar 1975

Michael has been a senior partner at McConnan, Bion, O'Connor & Peterson since 1976. Michael's preferred areas of practise include wills, estates and conveyancing, as well as all forms of civil litigation, including personal injury claims, expropriation, property tax assessment appeals and contract disputes.

Michael chaired the highly successful Capital Campaign of the Greater Victoria Hospital Foundation s/a Foundation, "Together We Care", raising 17 million dollars for the hospitals on Southern Vancouver Island.  He is a member of the CH Channel 6 Community Advisory Board [s/a en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CHEK-TV] and a Trustee of the British Columbia Government House Foundation (www.ltgov.bc.ca).  He has held several executive positions with several sports bodies at the local, Provincial and National levels.  He is the Vice Past Chairman of the 1994 Commonwealth Games www.commonwealthgames.ca held at Victoria, BC.

Michael J. O'Connor, QC
McConnan Bion O'Connor & Peterson Law Corporation
Suite # 420 - 880 Douglas Street,
Victoria, B.C. Canada V8W 2B7
Phone:  250-385-1383    Toll free:  1-888-385-1383

Email:  moconnor@mcbop.com
Web Site:  McBOP.com/michael-j-oconnor-qc

Map to office:www.lawyers-bc.com/img--maps/victoria/McBOP-Victoria-street-map.html

DIRK RYNEVELD, Q.C.

Dirk currently has a varied litigation practice advising both private and government clients on administrative law and civil litigation issues.  He is primarily engaged as senior external counsel for the Civil Forfeiture Office of the BC Ministry of Justice.

His areas of practice include:
· Civil Forfeiture for the BC Ministry of Justice
· Personal Injury
· Real Estate
· Wills
· Estate Administration

Dirk Ryneveld, QC joined the firm of McConnan Bion O'Connor & Peterson in Victoria as Associate Counsel in June 2009, after a six-year term as Police Complaint Commissioner for BC.  Prior to that, Dirk was a Senior Trial Attorney from 1999 - 2003 at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia at the Hague, where he conducted several war crimes trials and also was lead counsel for the prosecution of the Kosovo component of the Slobodan Milosevic trial.

He has also appeared at all levels of court in British Columbia and the Supreme Court of Canada, as Deputy Regional Crown Counsel from 1974 - `1999.   Dirk was appointed as Queen's Counsel in 1990.

DIRK RYNEVELD, Q.C.,
McConann Bion O'Connor & Peterson Law Corp.
Suite # 420 - 880 Douglas Street,
Victoria, B.C. Canada V8W 2B7
Phone:  250-385-1383    Toll free:  1-888-385-1383
Web Site: www.mcbop.com/dirk-ryneveld-qc
Street Map:  down town Victoria location near Court House

STEWART JOHNSTON, LLB
Senior Associate Counsel

His practice focuses on business and corporate law, real property law (including development and leasing) and estate planning.

Stewart was founding Chair of the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority and of the Victoria Esquimalt Harbour Society, past chair of Tourism Victoria, former co-chair of the Tourism Working Group of the Pacific North West Economic Region, and past Chair of Skwin'ang'eth Se'las Development Company - a not-for-profit corporation aimed at incubating entrepreneurship among members of the Songhees and Esquimalt Nations.

Stewart is Commander of the Victoria Commandery of the Sovereign Order of St. John of Jerusalem, Knights Hospitaller.  He has served on several not-for-profit boards including the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce, the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria Foundation, the Victoria Symphony Society, and the Camosun College Foundation.  In addition to the honour of knighthood in the Sovereign Order, Stewart has received an honorary citizenship from the City of Victoria, the Miracle Award from Tourism Victoria, and life membership in the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority.

Practice areas:
· Business Law
· Real Property Law
· Wills, Trusts & Incapacity Planning
· Estate Administration

STEWART JOHNSTON, Senior Associate Counsel
Barrister & Solicitor,
McConann Bion O'Connor & Peterson Law Corp.
Suite # 420 - 880 Douglas Street,
Victoria, B.C. Canada V8W 2B7
Phone:  250-385-1383    Toll free:  1-888-385-1383
Web Site: www.mcbop.com/stewart-johnston
E-mail: sjohnston@mcbop.com

STEPHAN SADER
BCom, PMP, JD

Biography
Stephan grew up in Victoria and attended the Peter Gustavson School of Business at UVic. (Bachelor of Commerce 2012).

After graduating, he moved to Calgary and worked as a business analyst within supply management divisions for oil and gas companies. Throughout his work experience, he completed a Project Management Professional (PMP) designation with the Project Management Institute, 2017 and a Conflict Resolution program with a specialization in negotiation and mediation.

Stephan subsequently obtained his Juris Doctor degree from the Faculty of Law at Thompson Rivers  , in 2020. While attending law school, he participated in the Community Legal Clinic in Kamloops, providing legal services to low-income citizens.

In his spare time, Stephan enjoys biking and international travel. He has visited over fifty countries and is eager to see more.

Areas of practice:
- Real Estate,
- Business,
- Estate Administration,
- Wills Trusts & Incapacity Planning

STEPHAN SADER
McConnan Bion O'Connor & Peterson Law Corporation
Suite # 420 - 880 Douglas Street,
Victoria, B.C. Canada V8W 2B7
Phone:  250-385-1383    Toll free:  1-888-385-1383
Email Stephan Sader:  SSader@mcbop.com
Web Site:  www.mcbop.com/stephan-sader/ Street Map:  down town Victoria location near Court House

Probate Reference Information

The BC Probate Registry

"Each Supreme Court Registry in BC has a Probate Division to receive, verify and process applications for probate and applications for administration.

An applicant for probate applies to the court to prove a will by confirming it as valid under the laws of British Columbia. Applications for administration are usually necessary when a person has died without leaving a valid will (intestate).

The Probate Registries do not provide forms, give legal advice or assist in preparing wills, applications or affidavits."

[nb sentence emphasis added by Lawyers-World.org. Above quoted from BC Ministry of Justice website About Wills and Estates - Court Services - Ministry of Justice 2012.03.06

Who Practices What Areas of Law, Where, For Whom, Why, and for How Much?
What is the world of lawyers and the world of law about? 
This is a layperson's sampler site - a starting point!

This resource area is a collaboration of many people including lawyers, retired judges, notaries, health and social service professionals currently in practice who received their legal/professional training in different countries including: China, Canada, the United Kingdom, the U.S.A.

Credits, Copyright, Dedication & Inspiration

The area of wills, estates and trusts administration on LawyersWorld.org is in part inspired by multiple people and sources including with historic impact on some of this web site's developers:

• Myrna Cresswell, former senior manager of the then called Office of the Public Trustee of BC, now known as the Public Guardian and Trustee of British Columbia [s/a www.trustee.bc.ca based in downtown Vancouver BC. 
• Mr. Clinton Foote, the Public Trustee and Mrs. Creswell initiated and supported from 1985-1990 a landmark project in the area of "quality of life assurance / enhancement" for many of the Trustee's mentally challenged/impaired clients in a large number of residential care programs in BC, including Mental Health Boarding Homes, Valley View Psycho-Geriatric Hospital (located in the Riverview Hospital / Mental Health Complex, adjacent to the Crease Clinic Facilities) in the Port Coquitlam area.
• The Project Professional Team for the Quality of Life Assurance/Enhancement Project included Psychiatrist, Martha Donnelly at Vancouver General Hospital ; Neuro-Psychologist, Ursula Wild, PHD RPSYCH [in 2008 is listed as a Clinical Associate, with Department of Psychology, Graduate Studies, Simon Fraser University [s/a www.psyc.sfu.ca/grad/index.php?topic=clin_faculty] ; Music Therapist and Social Worker, Yoying Orosa, BSW MT RST see her website as well as Neal Chan, BA MSW (director)
  It is through working with the Public Trustee's staff that Mr. Chan became involved with Vancouver and Victoria lawyers and health professionals on Wills Variation and Breach of Trust legal actions as well as Private Trustee Management Services e.g. potential conflict of interests of trustee(s) of an trust funds.
• see also
  • Martha Donnelly, MD, CCFP, FRCPC, Psychiatrist
    Director, Division of Community Geriatrics, Department of Family Practice,
    UBC Director, Division of Geriatric Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, UBC Geriatric Psychiatrist, Geriatric Psychiatry Outreach Team, Vancouver Hospital
    Division of Community Geriatrics
    Department of Family Practice,
    GPOT-HCE4
    715 West 12th Ave.
    Vancouver, B.C. V5Z 1M9
    Web site:  Centre for Research on Personhood in Dementia
• Special note should be made of the Pastoral Care Consultant to the above Quality of Life Enhancement Team, The Reverand Gilbert Smith, at that point recently retired from Trinity Presybterian Church www.trinitypcvictoria.org in Victoria, however still carrying on Pastoral Care Work throughout the Juan de Fuca Hospital System, in Victoria. Reverend Smith who died in 2008 is well known for his support of the local Cricket Community, the local prize winning flower grower's competitions and of course throughout the local Presybterian / Christian community.
  The Jaun de Fuca Hospitals were a network of long term care seniors facilities, providing "intermediate-care" and "extended-care" for physically infirm and psycho-geriatric (various dementias / alzheimer diagnosed) seniors throughout the Greater Victoria area, including: Richmond Hospital, The Priory, Tolmie Hospital.
• [s/a Wills Variation Act [RSBC 1996] CHAPTER 490 this online reference is service of Queens Printers and
  copies of the Act and Regulations are available from www.crownpub.bc.ca
  Crown Publications Inc.
  distributors of BC Government Publications and Reports
  106 Ontario Street
  (note: the store is downtown near to the Bastion Square area Victoria, BC V8V1M9
  Phone:  250-386-4636
  email:  crown@crownpub.bc.ca
  
• Photos and graphics in this legal services section are provided by cartographer / map-maker Angus Weller e.g. Maps of Cities, Regions and Countries sponsored by Weller Cartographic Services Ltd., www.MapMatrix.com   and a number of lawyers involved with this site including Mr. Dil Gosal GosalLaw.com and Ms. Dellis Rand