Real Estate - This includes buying and selling property, either for personal or commercial use, financing or re-financing, preparing Agreements of Purchase and Sale, dealing with the Rentalsman and leases. If you are a first time home owner the process can be a bit over-whelming, but it does not have to be that way. We are here to help you and we work closely with your bank, your real estate agent and anyone else involved in the transaction to make things run as smoothly as possible. I am always just a telephone call away.

Family - In my office we can prepare Separation Agreements (also otherwise known as Domestic Contracts), Divorce Petitions, Custody Agreements, Marriage Agreements, Collaborative Settlements, motions/applications to court for custody/access/support and adoptions. I also provide general advice as to your rights and your obligations upon the breakdown of your relationship.

Wills and Estates - We prepare Wills, Powers of Attorney, what are often called Powers of Attorney for Personal Care or a Living Will, and can apply for Letters Probate or Letters of Administration or any other Probate Court documents that are necessary. We can also prepare applications under the Infirm Persons Act when someone can no longer handle their own affairs and they do not have a Power of Attorney in place.

Corporate - If you have a business or are thinking about buying one or starting your own, we can handle the following: buying or selling your business, incorporations, including deciding whether or not to incorporate, General Security Agreements for registration in the Personal Property Registry, lien searches, Partnership Agreements, Section 85 rollover agreements, Confidentiality agreements, amalgamations, non-profits, Charitable applications and Non-competition agreements. If you have a question please do not hesitate to contact me. This list is not exhaustive.

Civil Litigation - This is defined, basically, as all other court applications other than family. So it obviously covers a broad spectrum. If it is an actionable wrong, then it is covered under this umbrella. The definition of Litigation in Blacks’ Law Dictionary is “Contest in a court of justice for the purpose of enforcing a right.” The word ‘Litigation’ itself stems from the latin, litem agere, to carry on a suit. There are various levels of court, Small Claims Court, the Court of Queen’s Bench, the Court of Appeal, and the Supreme Court of Canada. I have appeared in Small Claims Court, the Court of Queen’s Bench and the New Brunswick Court of Appeal. Most people are advised to handle their own Small Claims.

Weddings - As a Deputy Clerk of the Court of Queen’s Bench I have been given the privilege of performing wedding ceremonies. I truly enjoy helping couples with this important committment. Feel free to be creative and tell me what kind of ceremony you want. It is my job to ensure that all of the legal requirements are fulfilled, the rest is up to the couple. For those of you who would prefer to leave it up to me, I do have several different ceremonies that you can choose from, or you can mix and match. I also have a small collection of poetry, sonnets and prose if you want to add a bit of romance to the ceremony.

For those who prefer "short and sweet" I have been on the wharf in Saint Andrews when it was minus 15 degrees Celsius in February. I think I set a new speed record for that ceremony!

Collaborative Law - Approaching your divorce or separation by utilizing a collaborative model is a way in which you can resolve your dispute respectfully, by negotiating a mutually acceptable agreement without resorting to the courts. Both sides must be committed to the process which involves open communication and sharing of information. A collaborative approach is one that recognizes, amongst other things, that there may be an ongoing relationship to preserve-particulary when you have children-and helps to avoid the acrimony and bad feelings that often arise if your family dispute ends up in court.

When statistics show that approximately 98% of all family disputes utltimately do not go to trial, why not use the most efficient and effective approach to settlement from the beginning?