PRESIDENT, BC NOTARIES ASSOCIATION
Win Win Win Relationships BEING A NOTARY PUBLIC IN BRITISH COLUMBIA HAS MANY REWARDS.
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ne of the best rewards has definitely been forging so many positive relationships with other professionals and other organizations with whom BC Notaries work on a day-to-day basis. When it comes to real estate transactions, there are some obvious partners. Real estate agents and mortgage brokers are two of the largest groups. The real estate agents put the contracts of purchase and sale together; the mortgage brokers make sure the financing is in order. At that point, they hand their work over to us and we begin preparing all the necessary documents together, at the same time providing the sound legal advice required to complete the transaction. During the process, we also deal with insurance agents, strata-property management companies, title insurance agents, accountants, lawyers, and other professionals to ensure the deal closes on time, while ensuring the legal requirements of the contract have been met. I have to say that I have made dozens and dozens of professional contacts and friendships with so many people—all the resources required to close even the simplest property transaction.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Daniel Boisvert
A few specific examples over the years have led to excellent business relationships. • BC Notaries prepare Wills and assist clients with certain aspects of their estate plans. Sometimes an estate plan ventures into an area in which I do not practise. An example is the use of a Family Trust. Notaries do not currently prepare family trusts—fortunately, there are many great lawyers out there who do.
When it comes to real estate transactions, there are some obvious partners. • I send many clients to a local lawyer for advice on family trusts; often, once the trust is completed, changes need to be made to the titles of a client’s real estate. The lawyer then returns the clients to me, to handle the real estate changes to the family trust. That has been an excellent relationship for both the lawyer and for me and just one of the ways two professionals can work together to complement each other’s practice. • I have had a similar relationship with a local land surveyor. Clients may come into my office to ask about assistance with a subdivision plan application they wish to make with the City. I refer them to my local land surveyor who assists BC Notaries Association
them to prepare the plan. Once the registration of the plan has been approved, the surveyor returns the clients to me for registration— again, two professionals working together to complement each other. • Often, when we are asked to complete a sale of real estate for a person who is not a tax resident of Canada, specific procedures and holdbacks must be put in place as per the Income Tax Act of Canada. It often means the clients need an accountant who can prepare the proper tax returns to receive a compliance certificate, which is designed to protect the buyers of a property from the seller’s tax liability. I have been fortunate to generate great relationships with accounting specialists in that area and, in turn, they have sent conveyancing and Will-planning clients in my direction. I am sure that all Notaries across the province have many more examples of relationships they have built over the years that complement each other. The point of my article is that if you have questions about real estate or about Wills and estate/ family planning, direct your questions to one of your local Notaries. They can probably assist you but, if they cannot, chances are they have a great professional friendship with an individual who can take care of your needs. s Volume 30, Number 3, Winter 2021
