2 minute read
Exciting Events and Plans
Chad Rintoul
The theme for this edition of The Scrivener highlights how significant the relationship is between a BC Notary and their clients.
Many British Columbians get to know their local Notary when they are young adults purchasing their first home. That initial professional interaction often marks the beginning of a lifelong relationship where clients come to trust their Notary to provide them with other noncontentious legal services.
Estate planning and the preparation of a Will pave the way for creating Representation Agreements, Powers of Attorney, and the process of planning and helping to organize the clients’ affairs for the future.
The BC Notaries Association (BCNA) has been advocating for the expanded scope of practice for Notaries so the same Notary who has handled your real estate conveyancing and written your Will can prepare a testamentary trust as a part of your Will and probate your Will when the time comes. Those services are congruent with the work already carried out by BC Notaries. British Columbians are already asking their Notary to provide those additional services.
During November 2022, the BCNA hosted a series of MLAAppreciation Events in Victoria, all excellent opportunities • to meet with the caucuses of all three political parties in the Legislature; • to thank MLAs for their service to British Columbians; and • to educate them on our advocacy initiatives. We appreciate the time the Members of the Legislative Assembly took to meet with the BCNA Board and Notaries from the Victoria area to learn more about the work BC Notaries do in their communities throughout the province.
I have no doubt that serving as an MLA can be both challenging and rewarding. We greatly appreciate the work they do as they strive to make life better for everyone in our province.
As the Ministry of the Attorney General works toward legal-professions legislative and regulatory modernization, the BCNA will continue to advocate for BC Notaries to be able • to assist British Columbians with preparing testamentary trusts and life estates; • to file probate documents; and • to incorporate and maintain records of BC companies. We believe all MLAs will agree it is in the public interest to give British Columbians increased access to legal services and a choice when it comes to the provision of noncontentious legal services.
On behalf of all of us at the BC Notaries Association, I wish you a Healthy and Happy New Year!
We are looking forward to upcoming events, including • the New Notaries Career Fair on February 11, 2023, a virtual opportunity for students in the Simon Fraser University
Master’s degree in Applied
Legal Studies Program to meet potential future employers or business partners, and • of course the long-awaited return to our Annual Continuing
Education Conference taking place in Kelowna, April 21 to 23, 2023. We look forward to seeing you there! s Respectfully Chad Rintoul, Chief Executive Officer
