Glossary of Legal Terms

A certificate of incorporation is the official record issued when a company is incorporated. It confirms the company has been legally formed.

A charge is a registered interest or claim against land, such as a mortgage, easement, or covenant. Charges appear on title and can affect the owner’s rights.

A charge number is the number assigned to a registered charge in the land title system. It helps identify a specific charge on title.

Child support is money one parent pays to help cover a child’s everyday needs after separation. It is meant to help with things like housing, food, clothing, and other costs of raising a child, and it is usually based on the Child Support Guidelines.

A codicil is a formal change or addition to an existing will. It must meet the legal requirements that apply to changing a will.

Common property is the part of a strata development that is shared by all owners rather than forming part of an individual strata lot. It can include hallways, roofs, and other shared spaces.

The completion date is the day the purchase money is paid out and the buyer becomes the registered legal owner of the property. In most B.C. residential deals, this is the main legal closing date.

A consent resolution is a written resolution signed instead of being passed at an in-person meeting. It allows shareholders or directors to approve a matter in writing when the legal requirements are met.

Contact is the time a child spends with a person who is not a guardian, such as a grandparent or another important person in the child’s life. Contact can be set by agreement or court order.

A contingency reserve fund is the strata corporation’s savings fund for major repairs, replacements, and other common expenses that are not part of day-to-day operations.

A corporate register is the official registry record maintained for a company and its filings. It helps show the company’s legal status and filed information.

A covenant is a registered promise that affects how land may be used or developed. In B.C. real estate practice, restrictive covenants often limit what an owner can do with the land.

Custody is an older term from divorce law that often referred to decision-making authority and care of a child. In B.C. family law, newer matters usually use parenting responsibilities and parenting time instead.