Glossary of Legal Terms

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.

Death registration is the formal recording of a person’s death with Vital Statistics. It is an administrative step needed for many after-death processes.

Deceased means a person who has died. The term is commonly used in wills, estates, probate, and court materials.

A delivery address is the address used for physically delivering documents to a company office. It may be different from the mailing address.

A deposit is money paid as part of a real estate transaction to show that a buyer is serious about the deal. It is usually held in trust and applied according to the contract.

A director is an individual who sits on the board of a company after being elected or appointed. Directors are responsible for managing, or supervising the management of, the company’s business and affairs.

Disposition is the handling of human remains after death, such as burial, cremation, or another lawful method. The term is also used more broadly for dealing with estate property.

Divorce is the legal end of a marriage. In Canada, only married spouses can get divorced, and the divorce itself is granted under federal law through the court process.

An easement is a limited legal right to use another person’s land for a specific purpose. A common example is a driveway or utility access route that crosses a neighbouring property.

An electronic will is a will made and stored in electronic form under the legal rules that allow it. Special legal requirements still apply to validity.

An encumbrance is a registered claim, liability, or restriction that affects land. Mortgages, easements, covenants, and liens are common examples.

An enduring power of attorney is a legal document that lets an adult choose someone to handle financial and legal matters if the adult later cannot manage them alone. It helps keep bills, banking, and property matters moving without a court process in many cases.

An estate is the total of a deceased person’s assets, legal rights, and interests. It can include land, bank accounts, investments, possessions, and other property.