Kelowna General Practice Blog

Sharing in divorce doesn't always end up well. A British Columbia man who  agreed to split his Canada Pension Plan credits 50-50 with the wife he was divorcing after 30 years of marriag has realized this. Marriage and divorce laws are provincially mandated and even though credit splitting with former spouses in British Columbia is not mandatory as it is is most provinces, this couple decided to share their accumulated CPP credits anyway.

In this case, the man worked for more years and contributed more money to the plan than did his former wife. What he didn't know, however, is that he wouldn't recoup that money after his former spouse died. She passed away before he claimed his CPP at the age of 60. Even though he knew he would be getting less money than if he would have waited until he turned 65, the man was shocked to see he would only be getting $338.50 every month after taxes, when he had paid into the plan for more than 40 years. 

When a British Columbia couple decided to part ways, they found themselves enmeshed in an unexpected custody battle. While they shared parenting responsibilities for their children, it was the family’s Golden Retriever that was the source of contention.

As pet-loving people will tell you, dogs have a wonderful way of finding a permanent place in your heart. Unfortunately, if a family unit dissolves, the question of who gets to take the canine companion isn’t always cut and dry.

Buying a condominium or home is often one of the highest-value transactions that a person will make. Given how much is on the line, it makes sense that a person would want to ensure that every detail is considered before finalizing their purchase.

From having a thorough home inspection to learning about the neighbourhood, due diligence is important. But what can you do if unforeseen circumstances present themselves once you have paid your deposit? A recent case in Vancouver helps shed some light.

The new provincial government in B.C. wants a review of the real estate regulatory system. The NDP government wants to have its own report regarding the regulation of real estate, even though regulators faced a major overhaul two years ago under the Liberals. Apparently, the fledgling government wants to ensure regulators are acting in the best interests of British Columbia residents.

The Liberals initiated a probe into the regulatory system on the heels of allegations of misconduct and questionable practices. The report that came out of that investigation made 28 suggestions, one of which included the imposition of sizable, new fines for improprieties. At that time, changes included the province absorbing the Real Estate Council of British Columbia (RECBC) and the office of the real estate superintendent, so it could serve as a better watchdog.