Angela Lam, Lawyer
1552 Bayview Avenue M4G 3B6 Toronto, ON, Canada

Hope everyone is staying well AND sane, two months into 2021! This year, so far, has been challenging with continued lockdowns and school closures, but with the announcement yesterday that in person learning will resume February 16 for the TDSB, I'm sure parents everywhere (myself included!) are breathing huge sighs of relief at some return to normalcy. I will be returning to the office on a full time basis when school re-opens, but please note that all emergency by-laws hav...e been extended by the City until June, which means that execution of documents, including real estate closings and estates, will continue to be done electronically and remotely where possible to minimize contact. In person meetings will continue to be by appointment only, and we strongly discourage any walk-ins for notarizations, appointment scheduling, etc. until further notice. Will intakes are currently booking for the week of February 22. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for your continued support and patience during this (still) challenging time. Stay safe, and stay well!

Hope everyone is staying healthy and well as we go into our first few days of the new provincial lockdown. While the holiday season is still technically upon us, this year's festivities are more somber, and I'm sure everyone is thinking of their friends and loved ones, and hoping to see them again soon. We will get there! Until then, we miss you all. Please note that the office will physically re-open on January 4, but until then we continue to work remotely. Estate plann...ing appointments are currently booking for the third week of January, and real estate closings will be done electronically where possible to minimize contact. Probate applications can now be filed online with an electronic certificate issued, and I am pleased to report the process seems more efficient but also a little more labour intensive as well since documents filed online still require originals to be physically filed with the Court, and probate fees payable still need to be delivered physically. Emergency orders re: remote executions and commissioning continue to be in effect. Stay safe, and stay well!

As we enter into the last few weeks of this year (and what a year it's been!), I wish to thank all our wonderful, patient, and loyal clients who have been supportive and understanding throughout this very strange and unprecedented year. That being said, this year, even without the added stress of the pandemic, has been the busiest year I've had in my 14 years of practice - and I currently have a full carriage with respect to estate planning. To those whose estate plans I'm ...working on - I'm working on it (as my 4am emails will attest!) and I will not be taking any additional estate planning files until the new year, so I can devote myself to completing the ones already in progress. For estates administration and probate applications, we continue to accept new files. For real estate, please be advised that we are not accepting any additional closings for the month of December. For closings occurring in the new year, please get in touch! If you'd like to book an appointment in the new year, please reach out to me at [email protected], or call my clerk, Grace, at the office at 416-481-1146 to schedule an in-person or Zoom attendance. Be safe, and stay well!

Hope everyone is keeping healthy and as well as possible during this second lockdown. With this new lockdown, certain protocols with respect to estate planning and the execution of Wills and Powers of Attorneys have been extended and/or implemented, and while the requirement that all Wills and Powers of Attorneys contain a "wet signature" in order to be valid, the remote execution of documents remains available and in force until December 21, 2020 (unless again extended by t...he Lieutenant Governor's emergency orders), and in situations where the requirements of remote execution cannot be met, I highly recommend the use of an emergency "holograph will" as a placeholder until restrictions are eased and an "official will" can be prepared and executed. For more information on emergency holograph wills, this is an excellent post by Ian Hull. https://hullandhull.com//emergency-holograph-wills-for-cl/

Hello Leaside neighbours! As most of you are aware, Toronto will be entering lockdown effective Monday, November 23, 2020 at 12:01am. What does this mean for your access to legal services and files currently in progress? There may be a few adaptations, such as probate applications being filed online, and the use of Zoom amd Docusign where possible to sign off on documents, but it is still business as (almost) usual with the exception that in person meetings are on hiatus in favour of Zoom meetings unless absolutely necessary. For those with in person meetings scheduled, we appreciate your patience while we work out a revised schedule, and apologize in advance for any delays on active files while we navigate and adapt to this new phase. Stay well!

Hope everyone is keeping well and safe during these challenging times. Unfortunately for me, my daughter's class at school has a positive case, and as a result, she is in self isolation until November 3, and I am home with her. I thank you for your patience as some delays will be expected with respect to ongoing files, and I regret that I will not be able to accept any additional Will intakes until after November 3, as quite frankly, I have my hands full! Stay safe, and be well!

Even though I've now been given the moniker of the "Leaside Sourdough Lady", I assure you that I'm still practicing and working during isolation! https://trnto.com/toronto-bread-baking-collectve-shares-so/

What I do when I'm not lawyering... https://bayview-news.com//local-lawyer-offers-sourdough-s/ Stay safe AND sane, everyone!