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Mar 18, 2024

Tired of Copyright Infringement?

disc with chain and lock

We are too!

Some folks genuinely think that if it's "out there" it's free for all and in the public domain.

"In the public domain" actually has a specific legal meaning and has nothing to do with content being "in the public eye".

You do have recourse!

Review our legal guidelines and use our printable Cease and Desist letter to protect your rights in your intellectual property.

Continue reading "Tired of Copyright Infringement?"

Mar 15, 2024

Asset Protection in Family Wills

hands protecting family

How can you make provision for:

  • A minor child who cannot legally own property?
  • A child with diminished capacity?
  • A prodigal child who may squander an inheritance?
  • A family member with a substance dependency or serving a prison term or being unduly influenced by another person?

We’ll show you in detail exactly how to go about it!

Continue reading "Asset Protection in Family Wills"

Mar 13, 2024

Simple Rental Agreement

for rent sign

You've asked for it, so here it is!

We've received many requests for a simple, one page, weekly or month to month rental agreement.

We've compiled a free rental agreement that captures the details of the landlord, tenant and premises and outlines the basic terms and conditions typically found on rental or lease agreements.

The template is a basis to work from, where you can still add specific clauses to suit your property or requirements.

Continue reading "Simple Rental Agreement"

Mar 11, 2024

Real Estate Power of Attorney

house and contract

If you cannot personally attend to your real estate interests, you can empower an Agent to act on your behalf

It can be drafted to deal with the buying or selling of a specific property.
Note!

This is the one power of attorney (and if applicable any revocation thereof) that must be filed with the relevant government office.

Or your document can authorize your agent to act on your behalf in the ongoing management of your rental properties.

Continue reading "Real Estate Power of Attorney"

Mar 08, 2024

Employee Confidentiality Agreement

employee lips are sealed

Every company has proprietary and confidential information that they would not want to become publicly known.

It's not too hard keeping it safe from outsiders but what about employees who have insider knowledge?

Our free non-disclosure agreement helps to formalize the obligations of the employee to keep such information confidential.

Continue reading "Employee Confidentiality Agreement"

Mar 07, 2024

Pet Information Sheet for Pet Sitters

dog tag with buddy engraved

All the information at your fingertips!

This form will come in handy should you ever need to leave your beloved pets in the care of someone else, whether it is a neighbor, family member or friend.

If you provide a professional service such as pet sitting or dog walking, it is imperative for you to have the relevant information.

We also supply free contract templates for these services.

Continue reading "Pet Information Sheet for Pet Sitters"

Mar 06, 2024

Are You an Independent Contractor or an Employee?

sleeping worker and mug

There are some financial benefits to both employer and contractor to have the service provider classified as an independent provider.

For this very reason, the Revenue Services has strict guidelines to prevent misuse of this status.

It all comes down to who is in control of:

  • Where, when and how the work will be performed
  • Earnings, expenses, deductions such as taxes, unemployment insurance, pension contributions etc.
  • For whom work may be performed

    etc.

No single factor will determine the status, but when reviewed it will become clear whether the balance shifts to that of an independent contractor or not.

Continue reading "Are You an Independent Contractor or an Employee?"

Mar 05, 2024

Last Will and Testament - How to Provide for Adult and Minor Children

Quite often people find themselves in a marriage with young children as well as adult children from a previous relationship.

grandchild inheriting pocket watch

We’ll show you how to make bequests for your adult children and then leave the remainder of your estate to your spouse and minor children.

You will also need to appoint a guardian for your minor children should your appointed spouse not survive until they reach maturity.

Our other free will forms also cater for a number of other circumstances that people may find themselves in.

Continue reading "Last Will and Testament - How to Provide for Adult and Minor Children"

Feb 28, 2024

Eviction Notice to Quit

sheriff court mailbox

Regardless of the transgression or breach, it is a legal requirement to inform the tenant of your intention to evict and spell out the tenant's options to either remedy or vacate the premises voluntarily.

In many instances the mere act of issuing an eviction notice may be enough to get the tenant to remedy the situation.

For more serious offences such as criminal activity or the tenant being a danger to others, the only option given may be to vacate the property.



Continue reading "Eviction Notice to Quit"

Feb 26, 2024

Proxy Form - When and How to Use It

agent with houses

A simple proxy is perhaps the most often used Power of Attorney.

A person can be appointed to attend meetings (or just one specific meeting) and can vote either as he/she sees fit, or according to the instructions of the person issuing the proxy.

As landlords we've often given a tenant in good standing a proxy, because such a person has first-hand knowledge of that particular housing estate.



Continue reading "Proxy Form - When and How to Use It"

Feb 23, 2024

Power of Attorney for Managing Your Real Estate

hand holding miniature house

This free power of attorney form is geared towards appointing an Agent to manage your real estate on an ongoing basis.

It does NOT empower your Agent to buy or sell properties and it does not give the broad powers as in a general power of attorney.

However, it dovetails perfectly with our Property Management Contract:

  • The management contract spells out the payment terms, obligations, warranties etc. which are not normally catered for in a Power of Attorney
  • You can revoke the power of attorney at any time and without having to give a reason.

Continue reading "Power of Attorney for Managing Your Real Estate"

Feb 21, 2024

Property Management Contract

A property management contract needs to detail the specific duties and obligations of both Landlord and Manager, how much the fees will be and when and how payments will be done.

signing contract and house

There must also be clarity on how repairs and maintenance will be paid for and whether the Landlord wishes to put a limit on expenses.

A very important clause to consider is the limitation of liability and the Landlord’s obligation to have adequate insurance in place.

Work through our legal guidelines and edit our free property management contract to suit your requirements.

Continue reading "Property Management Contract"

Feb 20, 2024

What Can Make a Will Invalid?

authorised signature on document

There are some obvious requirements to render a will legal, such as having the correct signatures in place, having made it without undue influence and for the testator being of sound mind.

But there may be provisions in the will that could render the will invalid, such as:

  • The will is made subject to a condition which cannot be fulfilled i.e. impossible to execute;
  • The testator's marital status changed but the will was not changed to reflect this;
  • A child was born or adopted after the will was made but no new will was made to mention the child,
    etc.

We take a look at the above instances and also provide information on when a person can be disqualified from inheriting.

Continue reading "What Can Make a Will Invalid?"

Feb 16, 2024

Commission Agreement for Sourcing Tenants

faces with tick marks

Our finder's fee / commission agreement is tailored for those instances where the Agent will only source a suitable tenant, without contracting to the whole range of property management services.

There are a few key points to clarify:

  • Who has the final say whether a rental candidate is acceptable - landlord or agent?
  • Should an agent be given sole mandate to market the property?
  • Will there be another fee due should the tenant renew the lease?
  • Who pays the agent's fee - landlord or tenant?
    and many more...

There are definite advantages to using a rental broker or agent. It's all covered in our article.

Continue reading "Commission Agreement for Sourcing Tenants"

Feb 15, 2024

Work Made for Hire Contract

crayons on creative works agreement

In many countries it is a requirement to have an agreement in place that specifically designates commissioned work as work made for hire if the person/company who commissioned the work wants to claim the copyright in such work.

Even in an employment situation employers should not assume that they automatically own copyright in their employees' creative work.

In some jurisdictions the law is quite clear in defining work made for hire but elsewhere it may be open to interpretation.

The best approach is to have a written agreement in place regardless whether it appears obvious as to who owns the copyright!

Review our free template and the additional guidelines to assist you with your work for hire contract.

Continue reading "Work Made for Hire Contract"





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