Let us help with your notarial matters and ensure that your legal interests are protected. The preparation and execution of documents are handled with care and privacy. You are in good hands.
Services
Trusted Notarial Services
Last Wills / Estate Planning
Every adult should have their estate planning in order, even those who do not own assets or have minor children. Your Last Will will layout your wishes including the appointment of executors to manage your estate, the designation of guardians of minor children, and the distribution of your property.
Incapacity Planning
Planning for the unthinkable can be daunting. At Notary Castro we will be glad to guide you through the process and help you prepare your Power of Attorney, Representation Agreement, and Advance Directive. Let's get your legal affairs in order and give you the peace of mind you deserve.
Real Estate & Mortgages
We will take great care of your legal interests whether you are buying or selling your real estate property in British Columbia. Let us be part of this important moment in your life and walk you through the conveyancing process. We can also assist with mortgage refinancing, title transfers, and transmissions.
Estate Planning
At Notary Castro, your downtown Vancouver Notary Public, we take great care in preparing your estate planning documents. If you pass away in British Columbia without a valid Will, you will not have a designated estate representative (an executor) to manage your personal and financial affairs. Nor will you have designated guardians to care for your minor children. Dying without a valid will (or dying intestate) entails a more complicated, costly, and long probate process. In addition, your property will be distributed according to the local laws which might conflict with your wishes.
Even if you don’t have children or own valuable assets in BC, having a Will is still essential. Your designated Executor will have the authority to manage your personal and financial affairs such as arranging your funeral service, preparing your tax returns, dealing with government agencies, applying for death benefits, and closing bank accounts.
Notarizing Documents
If you need an affidavit or declaration to be notarized, you will swear under oath or affirm to the veracity of their content. Once we have taken your oath or affirmation and you signed the document in our presence, we will then certify that you understood the content of the document and swear it to be true, provided adequate photo identification, that you were in our office at the time of signature and that you executed the document in our presence. Always bring 2 pieces of valid government-issued identification to your appointment.
- Affidavits
- Apostille Services
- Statutory Declarations
- Attestation of Signatures
- Insurance Loss Declarations
- Letters of Invitation for Travel
- Certified True Copy of Documents
- Travel Authorization of Minor Children
- Authentication of International Documents
Incapacity planning: preparing for the unexpected
Powers of Attorney
Power of Attorney (POA) is used to appoint a trusted individual (your attorney) to act on your behalf. This instrument becomes an essential tool in situations when an adult loses mental capacity or physical capability due to an unforeseen circumstance such as disability, illness, or injury. In an Enduring POA, you give your attorney(s) the authority to continue to act on your behalf even if you lose mental capacity. POAs are used to manage financial and legal affairs only, not personal or healthcare matters.
Representation Agreements
Representation Agreement is a legal document to be used when planning for health and personal care matters while you are still alive (your Last Will will guide your executor after you pass away). You can designate your preferred representative(s) to act on your behalf if you need assistance, are not capable or do not have the mental capacity to make decisions involving your health and personal care. Having a Representation Agreement in place will give you peace of mind and facilitate quality of life until the end of life.
Advance Directives (Healthcare)
Adults (19 years or older) in BC have the freedom and authority to consent or refuse certain healthcare matters (e.g. blood transfusion). An Advance Directive is a written instrument in which an adult gives or refuses consent to specific types of medical treatments or procedures. In order to be valid and be carried out by healthcare providers, the Advance Directive must be clear and be executed while the adult still has the mental capacity to understand the nature and effect of this important document.