Glossary of Legal Terms

The residue of an estate is what remains after debts, taxes, expenses, and specific gifts have been dealt with. The will often says who receives the residue.

A resolution is a formal decision made by directors or shareholders. Corporate actions are often authorized through board resolutions or shareholder resolutions.

A respondent is the person responding to a court application or claim brought by someone else. In family law matters, the respondent answers the claims made by the applicant.

A restrictive covenant is a covenant that limits how land may be used, built on, or altered. It remains attached to the land and can bind later owners.

The right of survivorship is the feature of joint tenancy under which a deceased owner’s interest usually passes automatically to the surviving joint tenant or joint tenants.

In B.C. family law, separation begins when spouses decide not to live together as a couple anymore. There is no separate legal status called a ‘legal separation’ in order to be considered separated.

A separation agreement is a written contract that says how separated spouses or partners will deal with parenting, support, property, and debt. It helps make each person’s rights and duties clear and can reduce future conflict if both sides understand and follow it.

A share is a unit of ownership in a company. The rights attached to a share depend on the company’s articles and the class of share issued.

A shareholder is a person or company that owns shares in a company. Depending on the type of shares they hold, a shareholder may have rights to vote, receive dividends, and share in the value of the company.

A special resolution is a type of corporate resolution requiring a higher level of approval than an ordinary resolution. It is used for more significant corporate decisions.

Spousal support is money one spouse may have to pay the other after separation under an agreement or court order. The amount and duration depend on the facts of the relationship and the law.

A spouse is a person who is married to another person, and in some family law contexts can also include an unmarried partner who meets the legal test for a marriage-like relationship. The exact meaning can depend on the issue involved.

A statutory right of way is a registered right allowing someone to use land for a specific purpose, often for utilities, access, or infrastructure. It does not usually give possession of the land itself.

A strata corporation is the legal body created when a strata plan is deposited. It manages the common property and common assets of the strata development.

A strata lot is an individual unit or parcel within a strata development. An owner of a strata lot also typically shares an interest in the common property.

A subject clause is a condition in a real estate contract that must be satisfied or waived before the deal becomes firm. Common examples relate to financing, inspection, or review of documents.

A support order is a court order requiring one person to pay child support, spousal support, or both. It sets the legal obligation to make the payments.

The Supreme Court of British Columbia can deal with divorce, property division, support, parenting issues, and other family law matters. Some issues, such as divorce, must go through Supreme Court.

A form of co-ownership where each person holds their share separately, and upon death their share transfers to their Estate.

A testator is a person who has made a will. In modern plain language, people often just say will-maker.