Over the past several years the Society of Notaries Public of BC has been working with the Province of BC and the Attorney General’s Office to revise the Notaries Act . The primary goal of proposed legislative changes is to modernize the Notaries Act, and to assist less fortunate individuals to gain access to legal services and make legal services more affordable .  Newly proposed rights and powers in the BC Notaries New Act are to include:

1.  Estate Administration - ability to obtain grant of probate for simple estates;

2. Incorporation and Maintenance of Companies- ability to incorporate simple companies, and to maintain companies in good standing by preparation and filing of Companies Annual Reports, Standard Resolutions, and to act as the Company’s Records and Registry Office;

3.  Family Law-  ability to draft pre-nuptial agreements, co-habitation agreements, separation agreements, prepare and file divorce orders;

To assist the Society of Notaries Public of BC, the BC public is encouraged to contact the BC government and/or  your MLA to support these important changes to the BC Notaries Act , in hopes that the BC Legislature will enact these changes in a timely manner.