Legal services
Civil Litigation Lawyer Serving Burnaby
Litigation does not necessarily begin in a courtroom. It usually begins with a disagreement and a collection of documents.
The contract matters. So do the emails exchanged afterward. Invoices, payment records, photographs and a reliable timeline can turn a broad complaint into issues that can be assessed.
Preserve the record before positions harden
Save signed agreements, versions, attachments, text messages, emails, invoices, bank records and photographs in original form. Record verbal events while memory is fresh and distinguish what was witnessed directly from what another person reported.
Contract claims often turn on the precise obligation, performance, notice and loss. A debt file may require proof of delivery and calculation of the amount. Property disagreements can require surveys, title records and dated images.
Settlement and procedure work together
A demand letter can clarify a claim and test whether resolution is possible. It should be based on evidence and a defensible calculation, not simply written in the strongest possible language.
Court and tribunal choices affect forms, costs, timelines and available remedies. A limitation period can continue to run while parties negotiate. Confirming the proper forum and deadline is therefore an early task.
Business disputes have operational consequences
A shareholder disagreement may affect access to accounts, staff or customers while the legal issues develop. Preserve corporate records, resolutions, agreements and financial statements. Avoid changing passwords or moving money without understanding the authority and consequences.
Prepare a one-page chronology and a damages table that shows how each number was calculated. Those two documents often reveal which facts are missing.
Questions people often ask
What should I gather before discussing a civil dispute?
Begin with the documents closest to the event and put them in date order. Include agreements, notices, correspondence, payment records and any deadline already provided. A shorter, organized record is usually more useful than an unexplained folder of files.
Does reading this page create a lawyer-client relationship?
No. This website provides general legal information. Advice depends on the facts, the applicable law and the documents in an individual matter.