Committed to Quality Service and Optimal Results
Chancery Chambers was founded by Neil W. Nichols, a successful tax lawyer specializing in trusts, estate planning, business transactions and other tax-related legal matters. Throughout the life of the firm, Neil has been committed to achieving the best results and providing approachable, practical and cost-effective service to all clients.
What Is Chancery?
The Courts of Chancery originated in England in the fifteenth century and applied the law of equity to transactions, trusts and estates. The Chancellor was the keeper of the King's seal, called The Great Seal, which was needed to start a lawsuit in the Court of Common Pleas (common law court), a strict formal court which sometimes yielded unfair and unreasonable judgments. The victim of an unfair judgment could petition the King through the Chancery for a "fair and equitable" judgment, overruling the unfair common law judgment.
Chancery's greatest contribution was the development of the trust, which separated legal title from beneficial title to property. This required the property holder (trustee) to hold the property for the use and benefit of the true owner.
The cornerstone of the law of equity is the trust, the principles of which were refined and enforced in the Courts of Chancery, and are today enforced in all courts of British Columbia, Alberta and elsewhere in Canada. The law of confidence also stemmed from the law of equity and, today, it enforces confidentiality in business affairs.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer collected the King's taxes. Today we call it CRA.
At Chancery Chambers, we strive to uphold the law of equity and apply it to our clients' benefit in every case. Contact our Vancouver lawyers online or call the firm locally at 604-800-5349 or toll free at 866-974-3708 to schedule a consultation today. We serve clients throughout the Lower Mainland of British Columbia, including White Rock South Surrey, Vancouver, Langley and Abbotsford; and Edmonton and Calgary, Alberta.
