2012, March

Artists often ignore the legalities involved in exhibiting or publishing their original works, to their detriment. It is essential to protect your rights to the work you have created, and to ensure that you are paid a fair price for your labours. If you wish to retain your ownership interest and copyright in the work, you need to establish those rights and then protect and preserve them.

You remember the old adage - the only things in life that are certain are death and taxes. I assume you pay your taxes every year. But have you addressed the other part of that equation? Or are you one of those people who are putting it off because you don't want to face the certainty of your own mortality? Almost three-quarters of North American adults have not made a Will. That's a frightening statistic, when you consider the consequences of dying intestate (without a Will), and the costs that your loved ones will incur to administer your estate.

There are a few very important legal documents that everyone should prepare to ensure that their wishes are followed and that their loved ones are taken care of. One of these is a Power of Attorney. A Power of Attorney makes sure that your wishes are followed in the here and now, while you’re still alive, but can’t, for some reason, execute them yourself.