Copyright: Visual Help Copyright® 1993 Firas Bushnaq


COMLAW HELP
HELP

Copyright (c) 1994 All Rights Reserved

INTRODUCTION

This CommonLaw Help will show you how to use the sofware and its features to generate the agreements. Select anyone of the topics listed below for a detailed explanation.

Types of Agreements

Types of Agreements

Using the Program

Starting a New Document

Generating a Document

Printing the Document

Exporting the Document

Saving the Document

Loading a Document

How to Use

Button Bar

Legal Issues

Legal issues

Product Support

Product Support


Types of Agreements

CommonLaw allows you to write up 8 commonly used legal agreements. Each of these is explained below in detail.

Bill of Sales

A document used to memorialize the transfer of personal property to a purchaser. Its primarily use is when an item or items of personal property are bought and you wish a signed statement from the seller that hey have been sold and now belong to the buyer.

Commercial Real Estate Lease

A document called, a lease is needed if you have real property to rent as a commercial unit (used for business purposes). You can generate a document for leasing industrial units, and small office and retail units. However, this agreement is not designed to handle large complexes such as shopping centres and large commerical office towers.

Residential Real Estate Lease

A document called, a lease is needed if you have real property to rent as a residence. A lease is an agreement, in writing, between a landlord (the owmer of the property) and the tenant (the individual(s) wanting to live in the property) whereby they agree to allow the tenant to occupy the property in return for the tenant's promise to pay a resonable amount (rent) to the landlord for the use of the property at a regular perset interval.

Sublease

A document that creates a lease between the tenant and the subtenants
.

Contractor Agreement

A document used to create an agreement with a contractor or other worker to do a specific job or jobs for a customer. If you plan to hire someone to make an addtion to your home, or have a patio or fence pu up... you are hiring a contractor an you can use this agreement.

Promissory Note

A document that provides written ability to agree to accept a loan on certain terms and to define the payback of that loan.

Personal Guarantee

A document to be used whenever here is to be a guarantee of payment on an obligation. the purpose of such a document is to have someone besides the borrower be legally responsible for the debt.

Lottery Pooling Agreement

A document to be used when playing any one of the many Canadian Lotteries in a pool. THis agreement will ensure that no one is left out when the big jackpot is won.

Starting a New Document

Button Bar


NEW DOCUMENT
Starting a New Document

To start a new document, select the "NEW" option from the pull down menu under the heading "FILE" or press the "NEW" button in the Button Bar. Once you do this, you can select from one of the 8 types of documents that can be generated. As soon as you select one of the documents, it will automatically appear in the Main Screen area.

Filling our the Document

All documents are in a question and answer format. Just answer the questions that are asked in the top area of the form and press the "Next Question Button" when you are finished.

Special Instructions

•	In most cases, you do not have to type in the currency symbol

•	Remember to read each question correctly

•	Remember you can alway return to the question to change your answer at anytime. Even after you generate the agreement, you can always change your answer and regenerate it.

Types of Agreements

Generating a Document


Generating a Document

Once you finish entering in all of the answers to the questions for any document. All that it takes to generate the document is to select "Create Document" or press the Generate Document button on the Button Bar. As soon as you do this, instantly the document will be generated. And a Print Preview Window will appear. This window will allow you to scroll up and down the document so that you can read it over.

Document not correct or does not look proper

Since the generated document takes the information that you entered and inserts it in the proper areas, sometimes the answers do not fit correctly. If this is the situation in your case, you can easily close the viewing window and re-enter a more suitable answer at the appropriate question. Then you can regenerate the document again and recheck it.

Printing the Document

Exporting the Document

Saving the Document


Printing a Document

Once you are satisfied with the document you have generated, you can print it out. In order to do this, you can select the "PRINT" option from the pull down menu under the heading "FILE" or you can press the Print button in the Button Bar.

Printing

When the Print option is selected, a Print Window will appear, allowing you to select the Printer and the destination of the print job.

Printing Options and Errors

All Printer selections and other options are controlled through the Windows Print Manager and relevant options. In case of printing problems, please consult you Windows manual.

Exporting the Document

Saving the Document


Exporting the Document

Once a document is generated, you have various options, you can print it out, you can save it or you can export it so that it can be imported into your favourite wordprocessor.

The Exporting option can be easily achieved by pressing the Export button on the Button Bar. As soon as you select this button, a window will pop-up allowing you to name the file and select the destination to where it will be saved.

Types of Wordprocessors supported.

The export file is saved in an ASCII format (DOS TEXT). This format is supported by just about every type of wordprocessor and text editor available. In most cases, when you open up the file from your wordprocessor, it will automatically recognize the format and convert it for you. In some situations, you may have to tell it that the file you would like to import is a DOS TEXT type. Consult your Wordprocessor user manual for more details.

Saving the Document


Saving a Document

Once you have finished creating the document and you have printed it out, or exported it, you can save the document. However, saving the document does not mean that the actual document is saved in the format that you viewed it. Only the data that you inputed (the Answers to the quesitons) is saved.

Saving the Data is the same as saving any other file, the Save button in the Button Bar acts as the "SAVE" command, if you have previously opened the file, or have saved it before. However, if you have created a NEW document and are saving it for the first time, the button acts as the "SAVE AS" command, which then gives you the option of naming the file and its destination.

Loading a Document


Loading a Document

If you have previously saved the data to any document, you can open the saved file and reload the data (answers to the questions). This can be achieved by either selecting the "OPEN" option from the pull down menu under the heading "FILE" or by pressing the Open File button on the Button Bar.

Opening a File

Opening a file is the same as selecting the appropriate file name and pressing the "OK" button.

Saving the Document


Button Bar

At the top of the Main Screen you will find a row of buttons called the "Button Bar". These buttons allow you to execute the same functions that are normally found in the pull down menus. Each of the buttons and its functions are explained in detail below.

Starts a New document

Selecting this button allows you to select the Legal Agreement tha tyo would like ot draw up.

Opens an existing document

Selecting this button will allow you to Open a File to retrieve a previously saved agreement data.

Saves the current document to disk

Selecting this button will allow you to Save the current inputed data to a file. If the generated file is NEW, you will be allowed to name the file, before it is saved. If the file was previously saved, this button will resave it under the same name.
In order to change the name, you must select "Save As" found in the Pull Down Menu under the heading "FILE".

Exports the current document as an ASCII file

Selecting this button will allow yo uto sve your generated document as a text file, so that it can be imported into any wordprocessor for font changes, or editing.

Prints the current document

Selecting this button will alow you to print the current generated agreement.
To change the default printer type, select the "SETUP" button.
To print the Document as a file, with all of the printer codes select the "PRINT TO FILE" option. An "X" in the box will indicate this feature enabled.

Generates a document for viewing

Selecting this button will generate the document, after you have entered in all of the answers to the questions. Upon generating the document, you will be able to view it, to see if the information you have stated is correct and fits appropriatedly within the agreement.

Access Help

Selecting this button gives you access to the CommonLaw Help Window.

Types of Agreements


Legal Issues

The documents created by this software are legal and binding in Canada. However, the documents created are for common purposes and may not be suited for  unique individual cases. If you believe that your case is complicated or requires additional legal expertise, we recommend that you consult your lawyer.

LEASING

A few of the forms deal with leasing, specifically, these documents include Commercial, Residential and Sublease Leasing Agreements. It must be made clear that Commercial Leasing rules are DIFFERENT from Residential Leasing Rules. Since 1969, most provinces have enacted legislation that reflects the changing attitude in Canada towards housing. For this reason, some specific information pertaining to leasing has been included in the manual. For more information, please refer to Appendix A - Leasing Canadian Laws in your manual.

If the manual does not clarify any legal question that you may have, please see your lawyer. Calling Business Logic's Technical Support will not help. Business Logic's Technical Support people are not lawyers and cannot give you any legal advice.


Product Support

Technical Questions?

If you have any technical questions, regarding installation or instructions for using this software, you can call Business Logic's Technical Support.

Legal Questions?

If you have any legal questions regarding the legality of the documents or you need to verify a legal situation unique to your case, you are adviced to consult your lawyer. Business Logic's Technical support people are not lawyers and cannot and will not give you any legal advice.


"NEW" button

The First button found in the Button Bar at the top of the Screen.


Export button

The fourth button from the left or right on the button bar.


Generate Document button

The second button from the right on the button bar.


Next Question Button

The Button usually found at the bottom of the screen once an document is selected or open. This button allows you to go to the next question to be answered.


Open File button

The second button from the left on the button bar.


Print button

The Print button is the third button from  the right on the button bar.


Save button

The third button from the left on the button bar.