Legal knowledge, free to everyone.

Everything Ontario buyers need to know — from offer to keys.

• Get pre-approved before you offer, and understand the difference between pre-approval and a firm commitment.
• Financing and inspection conditions exist to protect you — waive them with advice, not optimism.
• Your lawyer searches title, reviews the status certificate (condos), answers requisitions and registers your deed and mortgage.
• Budget for closing costs: land transfer tax, title insurance, legal fees, adjustments and moving costs — typically 1.5% to 4% of the price.
• Closing day: funds flow through your lawyer's trust account, title transfers, and keys are released.

A smooth sale is a prepared sale — how sellers protect their proceeds.

• Locate your existing mortgage details early — payout penalties can be significant and should inform your pricing.
• Disclose known latent defects; misrepresentation claims outlive closings.
• Your lawyer answers requisitions, prepares the transfer, discharges your mortgage and delivers your proceeds.
• Adjustments credit or debit you for property taxes, condo fees and utilities prepaid beyond closing.
• Non-residents of Canada face withholding under the Income Tax Act — get advice well before closing.

For lenders and borrowers in Ontario's private lending market.

• A commitment letter should document every fee, condition and default term — it is the loan's constitution.
• Lenders: search title, executions and PPSA; insure the loan; verify insurance and property taxes at funding.
• Borrowers must receive independent legal advice for the loan to be safely enforceable.
• Default remedies in Ontario centre on power of sale — notice after 15 days of default, 35-day redemption, then sale.
• Renewals must be documented in writing and registered where needed to preserve priority.

Understanding the lifecycle of a lawsuit in Ontario.

• Limitation period: generally two years from discovery of the claim — do not wait.
• A Superior Court action proceeds: pleadings → discovery → mediation → pre-trial → trial.
• Served with a claim? You generally have 20 days to defend before default proceedings can begin.
• Ontario's costs regime means losers usually pay a substantial share of winners' legal fees.
• Preserve every relevant document, email and text the moment a dispute arises.

Your rights and the process, from arrest to resolution.

• You have the right to silence and the right to counsel — exercise both immediately upon arrest.
• Bail must be addressed within 24 hours of arrest; preparation of sureties matters enormously.
• The Crown must disclose its evidence; your lawyer reviews it for weaknesses and Charter breaches.
• Many first-time charges can resolve without a criminal record through diversion, peace bonds or discharges.
• Never breach release conditions — apply to vary them instead.

Separation, parenting, support and property — the essentials.

• Ontario married spouses equalize the growth in their net worth during marriage; common-law partners do not.
• Child support follows the Federal Guidelines tables plus proportionate special expenses.
• Spousal support depends on entitlement first, then the Advisory Guidelines inform amount and duration.
• Separation agreements require full financial disclosure and independent legal advice to hold up.
• Parenting decisions are governed by one test only: the best interests of the child.

Wills, powers of attorney and protecting what you've built.

• Without a will, Ontario's intestacy rules decide who inherits — and common-law partners receive nothing automatically.
• Every adult needs two powers of attorney: property, and personal care.
• Estate administration tax is roughly 1.5% of probated estate value over $50,000; planning can reduce it.
• Business owners should consider dual wills to shelter private company shares from probate tax.
• Review your plan every 3–5 years and after marriage, separation, births or major asset changes.