In our aging society, we have discovered a new low: people who marry elderly people in order to get at their inheritances. They prey on those who have assets and are widowed, as they are the most vulnerable, being used to being married. Because of Ontario’s...
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cesia@wall-arm.ca
Mistakes sellers make
There is a lot that goes into selling a house, even in a very hot market like many cities are in right now. Here are some big errors that people get caught in: Not using a professional. Realtor, stager, handy person: doing it yourself will almost always cause problems...
Choosing the right guardian
I have many clients with small children, and almost universally, the reason they say for why they took so long getting their wills done is that they simply couldn’t decide on a guardian. If you have children under 18 when you die, ultimately, it is up to the courts as...
Buying with friends
Here’s a new trend: in hot real estate markets, such as Toronto and Vancouver, people are buying houses together with friends and family in order to afford a proper house. Each person puts in a defined portion of the down payment and closing costs, and they each get...
Carter and the right to die in Canada
Last year, the Supreme Court of Canada released a landmark decision in allowing physician-assisted suicide in Canada. The Court gave the federal government until April of this year to pass legislation allowing this; the government got an extension to June as it wasn’t...
Regulation of home inspectors
In Ontario, home inspectors have no formal regulation. They are often people who used to work in the construction industry – plumbers, electricians, or even building inspectors – but while there is an association of home inspectors, they have not been not formally...
Prince, and the lack of a will
By now, everyone knows that pop and rock superstar Prince died on April 21. He died suddenly, and it has now been confirmed that he died without a will. Prince had been married, but was single at the time of his death. His only child died at one week old, and his...
Should you skip a home inspection in a competitive market?
The short answer: no. The long answer: In Ontario, if you had the option of a home inspection and chose not to have one, the seller is not responsible for anything a home inspector could have found. Simply because a home is popular doesn’t mean that it is in good...
The importance of multiple death certificates
When you are acting as executor, you will need many copies of the deceased person’s death certificate. The lawyer, bank, and government agencies will all want to see one, but keep in mind that you may also need one for online services such as email or social...
Six easy mistakes to make when buying a house
When you are house hunting, especially for the first time, it can be very easy to get caught up in the search and overlook some important things. Here are some that warrant some thought: Don’t fall in love with the house. Think rationally: is it an older house that...