Here’s a neat story out of my hometown: Harmony Village, which will be going up in downtown Barrie (hopefully) next year. Harmony Village will be a mix of condo towers, townhomes, and commercial space, right on the water of Kempenfelt Bay. Check out their website for...
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cesia@wall-arm.ca
Things no one tells you about death
I came across this post the other day (warning: some NSFW text) and immediately connected with so much of it. While I might not have used the exact same language, he makes a lot of really good points. There is so much that we are not prepared for when someone dies;...
Buying a rental
I have written before about assuming a hot water heater rental contract with your new house. Today’s question: do you want to? Before you automatically agree to assume the contract, you might want to take a look at the wording of it. Sometimes it makes more sense to...
You’re going to die. Be prepared.
I regularly read the blog Lifehacker, which is basically a collection of tips for making life easier. A few weeks ago, I came across this article on what you need to do now to prepare for death. As the author observes, none of us likes to think about death. It will...
Cutting ties
What happens when you own a property jointly with someone, and don’t want to share any more? Your kindergarten teacher probably wouldn’t be happy, but technically, you can sever a joint tenancy without any notice to the other person. Basically, you do a transfer from...
Where do you keep your estate plan?
Having a properly drafted will and powers of attorney is important. Making sure that your executor and/or beneficiaries know where they are? Almost equally important. Probably at least every other week, every lawyer who is a member of the Simcoe County Law Association...
HST rebates
Here’s another tax-related post for near tax time: HST rebates on a new home. If you are buying a brand-new home, you are entitled to a rebate, but only in specific circumstances: You must intend to live in it as your primary home. It can’t be a cottage or other...
Different kinds of families
In Ontario, you only have the right to inherit from a parent if you are the biological child or have been legally adopted. Historically, stepchildren have been excluded unless they have been formally adopted. I don’t expect this to change any time soon here, but there...
If a tree falls….
Earth Day is right around the corner, so here is a question along environmental lines: If a tree falls in your yard, who has to pay for its removal? A tree belongs to the property owner whose land the trunk is on. If it straddles two properties, it belongs to both...
Tax tips for executors
If you are the executor of an estate, you have very clear and strict rules for filing taxes for the deceased. First, you have to file their final return. This includes all income received up until the date of their death. If the date of death is before October 31, the...