With tax time coming up shortly here in Canada, I thought I would revisit a topic: when do you have to pay HST on a house? The short answer: always, unless there is an exemption. One major exemption is for resale homes; as long as it has been used for residential...
Latest News
cesia@wall-arm.ca
More on passing digital assets
I just returned yesterday from ABA Techshow, which is a big conference every year in Chicago on legal technology and practice management. In light of the tech focus of that week, I thought I would post something tech-related today: New Hampshire has proposed a bill...
All the things you left behind
I have had many occasions where purchaser clients arrived at their new home to find it full of items that the vendor left behind. As a seller, you can only leave items if you have specifically agreed to do so in your agreement of purchase and sale. This includes...
Personalty
Moira Visoiu at the Hull & Hull Estate Law Blog posted a really interesting article a while back on dealing with personal property when you are the executor of an estate. She went through a great amount of detail on what you have to do as an executor to protect...
Put it in writing
It might go without saying, but it is important to have all of the details of your real estate contract written down at the time of agreement. I have seen many people who had a verbal agreement that the sellers would leave a particular item, but it wasn't in the...
Legal vs. common law
I get a lot of questions about what rights common law spouses have, including from other bloggers. I was recently approached by Peaceful Transition to do another post for them, this time on what a common law spouse can expect on the death of their partner. You can...
Bridging
Last week, I blogged about timing. This week, I wanted to touch on something related: bridge financing. From a legal standpoint, bridging makes your move go much more smoothly. If you have bridge financing in place, I can close your purchase before your sale is...
Digital asset laws
I have written before about the difficulties with passing on and preserving (or taking down) digital assets. Gerry Beyer at the Wills, Trusts and Estates Prof Blog recently posted an article about a bill that passed in Virginia regarding digital assets. It has passed...
What time do I have to be out of the house?
This is one of the most common questions I get asked. The answer: it depends. As soon as the deal is closed, technically, you don’t own the house any more, and the new owner can make you leave. Practically, I advise my buyer clients to be patient and let the move...
Can you be taxidermied?
Hugo Chavez, long-term president of Venezuela, died last week after a long battle with cancer. A few days ago, CBC News reported that his body will be embalmed and preserved to be permanently on display at the Museum of the Revolution in Caracas. Which leads to the...