The short answer: A lien is a financial claim on a property that secures a debt, such as a mortgage, unpaid taxes, or an unpaid contractor. An encumbrance is any legal limit on a property, including liens, easements, and restrictive covenants. In Ontario, sellers typically pay off liens from the ...

The short answer: Yes, you can sign your real estate documents remotely in Ontario with an online connection that includes video and a compatible program. At McMurter & Associates in Whitby, clients choose remote or in-person appointments, but a local lawyer adds Durham Region expertise and a...

The short answer: Digital assets are anything you own or use online, including online banking, social media, email, cloud storage, subscriptions, loyalty points, and cryptocurrency. To protect them in Ontario, make an inventory, name a digital executor in your will, document your wishes for each ...

In Ontario, you generally cannot avoid capital gains tax and land transfer tax when gifting real estate to your child during your lifetime — with one key exception: if the property is your principal residence and it's mortgage-free, both taxes can be waived. Investment properties and cottages do...

The short answer: Parents in Ontario can help a child buy a home by gifting a down payment, co-signing or guaranteeing the mortgage, or going on title with them as joint tenants or tenants-in-common. Each option carries different legal, tax, and borrowing risks, so parents should understand how i...