Frequently Asked Questions …
Other than paying utilities and tax arrears, it can also address problems that are discovered after closing – for example, construction issues with the property that arise due to a previous owner not having the proper permits or compliance with building code when making improvements or doing renovations.
Title Insurance is not mandatory. It usually takes the place of searches that can be conducted by a lawyer respecting: zoning compliance, building permits outstanding, tax arrears, utilities arrears, which can add up to be more costly than the Title Insurance premium. Accordingly, a lawyer often recommends title insurance to take the place of these.
Title insurance is a policy that insures that a property owner is able to have what’s called “good title”. Meaning the owner is able to convey land to someone else, because they have the proper legal ownership required.
Although not necessary, a survey is useful for a lawyer to determine whether there are encroachments on the land being purchased, and to help confirm that the land being conveyed is what the purchaser thinks they are buying.
The lawyer can make sure that any surprises are disclosed – for example, hidden or additional costs. What happens on closing in the event the property is used as investment property rather than as a principal residence.
Joint tenants, where owners have survivorship rights when one or more other owners die. Tenants in common, where owners retain individual rights to the property, as interests are disposed of as part of their estate, and does not pass to other owners. Trustees, where title is held for the benefit of beneficiaries, etc.
Distribution of your estate will be governed by legislation: the Succession Law Reform Act:
- Spouse gets preferential share in the amount of the first $200,000 in value of the estate; then the residue is divided between the spouse and surviving children, as follows:
- If only one child, then the residue is divided 50-50
- If more than one child, then spouse is entitled to one third, and the remaining two-thirds is divided equally among the children
- If there is no spouse and no children, then in the order of priority to:
- the surviving parents;
- to siblings;
- nieces and nephews
- “next-of-kin” as defined in the Succession Law Reform Act
Appoint an executor – the executor will be the person carrying out your wishes; they may also appoint professional trustees (who can be lawyers or professional trust companies for more onerous work of administering an estate);
- Has authority to file final tax return on behalf of the deceased;
- Usually will have authority to pay funeral costs;
- Intention is to endow executor with broad powers and authorities, especially with smaller estates where there are relatively few assets (real estate, bank accounts)
Appoint someone to act as minor children’s guardian
- You have right to appoint a guardian of your child’s person (a caretaker), but that guardian does not automatically have right to be guardian of the child’s property; this must be done by application to the court; your wishes are taken into consideration
- The alternative is to appoint someone a trustee of the assets – to manage the assets and to pay out funds as required – usually only when you have more substantial assets and you have concerns about the guardian’s abilities to manage the assets
Prior to divvying up your assets, you can designate beneficiaries for your RRSPs, mutual funds, any kinds of annuities where you can designate a beneficiary, and insurance policies (this is also best done with advice from a financial adviser)
- This has the benefit of avoiding probate fees (“estate administration tax”) on the value of those assets, as they no longer flow into your estate; but rather flow to the beneficiaries directly.
If there are grown beneficiaries with spouses, you can ensure the estate only passes to the beneficiary and not their spouse, and if the spouses divorce or separate, you can exclude your gift from calculation of net family property.