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As an attorney appointed under a Power of Attorney (POA) document, you have been appointed to manage an individual’s legal and financial affairs. This is an extremely important responsibility, which requires the utmost care. The attorney has a fiduciary duty to the donor (the individual who named you) and an... Read More

Canada has extensive regulations regarding the use and ownership of firearms. In situations where an owner of firearms passes away this can create tricky issues for the estate to navigate. Role of the Estate’s Personal Representative When an executor or administrator deals with an estate that has a firearm, they... Read More

After a person has passed away, who has the right and responsibility to arrange for the funeral and the disposition of the deceased person’s body?  This question may arise when a person considers making advance funeral instructions.  This question may also come up where the family or friends of a... Read More

Most people know that making a Will is important, but oddly enough, only about half of all Canadians (55%) have a Will and even less (40%) have a Power of Attorney.[1] While Estate Planning rarely makes it to the top of one’s priority list, having a proper estate plan in... Read More

If you have hired a real estate agent to help you with the sale of your home, you will be required as a term of your agreement with the agent, to pay real estate commission for their services. The real estate commission is usually payable as a percentage of the... Read More

The First Time Home Buyers’ Tax Credit (HBTC) was implemented in the 2009 Federal budget. As of 2022, HBTC allows for first time home buyers to save up to $1,500 in federal tax relief. That amount comes from a non-refundable tax credit based on an amount of $10,000. The credit... Read More

In addition to the First Time Home Buyers’ Tax Credit, first time home buyers are also eligible for the Home Buyers’ Plan (“HBP”). This is a program that allows you to withdraw up to $60,000 from your registered retirement savings plan (RRSP) to buy or build a qualifying home for... Read More

Cottages are similar to family farms. Their succession plans should be similar too. Cottage succession planners should take a lesson from farm experts. Cottages, like farms, make succession planning challenging. Succession planning for the family cottage has many similarities to transferring the family farm. The primary goals of most cottage... Read More

Fees Lawyers fees with respect to the sale of a typical home are usually less than half a percent of the sale price, and sometimes less than a quarter of a percent of the sale price. At Smith Neufeld Jodoin LLP, our lawyers typically adhere to general policies regarding fees... Read More

It will be a requirement of most Offers to Purchase that the seller transfers to the buyer title to the land, clear of all registered encumbrances, mortgages, liens, etc., with a few exceptions. As a result, your lawyer will conduct a search of the title upon opening their file to... Read More