The law is pretty clear – which is why your Will should be, too Lawyers are often criticized for nagging clients (and potential clients, and family members, and friends) about the importance of making a Will, but it’s really just that we know, better than most, the unfortunate consequences of dying intestate. And when you’re […]
by Emily Murray, Litigation Associate “The ownership of a dog is a more complex and nuanced question than the ownership of, say, a bicycle.” [1] According to Canadian courts, when a couple separates, whoever paid for the pet is the owner, unless the pet was bought as a gift.[2] If the cost of buying
Glitter lacks substance and makes a kindergartener’s art a masterpiece without increasing its value. I am a lawyer licensed to practise law in Ontario. I am also a commissioner of oaths. I am also a notary public. What does all that mean, and what does that have to do with glitter? As a lawyer (a
SullivanLaw estate clients know how we feel about safe deposit box and Wills. We recommend that clients review their succession plan every five years or so or when they acquire new responsibilities or their estate otherwise changes significantly. To do that, they should pull out their COPY of the Will and make what notes they
April 9, 2025 at 11 am and 6 pm. SullivanLaw is pleased to present a Zoom call to inform you about the issues which arise on separation and some of the processes to use to resolve the issues. Wednesday, April 9 at 11 am and again at 6 pm, join me via Zoom. No
“My common-law partner just cheated on me, so we’re breaking up. Will he still get half the house, even though I’m the one who put up the down payment and paid most of the mortgage?” It depends. If the house was jointly owned – so both names are on the deed – the likelihood is
Preparing estate documents is one thing. Accessing them is another. Last Monday morning I got a call from an old friend in Vancouver. “My mother’s in the hospital and they don’t expect her to regain consciousness,” he said. “I need to find her Will and the Power of Attorney paperwork she did with her lawyer
by Timothy Sullivan What is joint tenancy? Generally speaking, property can be owned either personally or jointly. Joint tenancy is when people own a property together and the right to an individual’s share of the property passes, in equal shares, to the surviving owners. (Tenants in common, on the other hand, see their share of
In the past 10 years, the number of common-law couples in Canada has grown at something like 4 times the rate of married couples. So it’s not surprising to lawyers, but it is surprising to ’normal’ people, that common-law relationships are not the same as marriage. When it comes to working with a lawyer to
So you have a problem you think you need to talk to a lawyer about. How do you hire a lawyer? Every lawyer or firm may have different procedures. Generally, however, when you identify someone you want to hire, a lawyer will need the following: Names of anyone involved to avoid a conflict of
