Areas of Law
Amendments to Rules of Civil Procedure (O. Reg. 2/26 and O. Reg. 3/26)
From the Court Services Division of the Ministry of the Attorney General On January 6, 2026, two new regulations were filed to amend the Rules of Civil Procedure, R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 194. First, Ontario Regulation 2/26 introduces restrictions on parties’ choice of court location and increases judicial authority to transfer proceedings to a new location…. Read More »
Categories: Civil LitigationBank wires: How to find the PCRN and ensure you have irrevocable funds
Although our Canadian banking system is robust it lacks transparency. Payments Canada sets the rules for payments in Canada that all financial institutions must follow. Payments Canada manages two payments systems – ACSS and Lynx. 99% of all amounts you see in your account are via ACSS and revocable, meaning the bank can reverse the… Read More »
Categories: Real EstateCity of Toronto Vacancy Tax and Forced Sales Information Gap
The Vacant Home Tax (VHT) (Bylaw 97-2022) requires homeowners in Toronto to let the City know if their property is occupied or vacant by making a declaration every year. Did you know that if the purchase happens between January 1 and May each year, there is no notice of vacant home tax that may be… Read More »
Categories: Real EstateFree Advocates’ Society & OBA Program on Nov. 24 – Overhauling Ontario’s Civil Rules: What’s Next?
On November 24, the Ontario Bar Association (OBA) and The Advocates’ Society (TAS) are partnering to bring you a free program to update the litigation bar on what’s coming next in the overhaul of Ontario’s Rules of Civil Procedure. Join Civil Rules Review Working Group Co-Chairs, The Hon. Justice Cary Boswell and Allison Speigel to… Read More »
Categories: Civil LitigationOntario Small Claims Court limits increased to $50,000
As of October 1, 2025, the Small Claims Court claim limit increased to $50,000, up from $35,000 set in 2020 ($25,000 previously). The change is intended to provide the public with quicker and more affordable Court based dispute resolution for claims up to the new $50,000 limit. The government has also indicated that claims commenced… Read More »
Categories: Civil LitigationNotice to the Profession for the Toronto Region: Courts Digital Transformation Initiative Implementation: October 14, 2025
[Updated October 10, 2025] Following the Notice to Profession distributed last week regarding the upcoming implementation of the Courts Digital Transformation (“CDT”) in Toronto for all Family and Civil proceedings (including Bankruptcy, Commercial List and Contested Estates), Small Claims Court proceedings and Divisional Court proceedings and Enforcement on October 14, 2025, please be advised that… Read More »
Categories: Civil Litigation, Family LawNotice to the Real Estate Bar re iPro Realty Ltd. transactions
What are lawyers to do when closing a transaction that involves iPro Realty Ltd? The regulator, Real Estate Council of Ontario (RECO), closed the brokerage, iPro Realty Ltd. (iPro), effective August 19, 2025. iPro had 17 offices and 2,400 agents. There was a regulator approved sale of iPro’s assets to a new brokerage, iCloud Realty… Read More »
Categories: Real EstateA real estate cautionary tale – Tribulations of tax check boxes
The client was buying a multi-million-dollar property, located geographically outside of the lawyer’s usual jurisdiction. Fully doable with province-wide Teraview access and today’s technology. The law office prepared the transfer and land transfer affidavit. The box indicating the transaction was subject to other taxes was checked. However, the lawyer practices in a jurisdiction where there… Read More »
Categories: Real Estate