Areas of Law
Does title insurance bring benefits to the primary professional liability program?
We all know that notwithstanding the rise of title insurance in Ontario, claims arising from real estate practice are still a large (and in many years, the largest) exposure for the primary professional liability program that LAWPRO provides for the Law Society’s lawyer-licensees (the “E&O program”). We have explored why in other articles and settings…. Read More »
Categories: LAWPRO Errors and Omissions Coverage, Real Estate, The TitlePLUS Program & Title InsuranceTechnology benefits for a real estate file
The most important change the real estate practice has seen in recent years is the advance of technology. However, I think it is underused by lawyers to their own and their clients’ detriment. Most technologies are already available on the lawyer’s desktop but like many telephone users, the full gambit of features is not being… Read More »
Categories: Real Estate, TechnologyCottage country: Purchasing rural residential properties
The very word “cottage” conjures up images of summer fun: boating, walks in the woods, sitting out on the dock with a cold drink or roasting marshmallows by the bonfire. These are the things on which you want your clients to focus when they come to you for assistance with the purchase of a cottage… Read More »
Categories: Real EstateManage client expectations to be safe on limited scope retainers
Helping clients reduce the costs of resolving family disputes has become a practical issue for many family lawyers. As a result, many family lawyers are offering to do work on a limited scope retainer or “unbundled” basis. This means doing part, but not all, of the work on a legal matter. This could include one… Read More »
Categories: Communication Errors, Family LawTitle insurance is not an autopilot licence
Title insurance is one tool that purchasers can employ to reduce some of the risks associated with a real estate purchase. This may not sound like “news” meriting coverage in a publication for lawyers. However, claims experience here at LAWPRO suggests that the function of title insurance is not fully understood by the bar –… Read More »
Categories: Real Estate, The TitlePLUS Program & Title InsuranceReal estate lawyers: Make a name for yourself with social media
On top of being unfamiliar with the best marketing techniques, many lawyers struggle to find the time for business development activities. The internet and social media offer real estate lawyers new options for reaching out to existing and potential clients and is a friendly, non-offensive way to interact with them. Websites, Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter… Read More »
Categories: Real Estate, TechnologyDealing with Parcels of Tied Land in Ontario: A TitlePLUS perspective
On May 5, 2001, when the Condominium Act, 1998 came into force, it created the real estate entity known as a Parcel of Tied Land (“POTL”). A POTL is a freehold parcel of land, or a standard condominium unit, which is inextricably tied to a share in a Common Elements Condominium (“CEC”). The POTL is… Read More »
Categories: Real EstateRequisition: a process, not just a letter
By definition, a requisition is the act of formally requiring or calling upon someone to perform an action. However, one cannot demand performance without fully knowing what to request. Requisitions are not merely a means of communication between two parties but a process by which matters requiring attention, such as defects in title, are investigated… Read More »
Categories: Real Estate