There are multiple scenarios whereby fraudsters will attempt to have you wire funds to a different account than the one that you had intended to fund. Unfortunately, some of those attempts are successful. LAWPRO has received such claims and heard of many others. Here are some tips to assist you if such a fraud happens… Read More »
Categories: Fraud Prevention
Missing a limitation period is a lawyer’s nightmare. Although most claims are subject to the 2 year limitation period set out in the Limitations Act, 2002, there are over 40 statutes that impose limitation periods in Ontario. LAWPRO has developed several resources to help lawyers navigate Ontario’s limitations periods and notice periods. The Limitations and… Read More »
Categories: Civil Litigation, Limitations Claims
With housing prices on the rise, more rigorous mortgage rules, and the resulting difficulty for some Ontarians to purchase property, real estate lawyers should be mindful of fraud for shelter. Fraud for shelter differs from traditional real estate frauds. Usually in a real estate fraud, the goal is to fraudulently sell the property or to… Read More »
Categories: Fraud Prevention, Real Estate
While the will itself is the product of the collaboration between lawyer and client, the reporting letter serves a separate purpose: it’s the record of the context. To the extent that the reporting letter documents the process of crafting the will, it can bolster validity, shield the lawyer from malpractice allegation and demonstrate the value… Read More »
Categories: Areas of Law, Communication Errors, Risk Management & Claims Prevention, Wills & Estates
To accompany the blog post originally posted on September 16, entitled Upcoming Changes to the Construction Act , we are pleased to share a detailed flowchart to help you determine which Act applies to your construction law matter. Generally, the old Act will apply where a contract for the improvement was entered into before July… Read More »
Categories: Construction
Significant changes to the Superior Court Simplified Procedure came into effect on January 1, 2020. Budget Bill 2019 amended section 108 of the Courts of Justice Act to eliminate trials by jury under the Simplified Procedure. Regulatory changes filed October 23, 2019 unveiled significant further changes to the Simplified Procedure as prescribed by Rule 76… Read More »
Categories: Civil Litigation
This is a reminder that registration fees in the land registration systems increase each November. Bulletin 2019-02 confirms the new registration fees as of November 4, 2019. As an example, the new cost to register an instrument will be $77.31. Please adjust your practices accordingly.
Categories: Real Estate
In the year since its enactment, Ontario’s new Construction Act has already made a noted impact on the practice of construction law in the province. The amendments to the previous Construction Lien Act (“CLA”) were to be implemented in two phases: Phase 1, the modernization provisions, effective July 1, 2018; and Phase 2, prompt payment… Read More »
Categories: Civil Litigation, Real Estate
Small steps can lead to big changes. For lawyers who want to improve their career, Building a Better Law Practice: Become a Better Lawyer in Five Minutes a Day is full of these small steps. A few minutes a day with this easy-to-read guide will help put you on the right path to growing your… Read More »
Categories: Law Practice ManagementLand Acknowledgement
The offices of LAWPRO are located on the traditional territory of many nations including the Mississaugas of the Credit, Anishnabeg, Chippewa, Haudenosaunee and Wendat peoples. Toronto is covered by Treaty 13 with the Mississaugas of the Credit. LAWPRO respects and acknowledges the histories, languages, knowledge systems, and cultures of First Nations, Metis, and Inuit nations.
