‘Zombie’ property deeds are both alive and dead, say justices in Ontario’s top court

by admin | Jun 13, 2020 | 2020 Toronto Star Property Law Column, Toronto Star Property Law Columns

Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca Can dead people sign property deeds? The answer: it depends who you ask about so-called “zombie deeds.” In legal circles, a deed of land signed during the owner’s lifetime but registered after death is known as a zombie deed. Judging by online...

Your property, and your family, deserve to be protected in your will

by admin | May 30, 2020 | 2020 Toronto Star Property Law Column, Toronto Star Property Law Columns

Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca In these times of economic uncertainty, Canadians who own their own homes may be thinking about protecting them from health risks due to the COVID-19 pandemic. For most homeowners, their houses and condominiums are their largest single assets....

ONTARIO REAL ESTATE ASSOCIATION endorses defective COVID-19 clauses

by admin | May 9, 2020 | 2020 Toronto Star Property Law Column, Toronto Star Property Law Columns

Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca OREA fails its members and the public. The organization representing Ontario’s 70,000 realtors has published four confusing and dangerous COVID-19 clauses for members to consider using in purchase agreements. The Ontario Real Estate Association...

Alarm bells are raised over new COVID-19 legal clauses in real estate purchase and sale deals

by admin | Apr 25, 2020 | 2020 Toronto Star Property Law Column, Toronto Star Property Law Columns

Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca One of Ontario’s most respected real estate lawyers has sounded the alarm against using untested COVID-19 clauses in property transactions. Sidney Troister is a partner at Toronto’s Torkin Manes LLP, and is widely regarded as one of Ontario’s...

Home sales, purchases go ahead with unprecedented virtual tools during the pandemic

by admin | Apr 11, 2020 | 2020 Toronto Star Property Law Column, Toronto Star Property Law Columns

Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca There is good news and bad news for those of us in the real estate field during the COVID-19 pandemic. Some good news came from Jeffrey Lem, Ontario’s director of titles, in a Law Society webinar late in March. Speaking electronically to several...

Why using a DIY building manual made a homeowner liable for negligent construction

by admin | Mar 26, 2020 | 2020 Toronto Star Property Law Column, Toronto Star Property Law Columns

Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca A homeowner who used a “Reader’s Digest” manual to build a house that he later sold was found liable for negligent construction by the Ontario Superior Court earlier this month. Back in 1989, Noel Geneau built a house for himself and his wife in...