Areas of Law
TitlePLUS: A living example of innovation of LAWPRO
When considering the future of TitlePLUS, we asked ourselves if the service was still living up to its original principles and – perhaps more importantly – whether those principles were still valid. Companies know their products need to evolve with the needs of their customers and the marketplace. If a product changes too fast, customers… Read More »
Categories: 2022 June - After Covid 19, Articles, Real Estate, Title insurance, TitlePLUSPersistence and Precision Bring Long Needed Changes to the Planning Act
Comments from Ontario Attorney General Doug Downey As Attorney General I have made it my business to jump start and accelerate access to Ontario’s outdated justice system. The work to move the system forward by decades in mere months began before the COVID-19 pandemic, and by working in new ways with our partners we have… Read More »
Categories: 2022 June - After Covid 19, Articles, Real EstateThe Top 10 Changes to the Planning Act You Need to Know About and Why
The anachronistic provisions of the Ontario Planning Act (the “Act”) and the red tape they created have frustrated lawyers and property owners for many years. The government has listened, and after consultations with many stakeholders over the last two years, long overdue changes are finally here. We believe these changes will save the public time… Read More »
Categories: 2022 June - After Covid 19, Articles, Failure to Know The Law, Real Estate10 tips to adapt to the new contingency fee regime
On July 1, 2021, Ontario’s contingency fees became subject to significant changes, with amendments to both the Solicitors Act and the Law Society of Ontario’s Rules of Professional Conduct coming into force. The changes will affect how contingency fees are calculated and will impact how contingency fee matters are managed from marketing and new client… Read More »
Categories: 2022 June - After Covid 19, Access to Justice, Articles, Civil Litigation, Firm Management, Marketing, RetainersRecent changes to wills, powers of attorney and succession law
The government has enacted 4 important changes regarding wills, powers of attorney (POAs) and to the administration of an estate with Bill 245 – Accelerating Access to Justice Act, 2021 which received Royal Assent on April 19, 2021. (See amendments in Schedule 8 – Substitute Decisions Act, 1992 and Schedule 9 – Succession Law Reform… Read More »
Categories: 2022 June - After Covid 19, Articles, Failure to Know The Law, Wills & EstatesCottages and Rural Properties: Avoid Common Errors that Lead to Title Insurance Claims
Cottages are a Canadian summertime staple. For many, cottage life has become tradition and cottage ownership is a dream come true. Conversely, cottage and rural residential properties generally present the real estate lawyer with some of the most challenging and complex issues of any area of real estate law, and may surprise lawyers who are… Read More »
Categories: Inadequate Investigation, Online Only, Real EstateTitlePLUS: From a simple mission to a great innovation
TitlePLUS may have evolved into a full-service, streamlined online title insurance offering, but some things haven’t changed, says Daniel Pinnington, president and CEO of LAWPRO. “On top of offering the same unparalleled coverage as always, our mission and our purpose remain the same,” says Pinnington. “TitlePLUS is built for lawyers, and our commitment to keeping… Read More »
Categories: 2022 April - Annual Report 2021, Articles, Real Estate, Title insurance, TitlePLUSToo Quick on the Buzzer: Default Judgment and the Potential Consequences of Engaging in Sharp Practice
Would-be lawyers learn the importance of professionalism and civility as outlined in the Law Society’s Rules of Professional Conduct and The Advocates’ Society Principles of Civility. However, in practice, a grey area can sometimes develop between fiercely advocating for a client and engaging in sharp practice. At LAWPRO, we’ve seen many claims relating to lawyers… Read More »
Categories: Civil Litigation, Ethics, LAWPRO policy, Online OnlyHot real estate market? Excess coverage protects your practice as property values soar
Current market conditions mean business is booming for lawyers, but keep in mind that your risk exposure may be growing in lockstep with property values. A hot market changes the way real estate deals unfold. Not only do lawyers see a higher transaction volume, but unconditional offers proliferate, and closing intervals may shrink. All these… Read More »
Categories: Articles, Excess insurance, Real EstateCommon HST errors in real estate transactions
Determining HST-applicability to real estate transactions can be more complicated than many lawyers assume. What’s more, a lack of clarity and errors can often lead to substantial unforeseen costs for clients. This is a dangerous combination from a claims perspective. This paper will discuss the common categories of HST errors and provide tips on how… Read More »
Categories: Online Only, Real Estate