Real Estate

Adding someone to your property title in Alberta? It may trigger a tax bill - even as a gift in a Will or during your lifetime. Here's why your estate lawyer will ask you to call your accountant first.

It’s a common question of lawyers: Should I add my adult child to the title of my home so that it passes to them automatically when I die, avoiding probate? At first glance, it sounds efficient. But in most cases, it’s not the best approach. I find myself advising clients against it more often than not. The cost to obtain probate rarely justifies the legal complexity or future risk of joint ownership with an adult child. Here are some factors to consider: 1. Maintain sovereig

When selling, buying or mortgaging property in Alberta, one often-overlooked issue is dower rights. These rights can complicate real estate transactions if not addressed early. Dower rights exist on the home when only only one spouse is on the home title. The spouses must be legally married. Dower does not (yet) apply to adult interdependent partnerships ("AIPs" for short; commonly known as common-law). Here are some common scenarios in real estate deals. Also view one of the