Insights
Insights & Guides
Plain-language, lawyer-reviewed guidance for Ontario executors and beneficiaries handling an inherited home.
Buying Out Siblings on an Inherited Home in Ontario: How the Financing Actually WorksOne sibling wants to keep the inherited house; the others want their share in cash. Here is how the buyout is actually financed and taxed in Ontario — vesting title, an independent appraisal, the buying sibling's own mortgage, and the land transfer tax bill most families do not see coming.Inherited a House With a Mortgage in Ontario: Who Pays, and What Are the Options?Under s. 32 of Ontario's Succession Law Reform Act, a mortgaged property is primarily liable for its own mortgage debt — and a will's 'pay all my just debts' clause does not change that. What that means for beneficiaries, executors, and land transfer tax.Estate Administration Tax in Ontario, Explained With Worked ExamplesHow Ontario calculates Estate Administration Tax on estates over $50,000 — with step-by-step math for a $100,000, $500,000, and $1,000,000 estate, plus what counts toward the total.How Long Does Probate Take in Ontario? The Real Timeline, Step by StepOntario courts say complete probate applications are typically processed within 15 business days — but that's only one phase. Here's the full timeline from death to certificate, what causes delays, and how to avoid the common ones.Do You Need Probate to Sell a House You Inherited in Ontario?In almost every case, yes — a buyer's lawyer and title insurer will require a Certificate of Appointment of Estate Trustee before closing. Here are the two narrow exceptions, what the process costs, and how it works.Inherited a House in Ontario? The First 7 Steps for Executors and BeneficiariesYou have just learned you are inheriting — or are the executor of — a home in Ontario. Here are the first seven things to do, in the right order, to protect the estate and yourself.When Siblings Disagree About Selling an Inherited Home in OntarioOne sibling wants to sell the inherited house, another wants to keep it. Here are the options under Ontario law — from a buyout to a court-ordered sale — and how to avoid a costly fight.