O’Connor Richardson Professional Corporation Legal Blog

Court orders sale of co-owned home, leaves details for later

Although recent interest rate hikes have taken the edge off Toronto’s notoriously wild housing market, prices are still high enough that co-ownership with family or friends remains an increasingly conventional choice for prospective buyers who see no other route onto the property ladder. When co-owners fall out over a house, emotions run high and it’s often hard for them to agree on anything again. And while Ontario’s Partition Act provides a mechanism for the division and sale of a property, litigants (and their counsel) are often wary of pushing for a court-ordered sale until they have worked out some of the other details in dispute — such as the list price, the listing agent, or liability for outstanding property taxes and other bills associated with the home.

Anton Piller Orders enter the digital realm

The Ontario Superior Court of Justice appears ready to give old-fashioned legal remedies a role to play in the most modern of litigation after a judge granted an Anton Piller Order (APO) in an alleged cryptocurrency hack that is currently gripping the province’s tech...

Co-ownership Agreements and Litigation

Entering into a legal agreement with your co-owner(s) to put everything in writing is strongly encouraged.  It will assist with resolving disputes with the property later.  Even if you don’t have an agreement in writing, a lawyer experienced in handling property disputes can negotiate a settlement without having to litigate.

The Pros and Cons of Asset Purchases vs Share Purchases

A share purchase involves the purchase of shares of a company effectively transferring the company’s assets and liabilities to the purchaser. An asset purchase, on the other hand, involves the purchaser buying some (or all) of a company’s assets. Oftentimes, the purchaser may prefer an asset purchase and the vendor may prefer a share purchase; this preference, however, will vary depending on a variety of factors.