Rabideau Law

06/18/2026

🚨 WE BOUGHT THE HOUSE. THE SELLER CAN'T CLOSE. NOW WHAT? 🚨

Imagine spending months searching for the perfect home. 🏡

You negotiate the deal. ✅
You sign the Agreement of Purchase and Sale. ✅
You arrange financing. ✅
You pack your belongings. ✅

Then, just days before closing, you discover the seller owes more on the property than they can pay off.

💥 The seller can't close.

Can they simply walk away?
Can you force the sale?
Can the bank take the property?
Can you lose the house you thought was yours?

At Rabideau Law, we recently acted for a purchaser facing this exact situation and took immediate steps to protect our client's rights.

The answers may surprise you.

👉 Read the full blog: https://rabideaulaw.ca/the-seller-cant-close-now-what/

⚖️ Not all real estate lawyers are created equal. Early legal action can make the difference between losing your rights and preserving your ability to complete the transaction.

06/17/2026

🚗🐄 Imagine getting pulled over because a HORSE was nervous.

Believe it or not, early Ontario motorists were often required to stop, pull over, and sometimes even cover their vehicles if a horse became frightened.

Before cars ruled the roads, horses had priority.

A nervous horse could literally have more legal protection than your automobile.

Would you have survived driving in Ontario in 1905?

06/04/2026

💔 Separated but never finalized the paperwork?

In Ontario, simply moving out or living separate lives does NOT automatically remove survivorship rights on title.

That means if one spouse dies while the home is still held in joint tenancy, the surviving spouse may automatically become the full owner of the property — regardless of what the will says.

This catches families completely off guard and often leads to major disputes.

Learn what every Ontario homeowner should know about separation, joint tenancy, and survivorship rights:

👉 Read the Full Blog Here: https://rabideaulaw.ca/when-separation-isnt-finalized-who-gets-the-house-if-a-spouse-dies-in-ontario/

06/03/2026

Bringing in a new shareholder can shift more than just ownership - it can change control. The strongest protection for minority shareholders isn’t litigation after the fact, it’s clear safeguards agreed upfront. From governance and voting rights to compensation and exit protections, planning early helps prevent costly disputes later.

Read more at www.rabideaulaw.ca

06/01/2026

🏡 You found the perfect country property.

✔️ Space ✔️ Privacy ✔️ Room for the family ❓But… is there HST?

Many Ontario buyers assume that if a property is zoned agricultural, HST automatically applies.

That’s often NOT true.

We recently reviewed a rural residential property consisting of:
• a 4-bedroom home,
• approximately 2 acres of land,
• agricultural zoning,
• but absolutely no farming or agricultural use.

No crops. No livestock. No farming business.

In situations like this, the property may qualify as HST exempt under the Excise Tax Act.
The CRA looks at the ACTUAL USE of the property - not just the zoning.

Before buying or selling rural property, make sure you understand the tax implications BEFORE closing.

Rabideau Law assists clients across Ontario with:
• HST reviews
• Rural property transactions
• Agricultural land issues
• Complex real estate closings
• Land transfer tax analysis

👉 Read the full blog on our website: https://rabideaulaw.ca/agricultural-zoning-does-not-automatically-mean-hst-applies-in-ontario-real-estate-transactions/

05/21/2026

Big news for Ontario homebuyers 🏡

Bill 114 is now law - and it could mean up to $130,000 in HST savings on new builds.
If you're planning to buy this year, timing (and paperwork) matters more than ever.

👉 Learn more: https://rabideaulaw.ca/the-130000-milestone-ontarios-new-hst-rebate-just-became-law/

05/19/2026

A recent Ontario court case shows just how vulnerable property ownership can be - even for long-time homeowners.

When fraud strikes, the legal system may eventually correct it… but the cost, time, and stress can be significant.

Title insurance is one of the simplest ways to protect yourself.

Read the full breakdown:
https://rabideaulaw.ca/protecting-your-home-what-a-recent-title-fraud-case-teaches-us-about-title-insurance/

05/18/2026

Happy Victoria Day! Please note that our office will be closed on May 18th, 2026.

05/10/2026

Wishing a joyful Mother’s Day to all the moms who make home truly special. 💖

05/04/2026