Clear Law.
Clear Cost.
ClearLi the Solution.

Closing day is the final step in a real estate transaction — the day the property officially changes hands. For first-time buyers in Ontario, it can feel overwhelming. Here is a straightforward breakdown of what actually happens, so there are no surprises.

Before Closing Day

Your real estate lawyer will have been working behind the scenes for weeks. This includes conducting a title search to confirm the seller legally owns the property and that there are no liens or encumbrances, reviewing your mortgage documents and coordinating with your lender, preparing the statement of adjustments (which calculates exactly what you owe on closing, including prorated property taxes and utility adjustments), and arranging title insurance to protect you against future title defects.

A few days before closing, your lawyer will send you a detailed summary of all costs. This is when you arrange your certified cheque or bank draft for the balance of the down payment and closing costs.

The Final Walkthrough

Most purchase agreements give you the right to a final walkthrough of the property, typically within 24 hours of closing. This is your chance to confirm the property is in the agreed-upon condition, all fixtures and inclusions listed in the agreement are still there, and any repairs the seller agreed to make have been completed. If something is wrong, notify your lawyer immediately — there may still be time to hold back funds.

What Happens on Closing Day Itself

On the morning of closing, your lawyer and the seller's lawyer exchange documents and funds electronically. Your mortgage funds are received from the lender, your lawyer transfers the purchase price to the seller's lawyer, the transfer deed is registered on title at the Land Registry Office, and once registration is confirmed, you legally own the property.

This process typically takes the full business day. Most buyers receive their keys in the late afternoon, though the exact time depends on how quickly all parties complete their steps.

Common Closing Costs to Expect

Beyond the purchase price, Ontario buyers should budget for Ontario Land Transfer Tax (and Toronto Municipal Land Transfer Tax if applicable), legal fees and disbursements, title insurance, property tax and utility adjustments, and home insurance (required by your lender before closing). First-time buyers may be eligible for LTT rebates of up to $4,000 provincially and $4,475 in Toronto. Use our Buyer Closing Cost Calculator to estimate your total costs.

What Can Go Wrong?

Delays happen, but they are manageable with a good lawyer. Common issues include mortgage funding delays (your lender sends funds late), title issues discovered at the last minute, the seller failing to vacate on time, or outstanding utility bills or liens. Your lawyer's job is to anticipate and resolve these problems before they derail your closing.

After You Get the Keys

Once you have your keys, remember to set up utilities in your name, change your address with banks, the CRA, and Service Ontario, change the locks, and register for the municipal property tax account. Your lawyer will send you a reporting letter within a few weeks summarizing the entire transaction and enclosing your copies of all registered documents.

Being terminated from your job is stressful. But in Ontario, employers cannot simply let you go without providing adequate notice or compensation — unless they have just cause. If you have been terminated without cause, you are likely entitled to more than you think.

Termination With Cause vs. Without Cause

There is a critical legal distinction between these two. Termination with cause means the employer alleges serious misconduct — theft, fraud, repeated insubordination, or a fundamental breach of the employment relationship. The threshold for "just cause" is extremely high in Ontario. Most terminations are without cause, and the employer must provide either working notice, pay in lieu of notice, or a combination of both.

ESA Minimums vs. Common Law Entitlements

Ontario's Employment Standards Act (ESA) sets minimum notice periods: one week per year of service, up to a maximum of eight weeks. Employees with five or more years of service may also qualify for statutory severance pay. However, these are bare minimums. Under the common law, courts routinely award significantly more — often between 1 and 24 months of notice depending on your age, length of service, position, and the availability of comparable employment. A 55-year-old senior manager with 20 years of service might receive 18 to 24 months, while a 30-year-old entry-level employee with 2 years might receive 3 to 5 months.

What About Your Severance Offer?

Many employers present a severance package immediately upon termination — and pressure you to sign quickly. Do not sign anything without legal advice. Once you sign a release, you give up your right to pursue additional compensation. A lawyer can assess whether the offer meets your legal entitlements and negotiate a better package on your behalf. In most cases, the initial offer can be significantly improved.

Do You Have an Employment Contract?

If you signed an employment contract with a termination clause, it may limit your entitlements to the ESA minimums rather than the more generous common law amounts. However, many termination clauses in Ontario are unenforceable because they fail to comply with the ESA or are ambiguous. A lawyer should review your contract — you may still be entitled to full common law notice.

Practical Steps After Termination

First, do not sign any documents, releases, or agreements immediately. Second, keep copies of your employment contract, offer letter, pay stubs, T4s, and the termination letter. Third, apply for Employment Insurance (EI) right away — even if you received a severance package. Fourth, consult an employment lawyer before the limitation period expires. In Ontario, you generally have two years to file a civil claim.

Use our Employment Rights Checker for a quick estimate of your potential entitlements.

More than half of Canadian adults do not have a will. If you are one of them, the province of Ontario will decide who inherits your property, who manages your estate, and — if you have young children — who applies to be their guardian. A will ensures those decisions are yours.

What Happens If You Die Without a Will?

Dying without a will is called dying "intestate." Ontario's Succession Law Reform Act dictates a rigid formula for distributing your estate. If you are married with children, your spouse receives the first $350,000 (the "preferential share"), and the remainder is split between your spouse and children. If you are unmarried with children, everything goes to your children equally. If you have no spouse and no children, your estate goes to your parents, then siblings, then more distant relatives. Common-law partners receive nothing under Ontario's intestacy rules — regardless of how long you have been together.

Why a Will Matters — Even If You're Young

Many people assume wills are for the elderly or wealthy. In reality, a will is important at every stage of adult life. If you own any property (even a car or bank account), a will simplifies the transfer. If you have children under 18, a will lets you name a guardian. If you have a common-law partner, a will is the only way to ensure they inherit. If you have specific wishes — leaving something to a friend, a charity, or excluding someone — a will is the only legal way to enforce that.

Powers of Attorney: Equally Important

A will only takes effect after death. But what if you become incapacitated — through illness, injury, or cognitive decline? In Ontario, you should also have a Power of Attorney for Property (allowing someone you trust to manage your finances) and a Power of Attorney for Personal Care (allowing someone to make medical and living decisions on your behalf). Without these documents, your family may need to apply to the court to be appointed as your guardian — a process that is expensive, time-consuming, and stressful.

What Makes a Valid Will in Ontario?

Under Ontario law, a valid will must be in writing, signed by you (the "testator") in the presence of two witnesses, and both witnesses must also sign in your presence. The witnesses cannot be beneficiaries of the will or spouses of beneficiaries. While handwritten (holograph) wills are technically valid in Ontario if entirely in your own handwriting and signed by you, they carry significant risks — missing clauses, ambiguous language, and challenges in probate.

Cross-Border Considerations

If you own property outside Canada — for example, in China, Hong Kong, or Taiwan — your Ontario will may not be sufficient to deal with those assets. You may need a separate will for foreign property, drafted in coordination with local counsel. This is a common issue for immigrants and families with international ties, and proper planning can avoid costly complications.

Use our Will Planner to organize your information before meeting with a lawyer.