I Don’t have a deeded Right of Way Easement. Do I have still the right to travel over someone else’s property or road to access my property?

I Don’t have a deeded Right of Way Easement. Do I have still the right to travel over someone else’s property or road to access my property?

The answer to that question, unfortunately, is a giant, “It Depends.”

The most common way a Right of Way easement is created are 1) grant 2) necessity or 3) prescription.

The first thing to determine is whether the property you are traveling over has been migrated to the new land registration system yet or not.

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Can I record an easement on a piece of land in Nova Scotia that has already been migrated to the Land Registration System?

Can I record an easement on a piece of land in Nova Scotia that has already been migrated to the Land Registration System?

In Nova Scotia, once a property has been migrated to the Land Registration System, the rules under the Land Registration Act take over. 

Easements by Grant

In theory, all granted easements should have been recorded on both parcels at the time of migration, however, from time to time, things are missed. It is also the case that when the land registration system came into place it was not a requirement for the ‘flip-side’ burden to be recorded, so sometimes those are missing. If you find yourself in that circumstance, all that is required is for the Land Registration Office to be notified of the error (by way of a prescribed form submitted by a lawyer certified to make changes to the land registration system).

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Can I use a Power of Attorney to sell my jointly owned property in Nova Scotia if my partner has Dementia?

Can I use a Power of Attorney to sell my jointly owned property in Nova Scotia if my partner has Dementia?

If a property is owned in joint tenancy by more than one person, then all owners must consent to the sale in writing. (If you’re not sure if the property is owned in joint tenancy vs as tenants in common review our blog on the topic to help you understand the difference) However, if an owner is no longer competent, then someone must consent on their behalf.

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Let us be the wet blanket – it is part of our job! - Your Nova Scotia real estate lawyer as an advocate for you.

Let us be the wet blanket – it is part of our job!  - Your Nova Scotia real estate lawyer as an advocate for you.

Lawyers have a multi-faceted reputation – not all of it flattering, but being the “stick in the mud” when it comes to fulfilling your contract when you buy or sell a home is something I will happily claim.

It is my job as your lawyer to be on the lookout for ways to protect you throughout the buying and selling process. We review your contracts, your mortgage documents, the title for your property, and any receipts and repairs required by the contract.

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How is Probate Tax Calculated in Nova Scotia?

How is Probate Tax Calculated in Nova Scotia?

Probate Tax in Nova Scotia is applied to the full value of the assets in a deceased person’s estate, IF the estate is handled through the Probate Court. Not all estates require Probate. If you’re not sure if Probate is required, read our blog HOW DO I KNOW IF A NOVA SCOTIA ESTATE REQUIRES PROBATE?

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Can I Get Ownership to a NOVA SCOTIA Property through Squatter’s Rights in Nova Scotia if the Owner Game me Permission Years Ago?

Can I Get Ownership to a NOVA SCOTIA Property through Squatter’s Rights in Nova Scotia if the Owner Game me Permission Years Ago?

Squatter’s Rights is the concept that if you openly adversely possession someone else’s land continuously for the required length of time (usually 20 year for privately owned land, 40 years for Crown land), that you can apply to the court for an order declaring that you have become the legal owner of that land. The idea is that a land owner can’t sit back for decades and do nothing and then come out of the woodwork and demand their land back.

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Should I tell Anyone What’s in my Will?

Should I tell Anyone What’s in my Will?

In Nova Scotia, there is absolutely no obligation for you to disclose what is in any of your estate planning documents. That said, there are a number of circumstances when having a frank conversation with your executors and beneficiaries in advance of your death may avoid an unpleasant (and often costly) conflict after you are gone.

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Who Has to Pay Child Support in Nova Scotia?

Who Has to Pay Child Support in Nova Scotia?

Because each family and every situation is different, family law can be a unpredictable area of law. There are lots of grey areas and not very many things are carved stone. Child support proves to be the exception to this uncertainty because it tends to be clear cut by comparison.

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Copyright Tips for Small Business in Nova Scotia

Copyright Tips for Small Business in Nova Scotia

One of the items on my ever growing “To-Do” list was to write a blog post outlining the copyrighting issues that the average small business owner should be aware of.  And like a gift, sent directly to my inbox, came this exceptionally well written guest blog post by my colleague Corinne Boudreau of Legal Essentials Inc. via my subscription to Linda Daley’s blog ‘Work better, not harder’. As the saying goes, there’s no point trying to re-invent the wheel so instead of attempting to write basically the same thing, I decided to share her post instead:

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What you need to know if you are hunting in Nova Scotia!

What you need to know if you are hunting in Nova Scotia!

You can obtain a hunter’s license at the N.S. Dept. of Natural Resources, or any approved vendor. You need to renew your hunters licence every year. You must be the age of 18 or older unless you have an adult with you. Hunting season in Nova Scotia is open October 1st until December 5. You are not allowed hunting on Sundays except for November 1st & 8th.

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