Why you should personally do your closing day inspection when purchasing a home in Nova Scotia.

/ Highlander Law Group/
Why you should personally do your closing day inspection when purchasing a home in Nova Scotia.

After you buy a property (the money is exchanged and you take title), the transaction is considered “Closed”. This means you no longer have an opportunity to go back and negotiate with respect to issues you uncover with your new home. If you trust someone else (like your Realtor) to do the closing day walkthrough and they miss something important, your only recourse is to sue that person, not the people you bought the house from

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What are my Options if I Discover Water Leaks in a House I just purchased in Nova Scotia?

/ Highlander Law Group/
What are my Options if I Discover Water Leaks in a House I just purchased in Nova Scotia?

Real Estate law in Nova Scotia is grounded in the very old legal concept, ‘caveat emptor’, which is ‘Buyer Beware’. The idea being, no one is forcing you to buy the property, so before you sign on the (digital) line, the onus is on you to ensure you really want what they are selling. That’s why you have the option to ask for permission to do a thorough home inspection and have a Property Disclosure Statement produced.

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Why should I care about the Difference between Patent and Latent defects when I’m buying a property in Nova Scotia?

/ Highlander Law Group/
Why should I care about the Difference between Patent and Latent defects when I’m buying a property in Nova Scotia?

Real Estate law in Nova Scotia is grounded in the very old legal concept, ‘caveat emptor’, which is ‘Buyer Beware’. The idea being, no one is forcing you to buy the property, so before you sign on the (digital) line, the onus is on you to ensure you really want what they are selling. From that logic, comes the rule that the current property owner only has to disclose latent defects to a potential purchaser.

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How Do I Protect Myself from ‘Invisible Issues’ when Buying a Property in Nova Scotia?

/ Highlander Law Group/
How Do I Protect Myself from ‘Invisible Issues’ when Buying a Property in Nova Scotia?

Real Estate law in Nova Scotia is grounded in the very old legal concept, ‘caveat emptor’, which is ‘Buyer Beware’. The idea being, no one is forcing you to buy the property, so before you sign on the (digital) line, the onus is on you to ensure you really want what they are selling.

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8 Tips to avoid common Nova Scotia “Do It Yourself” Will Kits mistakes

/ Highlander Law Group/
8 Tips to avoid common Nova Scotia “Do It Yourself” Will Kits mistakes

I can't count the number of times a friend or family of a deceased person came into our office with a “do it yourself” Will that couldn't be used because something was done wrong or missing. In theory, online “do it yourself” Will kits are supposed to save you money. Unfortunately, in many cases, issues with these Wills end up causing the person left trying to manage the estate significant time, stress, and money in legal fees to sort out the problem.

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What Happens to my Pet if I Divorce or Separate in Nova Scotia?

/ Highlander Law Group/
What Happens to my Pet if I Divorce or Separate in Nova Scotia?

In Nova Scotia animals are legally considered property. This may seem bizarre, as our furry friends have little in common with a lamp or table. There are some areas of Canadian law that treat animals more like living things. For example, the Criminal Code of Canada provides specific crimes for cruelty to animals and provides protections for police service animals, but for any other matters focusing on pets your Province’s personal property law will apply.

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Provincial Deed Transfer Tax

/ Highlander Law Group/
Provincial Deed Transfer Tax

As you may have heard, there is now an additional Provincial Deed Transfer Tax payable by home buyers who are not residents of Nova Scotia.


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How do I Calculate the Value of an Estate in Nova Scotia for Probate?

/ Highlander Law Group/
How do I Calculate the Value of an Estate in Nova Scotia for Probate?

If the estate requires Probate, the first document you submit to the court will require you to estimate the value of the deceased person’s estate at the time of their death. In many cases, assets may have been sold or money received into the estate after the person died, but for the purposes of calculating the value of the estate for Probate, you only include the assets as at the time of death.

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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.

/ Highlander Law Group/
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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Property Taxes vs Deed Transfer Tax – What you need to know about taxes when buying a home in Nova Scotia

/ Highlander Law Group/
Property Taxes vs Deed Transfer Tax – What you need to know about taxes when buying a home in Nova Scotia

When buying a used (read: previously lived in) home there are two types of tax you will see come up on your statements from your lawyer.

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