Transfer of Property Title
Transfer property title with confidence. Available for virtual and in-person meetings, we bring legal expertise to you in the most convenient and affordable way.
Get Legal Ownership to Ontario Property
If you reside in Ontario, a title registration change lets you transfer ownership in a property, add someone to a property title or remove parties who no longer have property interests. Axess Law’s experienced Real Estate team prepares land transfer tax affidavits and ensures the property is legally yours when you close real estate transactions. We work with you if liens or legal claims against a property title threaten to delay real estate purchases.
Land or a home you purchase in Ontario isn’t legally yours until a transfer of title occurs. Likewise, sellers or family members who offer to sell or give you property may not be authorized to grant the title to anyone. Axess Law’s Ontario real estate lawyers ensure when you receive an offer of land, a home or investment property that you are dealing with the legal owner. Our professional real estate attorneys protect you from fraud or misrepresentation by conducting a thorough title search before we transfer any property deed into your name. Only certain, qualified professionals can register title to property in Ontario. Using Axess Law ensures your lawyer takes the time to verify all the owners to a title and properly register your new title.
How It Works
01
Request Quote
Click on ‘Get Started’ button to receive a quote from us. If you decide to proceed, our customer care team will reach out to you within minutes to discuss the next steps.
02
Upload Files
You will receive a secure intake link in your inbox to submit your closing documents. After receiving your documents, we will work with the lender to prepare for closing while keeping you informed at all times.
03
Sign Agreement
Once your closing documents are ready, we will book an appointment to review and sign the documents with you. Depending upon your convenience and location, you can meet your lawyer in person or virtually.
Documents We Need
Add or remove parties to the title to a property you own or co-own. Transferring a title in Ontario is affordable when you use Axess Law. Our licensed real estate lawyers can take your documents by email or in person. Call us when you need to complete title searches or file legal paperwork in a local land registry office.
An original or certified true copy of the deceased’s death certificate is required. Contact the funeral home or funeral director who handled their burial or cremation arrangements for a copy. You can order a copy of a death certificate online from Service Ontario.
OnLand, Ontario Land Registry Access, can provide a copy of your property title. Your property ID or identifier will be on the property title. You can also find the ID on your latest tax bill from your local municipality or provincial tax bill from the Provincial Land Tax Office in Thunder Bay.
Prior to closing, Axess Law will ask you for two pieces of ID. Proving your identity is obligatory to prevent mortgage and title fraud. You may use either two pieces of primary ID (Ontario driver’s licence, passport, Ontario photo card, Canadian citizenship card with photo or Canadian permanent resident card with photo) or one primary and one secondary ID (birth certificate, social insurance card or major credit card with your name on it).
When Do I Need a Property Title Transfer?
You need a property title transfer when you:
- marry, separate, or divorce, and own joint property
- add parents or children (one or more) to a property title
- buy a shared home with friends
- invest with partners in commercial property
- add or remove mortgage loan guarantors when you refinance a home
- a legally married spouse or common-law partner dies and the home was held as joint tenants, leaving you with rights of survivorship as the legal property owner.
Love, Affection and Property Tax Exemptions
Gifts of real estate you receive from spouses or other donors at no cost may be exempt from provincial land transfer taxes. Property you receive from loved ones may qualify for Ontario’s ‘natural love and affection’ exemption. As long as you receive land or other property for no consideration — no money or other compensation changes hand in exchange — you may be excused from paying land transfer tax. Axess Law prepares a signed and witnessed affidavit attesting your property transfer has no monetary value. Capital gains are due if you subsequently sell. With some exceptions, you could also be taxed if you take over a mortgage or other liabilities that result in a financial benefit to the original title holder. Always get tax advice from a certified tax consultant or accountant before making decisions that affect your family or personal finances.
Put Family on Your Property Title
Adding a family member to title to your property is quick and economical when you use Axess Law. We:
Search property titles for construction or financial liens
Prepare the legal documents to add family to your title
Arrange title insurance to protect your home from frauds
File new titles in a local land registry office
What Our Customers Say About Us
My wife and I had an amazing experience with Axess Law regarding our very first home purchase. They were very responsive to our questions, calling the same day (multiple times) and returning any missed call. They were diligent, fair, and transparent. I would use their services again.
★★★★★ 5/5
The team at Axcess Law was extremely easy to work with. They were quick to respond, answered all my questions and made the entire process of closing really easy.
★★★★★ 5/5
They set up a team dedicated to my sale of real estate, and dealt with my queries outside the scope of work, out of my inexperience and being detached from legal issues, diligently and with utmost patience. As a result, I not only achieved a smooth transaction with clear documentation, but also gained invaluable experience and a lawyer’s team that I would consult and retain for my future needs.
★★★★★ 5/5
My wife and I had an amazing experience with Axess Law regarding our very first home purchase. They were very responsive to our questions, calling the same day (multiple times) and returning any missed call. They were diligent, fair, and transparent. I would use their services again.
★★★★★ 5/5
"As this was our first time purchasing a home, my wife and I believe that Axess Law genuinely ensured that all the basics were covered by educating us. We felt comfortable moving forward with this transaction. Thank you to Axess and law the staff assigned to us for their due diligence and flexibility"
★★★★★ 5/5
Previous
Next
We are rated 4.8/5 based on 1,475 reviews.
Convenient Appointments
Make an appointment by calling +1.877.402.4207 or fill out our online booking form. Axess Law gives you the choice of booking an online or in-person appointment. Our lawyers are available 7 days a week, at times convenient for you. We can meet in person, by phone, email, or via a remote video call. In addition to these, there are 5 Axess Law offices located across the Greater Toronto Area – all with onsite parking or easily accessible by public transit.
Some FAQs
Leasehold titles are held by whoever owns the land or has a land interest. For condos or life leases, that may be investment groups, commercial property owners, non-profit organizations, or charities. Crown land is owned by provincial or federal governments. You may own buildings or strata units or otherwise use the property during the leasehold term, but do not own title to the land.
You can gift title to a property to adult children or next-of-kin without consideration (money). You pay capital gains tax based on the property’s fair market value. For principal residences, the family member you gift it to owes capital gains on the property’s appreciation when they sell.
To prevent fraud and abuse, only licensed Ontario lawyers and certain registered officials can transfer property titles. Axess Law real estate conveyancers:
- confirm if liens or debts are registered against a property
- review encumbrances like hydro or municipal rights of way
- inform you of any restrictions on what can be done with the property you are buying
- verify outstanding property taxes or utilities are paid before transfers take place
- prepare title transfer forms
- register title change documents and give you copies
- advise mortgage lenders of title changes
- or confirm title ownership with condo management firms if needed.
Provincial tax is owed on all real estate purchases in Ontario. Some communities (like Toronto) charge additional municipal land transfer taxes for single-family homes or duplexes. You’ll pay between 0.5% and 2.5% depending on the type and assessed value of your land or land interests. However, certain transfers are exempt. Your Axess Law real estate attorney can advise if land transfer tax is due when you exchange property:
- between spouses, if done for “love and affection”
- held by family business corporations
- farmed by family members
- or that includes a life lease from a non-profit organization or charity.
While optional in Ontario, property title insurance is highly recommended to prevent legal problems with property titles like:
- municipal zoning issues
- property survey disputes
- public record errors affecting your title
- construction work orders
- liens or legal claims, such as outstanding mortgages or condo fees
- lawyer errors
- or title fraud.
Title insurance compensates you or mortgage lenders if problems crop up after you purchase a home, business premises, or raw land. Title insurance covers some but not all the risks of buying property in Ontario, including preventing title frauds by identity thieves or fraudulent property transfers that leave you owing exorbitant mortgage amounts.