Ontario land transfer can I do it myself

[Frank]

I searched high and low and couldn't find an answer and figured this would be the place to ask.

I want to buy a small hobby property in northnern ontario and wanted to know if I could handle the paperwork and transfer myself. Is it as simple as filling out a form or do I need a lawyer or agent.

Ok, I give up.   First you sold it...but you still want to sever it...but can't get much for it.

My point was that you could if one of your neighbours needed it badly enough, probably to expand some thriving business.

However, now we learned that it was in fact given to a church ten years ago...that would have been a charitable donation ten years ago.  How can you now sell and possibly sever a property you no longer own.

As I said go see a pro and lay out all the facts.

[paris_wendy]

Sorry, I didn't mean to make it all sound so confusing.

We only donated the use of the land to the church. The farmers around us planted and harvested the crops on our land as their donation to the church.

The farmers around here are in need of more land. When it came time to sell we considered doing a lot line adjustment to sell the land to one of our two neighbours, and then sell the house separately. We couldn't sever the land and sell it to some other guy from across town.

Because we couldn't sever the land, the accountant said we shouldn't have to pay capital gains. But we are holding back the tax amount in case CRA disagrees.

In the end one of the neighbours bought the house and land from us as a package. Hope that makes it a little clearer.

[Treeguy]

It looks like my thread has been officially hijacked.

That was good info though.  I'll be giving kirk a call and it looks like I will have to flip for their lawyer if they require one as well.

I know this is a tax sale forum but I don't care much for those. you never know what you're getting and I find it hard to get something on the low end with so many others bidding.

[ruok]

Wendy: If you are considering providing a "Lot Addition" to a neighbour, you may want to discuss with the process with local officials. Some Planning Boards are now considering the lot addition to be a severance and therefore you have to through the application and approval process. There does not seem to be any consistency throughout the province on this matter so you are at the mercy of the local Planning Boards interpretation. Lot additions were a great way around the Municipalities Official Plan. If they only allow 3 parcels to be created out of the original 100 acre parcel, the Lot Addition was a way to squeeze out another lot. Can't do that if they consider that to be a severance.

[paris_wendy]

Teeguy... sorry for hijacking. And thanx to others for the info.

[Frank]

Sorry Treeguy, but you never know where things will spin.

Wendy, good idea to hold estate funds back...just in case.  These sorts of things sometimes take years to clear up, and if you distribute the entire estate you (I presume you are the Executor) may be left holding the bag.  Listen to your Accountant.