What a real estate lawyer does when you sell a home in London
When you sell, your realtor finds the buyer and negotiates the price. I take it from there: I make sure you can give the buyer clear title on closing, pay out your mortgage and the commission, and get the balance to you. Here is what that involves for sellers in London and the surrounding area.
Send me the agreement early
Send me the agreement of purchase and sale, with any amendments and waivers, as soon as it is signed. I note the closing date, the conditions, the date by which the buyer’s lawyer can raise title questions, and what is included in the price. See each step from offer to closing.
Your mortgage and other registrations
I order payout statements from your lender and arrange to discharge your mortgage, any line of credit secured against the home and any other registration the buyer is not taking over. If you plan to move your mortgage to your next home, or expect a prepayment penalty, speak to your lender early.
Questions from the buyer’s lawyer
The buyer’s lawyer searches title and sends me requisitions: questions and requests about title, the survey, work orders or anything else that turns up. I answer them and resolve any problem before closing, so that it does not become a reason to delay or refuse to close.
Three things to tell me at the start
If the home is a matrimonial home, your spouse must consent to the sale, even if their name is not on title. If you are not a resident of Canada for tax purposes, the buyer will hold back part of the price unless you obtain a clearance certificate from the Canada Revenue Agency, which takes time. And if the home has not always been your principal residence, or you have owned it for less than a year, speak to your accountant about the tax before closing.
Signing and closing
A few days before closing, you sign the transfer, the statement of adjustments and the other closing documents, by video and electronic signature or at my office. On closing day, the buyer’s lawyer sends the balance of the price to my trust account. I pay out your mortgage and the balance of the real estate commission, and send the rest to you. The buyer registers the transfer, and I make sure your mortgage discharge is registered after closing.
One warning: I confirm how your sale proceeds will be paid with you directly. If you receive an email that appears to change payment instructions, call my office before acting on it.
Selling in London or the surrounding area? Get a quote or call (226) 402-0823.
This post was rewritten in September 2026. It is general information about Ontario real estate law, not legal advice about your transaction.