Real estate closings, without the guesswork.
Buying, selling or refinancing in Ontario? Our lawyers handle the legal details and keep you informed from your first questions through closing.
We review your agreement before the conditions come off, search title, and carry the file through to the day you get the keys.
We answer the buyer's requisitions, arrange the discharge of your existing mortgage, and account for every dollar leaving the transaction.
Whether you are moving lenders, taking equity out, or adding a second charge, we handle the registration and the discharge that follows it.
Adding a spouse, removing a name, transferring to family, or updating title after a death. Each one carries tax and mortgage consequences worth understanding first.
Builder agreements are written for the builder. We read yours as early as we can, and where a statutory rescission right applies, inside that window, while there is still something you can do about it.
In-person signing at our Thornhill office is our standard approach, and remote identity verification and document signing are available if you prefer. Remote signing changes how you meet with us, not the lawyer-led legal work performed on your closing.
Status certificate review
Buying a condo?
A status certificate review helps you understand the financial obligations, restrictions and other details that come with the condo before you commit.
Condo fees, unpaid amounts on the unit, disclosed special assessments, reserve-fund information and rules that may affect renting, pets or renovations.
If your purchase includes a status certificate review condition, have the package reviewed before that condition is waived or fulfilled.
No fee for the review. Available across Ontario.
From agreement to closing
Five stages, with our team keeping you informed from agreement through closing.
Talk to our real estate teamReach out before you make an offer, so we are ready to act the moment you do. Once you have one, we'll tell you what we need and how to get your agreement to us. The sooner we see it, the more room there is to act on what we find.
Start with a closing quoteWe read the agreement, search title, and run the off-title searches that apply to the property and the municipality it sits in.
We take instructions from your lender, raise or answer requisitions, and resolve anything on title before it becomes a closing-day problem.
In-person signing at our Thornhill office is our standard approach. If you prefer, remote identity verification and document signing are also available. Either way, we take you through the documents before anything is signed.
Funds are transferred, the transfer is registered, and we let you know as soon as your closing is complete.
Estimate your land transfer taxWhat our clients say
I worked with Eric and his team to close on my first property. From the get go, Eric was very responsive and provided efficient status certificate reviews (three times!) to assist in my decision to purchase. Even at the final signing, he was patient and meticulous enough to explain everything in the legal documents, making all the legalese accessible and understandable. Shout to his team members, Jenny and Alejandro, too, for the responsive service. Would recommend for your real estate needs.
Eric and his team were exceptional from start to finish. They handled my mortgage switch with professionalism, clarity, and a real sense of urgency that genuinely saved me both time and money. Every step was explained clearly, communication was proactive, and I always felt confident that things were being handled properly behind the scenes.
They made a process that could have been very stressful feel smooth and well-managed. The team was responsive, organized, and a pleasure to work with throughout.
I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Eric and his team to anyone looking for a reliable, knowledgeable, and efficient real estate lawyer. I look forward to working with them again in the future!
We are very pleased and grateful with Eric and his team. They are very professional, knowledgeable and helpful with everything. All the necessary documents and processes were done in a timely manner, you can tell that they put their clients first! There were a few hiccups along the way with the builder but Eric and his team have given us the help, support and legal advice we needed so we can finalize closing our property seamlessly. We really felt that they have our best interest at heart. They also saved us money! We couldn’t have asked for a better legal team especially with the purchase of our first home. We highly recommend them and would definitely use their services again in the future.
We’ve worked with Eric on several transactions and he has consistently proven to be a lawyer you can trust. He is knowledgeable, precise, efficient and an excellent communicator.
Our clients have thoroughly enjoyed working with him throughout the entire transaction process, and as Realtors, we very much value his professionalism, responsiveness and attention to detail. We highly recommend Eric to anyone looking for a reliable real estate lawyer!
We were very happy with the service provided. Our lawyer was Eric, he was very attentive and caring. Eric took the load off our shoulders, closing went smooth. I kept getting info in a timely manner without promoting for it. Eric took his time to go over the purchase / sale docs with the speed we were able to absorb. I would recommend the law firm and Eric to anyone, and i will be using them again!
I had a great experience with Garrison Law for my real estate closing. They worked very efficiently and made sure everything was done on time without any delays.
Communication was clear and simple. The whole process felt well managed. They always answer my call and clarifies any questions or concerns i have. As a first time homebuyer they really made me happy and feel stress free throughout the whole transaction.
One of the best teams I’ve worked with. Referred a client to Eric. Closing was happening within 2 days and Eric and team finalized everything the day prior to ensure smooth closing. Will continue to do business with Eric.
We recently closed a purchase transaction with Garrison Law, and the experience was excellent from start to finish. A special thank you to Thipya, the law clerk, who was incredibly helpful, responsive and easy to work with. Thank you for helping make our home purchase a smooth and successful experience!
Based in Thornhill. Working across Ontario.
Explore our local guides for the details that can affect your closing, from municipal searches to land transfer tax.
Your property is somewhere else in Ontario? Tell us where it is.
Common questions
On a purchase: reviews the agreement, searches title and the off-title records, deals with your lender, prepares the statement of adjustments, and registers the transfer so the property is legally yours. On a sale: answers the buyer's requisitions, discharges your mortgage, and accounts for the proceeds. In Ontario, the transfer cannot be registered without a lawyer, so the question is not whether you will use one but how early you involve them.
Every file starts with a quote, so you know the cost before you commit. It sets out our legal fee, the disbursements (such as title searches and registration costs) and taxes. In most cases, there is no separate bill: on a purchase, our fees are part of the single closing amount we confirm with you before closing, and on a sale they are paid from the sale proceeds.
Yes. In-person signing at our Thornhill office is our standard approach, but remote identity verification and document signing are also available if you prefer. Remote signing changes how you meet with us, not the lawyer-led legal work performed on your closing.
Before the agreement is firm, wherever that is possible. Once conditions are waived, the agreement governs, and the room to negotiate or withdraw is gone. New construction is worth separating out: a purchase of a new or pre-construction condominium unit from the declarant carries a statutory rescission period under Ontario's condominium legislation, and that window is short. A freehold new build does not carry the same statutory right, so whatever review period exists comes from the agreement itself. Either way, the earlier you reach out, the more options you keep.
Usually, yes. On most residential mortgages the lender instructs the same firm acting for the buyer, which keeps the transaction efficient and avoids duplicated fees. Where a lender requires separate independent legal advice, or where a conflict makes joint representation inappropriate, we will tell you at the outset.
Yes. Garrison acts on real estate transactions across Ontario. The cities listed here are the ones we have written up, because what is locally specific about a closing differs from one municipality to the next. You can sign at our Thornhill office, or use remote identity verification and document signing if you prefer.
Let's take the next step
Tell us about your purchase, sale or refinance. We'll help you understand what comes next.
