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Glossary

enforcing your judgment

In Tribunals and Courts

Enforcing your judgment is when you take steps to get what is owed to you because of a court order. For example, it may include damages or personal property that the debtor owes you.

equalization payment

In Family Law, Wills and Powers of Attorney

An equalization payment is money one married partner can sometimes get from the other partner after they separate or the other partner dies. Its purpose is to share the amount that the couple’s property increased in value while they were married.

Common-law partners usually do not have a right to an equalization payment.

equity

In Debt and Consumer Rights, Tribunals and Courts

Equity is the value of your asset after you subtract how much you owe on it. For example, the equity you have in your house is the amount of money you would get if you sold your house and paid off all your debts on the house, like your mortgage. If your house is worth $200,000, and you have a mortgage of $150,000, the equity you have in your house is $50,000.

estate

In Income Assistance, Canada Pension Plan (CPP), Eligibility, Wills and Powers of Attorney

Your estate is the property you own when you die. This includes real property, which is property like land and buildings. It also includes personal property, such as jewellery, furniture, and bank accounts.

Some property does not become part of your estate because it changes owners as soon as you die. Examples are a home you owned in joint tenancy with another person, or an investment that has a designated beneficiary.

estate plan

In Wills

When you make an estate plan you make legal documents like:

These documents make sure someone has the power to make decisions about your property or personal care if you are no longer mentally capable.

You also make a will as part of your estate plan so that:

  • your property goes to the people or organizations you want it to go to after you die
  • your minor children are cared for after you die

And there are things you can do to reduce the amount of tax your estate pays when you die.

estate trustee

In Wills and Powers of Attorney

An estate trustee is someone who:

  • distributes your property after you die
  • handles your personal affairs after you die by arranging your funeral, paying your debts, and filing your final income tax return.

An estate trustee is sometimes called an executor or personal representative.

If you do not name a person to be your estate trustee in your will, someone may have to apply to the court to become one after you die.

estimate

In Debt and Consumer Rights

An estimate is a best guess that you make, based on the information that you have. For example a car repair shop can give a client an estimate of what it would cost to fix their car after they have taken a look at it. Sometimes, the law gives you the right to not be charged much more than the estimate someone gives you.

estreatment hearing

In Criminal Law

If someone claims you did not comply with a court order, the court can schedule an estreatment hearing. For example, this can happen if someone claims you did not follow a recognizance of bail. At the estreatment hearing, you or your surety will be ordered to pay the amount promised to the court when the recognizance of bail was signed.

You and your surety will be given at least 10 days’ notice of when and where the hearing will be held.

evict

In Housing Law, Human Rights

Tell or force a tenant to move out. A Notice of Termination from a landlord is often called an eviction notice, even though it does not force the tenant to move out. A Landlord and Tenant Board order forcing a tenant to move out is often called an eviction order.

eviction notice

In Housing Law

To evict is to tell or force a tenant to move out. A Notice of Termination from a landlord is often called an eviction notice, even though it does not force the tenant to move out. A Landlord and Tenant Board order forcing a tenant to move out is often called an eviction order.