Last week Notary Maryse Paquin addressed the Christina Miller Group on the subject of ‘Wills & Successions in Quebec’. It was a great reminder of just how important it is to have one’s legal paperwork in place in advance of sudden death or severe injury. Here are our key takeaways:
+ If you don’t have an up-to-date will, stop what you are doing, pick up the phone and call your notary! (Don’t have a notary? Call us so we can help!)
+ Dying without a will can cause complications and delays for your loved ones. Your assets may even end up in the hands of people you would not have wished to inherit!
+ If you die without a will and have children that are minors, a tutorship council will need to be established causing extra emotional trauma and administrative obligations.
+ Writing a will yourself can cost you more money in the long run than using a notary due to the costs and time delays of needing to have it probated upon your death.
+ If you absolutely have to write a will without a notary present, make sure you and two witnesses initial each page and then sign and date the last page.
+ Let your heirs and liquidators know the location of your assets and important documents.
+ Itemize everything including your bank accounts, credit cards, insurance policies, investments, pension plans, debts, safety deposit boxes, contracts, legal documents, social media accounts & passwords.
+ Make an inventory using the practical link below. (For optimal use of this document, please download the latest version of Adobe Acrobat Reader DC)
