Acting as an executor is serious business. The job can last a long time, but you’ll have to make sure you cover each step carefully and thoroughly. All the details are important. Staying organized with a checklist is one of the best ways to stay...
Just one or two generations ago, an executor would unearth financial information from overflowing filing cabinets in the basement or the attic of the deceased. Today, that information is more likely to be found on a laptop or a smartphone than in a filing cabinet. If...
For some, the term “estate planning” is enough to send shivers of anxiety down their spine. For others, the natural response is to go into fight-or-flight mode. But estate planning doesn’t have to be scary or stressful. It doesn’t need to be complicated. Get started...
One of the executor’s core duties is filing the final tax return. Even for those who regularly do their own taxes, that final return may not be as simple as filling in the boxes in an online tax return program. The executor is ultimately responsible for...
In 2019, nearly 15% of the average Canadian’s household income went to pay off debts.[1] Some of that is considered good debt, such as a mortgage, but the rest of that debt includes so-called bad debt, such as vehicle leases or credit card debt. Every estate has some liabilities...
Many beneficiaries don’t wait more than a month or two before they begin asking, When will I get my cheque? Often, they don’t like the executor’s answer. Settling an estate is a process that typically takes a year, or even longer in more complicated cases. And...
In 2018, the average Canadian’s net worth was $678,792.[1] In Toronto, the number is even higher – nearly $1 million for the average person.[2] The estate of a person with a net worth this high will require care and attention, beginning with collecting all the...
When a loved one dies, emotions run high. Family members may be sad their loved one is no longer with them. They may feel lost, unsure how to move on. They may feel relief that the stress of a complicated relationship is finally over. And if...
You’ve just received an upsetting call that your loved one has passed away. You may be sad or even shocked – but you are also the executor of the estate. During the first few weeks following the death, the work of the executor can be...
Imagine this: Your Great Uncle George passes away. He never married, doesn’t have any children and lived on his own until the very end. You agreed years ago to be the executor of his estate, but when the time comes, you aren’t prepared. Several weeks after his death,...