Need a hand with your estate?

There’s no one-size-fits-all formula for estate planning, but your notary will guide you to a successful outcome. With your financial balance sheet at hand, your notary will ensure your wishes are clearly expressed in your will, taking into account important aspects such as tax impacts. A notary will translate your intentions into precise legal terms, avoiding misunderstandings between the common and legal meanings of words, and ensuring your wishes will be respected.  

Here's what your notary can do: 

• Explain the legal terms and the consequences of your choices so that you can make informed decisions
• Prepare an inventory of your property
• Draw up or modify your will (holographic or notarized) and ensure your wishes are expressed clearly
• Draft or amend a protection mandate or a power of attorney
• Structure a testamentary trust

In the event of death, the notary can also: 

• Carry out a will search
• Support the liquidator in the settlement of the estate
• Handle the settlement of the estate

It’s essential to review your will regularly because your personal and financial situation will change over time. A separation, changes in your assets (such as in your TFSA or RRSP) or a special situation involving your children are among the events that can influence your wishes. Is your choice of liquidator still relevant? Is the age of inheritance still appropriate? We recommend you ensure your will always reflects your reality and is properly aligned with your intentions and current situation. 

The first thing the notary will need for estate planning is an assessment of your economic situation. Financial planning is central to sound estate planning. With the information collected by your financial planner, your notary can ensure your will reflects your objectives and also minimize the tax impacts, such as when RRSPs or TFSAs are transferred at the time of death. In short, an up-to-date balance sheet is essential to plan your estate properly.  

What your financial planner can do: 

• Help you obtain a complete picture of your assets by analyzing your current financial situation and then help you track how it changes over time
• Contribute to the growth of your wealth
• Help you assess your testamentary needs
• Help you identify your heirs and liquidator
• Offer you solutions to help provide additional funds for your heirs, such as with life insurance
• Plan the liquidation of your investments, taking into account the tax consequences and your heirs’ needs
• Open an estate account
• Propose strategies to reduce the taxes payable upon your death, such as planned giving
• Work with your notary and accountant to ensure a comprehensive approach
• Help your heirs manage and invest the sums received

From estate planning to settlement, the financial planners at FÉRIQUE Investment Services can support you every step of the way. A service offered at no additional cost if you have an account with us.  

Our estate planning service is based on three pillars: 

1. A financial plan prepared with a financial planner
2. Family financial planning
3. An assessment of your testamentary needs and the drafting of your will with one of our partners

With our partners, we can also offer you the usual estate-settlement services, such as gathering documents, settling debts, transferring funds, submitting insurance claims and performing searches.  

As a client, you’ll benefit from advantageous rates on services for the preparation of estate documents. Your benefits include: 

• The drafting of a will in the presence of a witness on our partner’s digital platform
• Testamentary research
• A $250 discount on your first meeting with a partner notary
• A 10% discount on all ClearEstate services