Estate Planning & Executor Checklist for Canadian Families

Planning ahead (do this before it's needed)

• A valid, signed, witnessed will — and tell your executor where the original is kept
• Name a power of attorney for property (financial decisions) and a separate power of attorney for personal care (health decisions) — most provinces treat these as two distinct documents
• Review beneficiary designations on RRSPs, TFSAs, RRIFs, and life insurance every few years — these pass directly to the named beneficiary, outside the will, so an outdated designation overrides what the will says
• Choose an executor who's willing and able to take this on, and confirm with them directly rather than assuming
• Keep your important documents checklist and emergency binder up to date — this is exactly what your executor will need first
• Consider a separate letter of wishes for funeral preferences — not legally binding, but it removes guesswork from family during grief

First few days after a death

• Get the medical certificate of death from the attending physician, hospital, or coroner
• Contact a funeral home — they typically handle registering the death with the province and can provide certified copies of the death certificate, which you'll need multiple originals of
• Locate the will, and confirm who's named executor
• Secure the person's home, vehicle, and valuables if they lived alone
• Arrange care for any dependants or pets
• Order at least 8-10 certified copies of the death certificate — nearly every institution below will ask for its own original, not a photocopy

Who to notify

• Service Canada — CPP/OAS payments must stop; the estate may be eligible for the CPP death benefit, a one-time payment (generally $2,500, though some contributors qualify for a higher amount — confirm the current figure at canada.ca)
• CRA — notify of the death; a final tax return will need to be filed
• Banks and financial institutions — accounts are typically frozen until the estate is settled, aside from a jointly-held account
• Life insurance company, if applicable — claims can often be started right away
• Employer, if the person was still working — for final pay, benefits, and any group life insurance
• Landlord or mortgage lender, and utility companies
• Health card, driver's licence, and passport offices — these need to be returned or cancelled
• Credit card companies and any lenders
• Canada Post — mail redirection to the executor is worth setting up

Probate & the estate account

• Probate is a court process confirming the will is valid and the executor has authority — not every estate needs it, but banks and land registries often require it before releasing larger assets
• Requirements, fees, and timelines vary by province — this is worth a conversation with an estates lawyer or notary early, not after you've hit a wall trying to access an account
• Open a separate estate bank account once you have authority to act — don't run estate funds through your own personal account
• Keep a detailed record of every transaction in and out of the estate account — you may need to account for it to beneficiaries or the court
• Pay the deceased's known debts and the estate's expenses before distributing anything to beneficiaries

Final tax return & distributing the estate

• File the deceased's final personal income tax return (the "terminal return") with the CRA — deadlines depend on the date of death, confirm the exact one with CRA or an accountant
• The estate itself may also need to file a trust tax return if it earns income (like interest) before it's fully distributed
• Get a clearance certificate from the CRA before making the final distribution — this confirms all taxes owing have been paid, and protects the executor personally if a tax debt surfaces later
• Distribute the estate according to the will (or provincial intestacy rules if there's no will) only after debts, taxes, and the clearance certificate are settled
• Keep records for several years after closing the estate, in case a question comes up later

Practical tips

• Order more certified death certificates than feels necessary — running out and reordering mid-process is a common, avoidable delay.
• A jointly-held bank account with the right of survivorship usually passes directly to the surviving joint owner, outside the estate — worth knowing early, since it changes what's actually frozen.
• This is organizational guidance, not legal or tax advice — an estates lawyer or notary can tell you what actually applies to a specific estate and province.

Frequently asked questions