INFORMATION FOR MAKING A WILL

The information you are about to provide will be the basis for your discussions about your will and other estate and personal planning. You do not need evaluations or appraisals for listing assets and liabilities – your best estimates should be sufficient for most discussions. However, how you own the legal title to your assets is important and, if you are not sure whether, for example, your house is owned jointly with another person, ask me to check since assumptions can cause later problems. Also, if possible, check with your financial institutions for beneficiary designations on life insurance policies and pension plans.

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PART I — FAMILY INFORMATION
           
1.         Full name:

2.         Address:

3.         Date of birth:

4.         Phone (home):
            Phone (business):
            Facsimile:
            Email:

5.         Marital status:

6.         Spouse’s name:
            Spouse’s date of birth:

7.         Children’s names:
            Children’s date of birth:
            Children’s address:
           

PART II — ASSETS

1.         Real estate
            Location:                                                           
            Value:                                                                       
            Original cost:                                                           
            In whose name:                                                           

2.         Bank accounts
            Name of bank:                                                           
            Address of bank:                                               
            Account number:                                               
            In whose name:                                                           
           
3.          Safety deposit box
            Location:
            Box number:

4.          Life insurance
            Name of company:                                               
            Policy number:                                                                       
            Named beneficiary:                                               
            Value to your estate:                                               

5.          RRSPs, RIFs, pensions and annuities
            Name:                                                                                                                                    Contract number:
            Named beneficiary:                                               
            Value to your estate:                                               

­PART III — LIABILITIES

1.          Mortgages payable by you
            Amount owing:                                                           
            Name of mortgagee:                                               

            Is this mortgage insured?
 
2.          Other debts
            Amount owing:                                                           
            Name of creditor:                                               

           

PART IV — APPOINTMENT OF EXECUTOR

            The executor is the person in charge of administering your estate and following through on your instruction.  Who will this be?

            In the event your first choice cannot complete the task, do you wish to name an alternate?  If so, who will this be?

PART V – INSTRUCTION FOR GIFTS                       

Specific Bequests:

            If you wish to give a specific item to someone, (i.e. your car) or a specific sum of money, this is the place.  Who do you wish to give it to and what do you wish to give?

General Bequests:

            This is the “catch all” clause that gives away everything that wasn’t mentioned as a specific bequest.  Who is to receive the balance of your estate?

Taking Age:

            If your beneficiary is not at least 18 years of age, at what age do would you like them to receive their inheritance?

Guardians:

            If your children are not at least 18 years of age who would you like to appoint as their guardians and custodians during their minorities?