What to Bring to your Will Appointment

To save time and expense around your will-drafting appointment, we recommend collecting the following documents and bringing copies in with you.

Be sure to keep the original copies of these documents for your own records and store them in a secure yet accessible place so that your trustee and beneficiaries will able to find them when they need them.

• Previous Wills (if any).
• Your spouse’s previous will (if any).
• Birth certificates/citizenship papers for yourself and any dependents.
• Marriage contract, cohabitation agreement, or common-law information.
• Life insurance policies.
• Property insurance policies.
• Documentation for pensions, annuities, or other investments such as RRSPs, RESPs, RRIFs, or foreign investments.
• Most recent income tax returns and current statements, covering sources such as employment, rental properties, bonds, shares, businesses, or royalties.
• Ownership documentation/titles for valuable assets such as real estate, automobiles, boats, paintings.
• Documentation for any transferable digital assets, if applicable: Air Miles, iTunes accounts, rewards points, for-profit social media accounts, etc.
• Bank account location and details.
• Cemetery Certificate of Ownership.
• Certificate of Funeral Arrangements.
• Documentation for any liabilities, such as mortgages, loans, lines of credit.

Also, be sure to have the following information on hand:

• Your basic personal information (date of birth, address, contact information).
• All family and dependent Information, including names, contact information, and date of birth.
• Bequest information, such as the names and contact information for charities or other organizations you would like to benefit.
• Details for any trusts you may have already set up.
• Names and addresses of professional advisors, such as your lawyer(s), accountant, investment advisor, life insurance agent, etc.

If there is any other information or documentation you may feel is relevant, but does not appear in the list above, please do not hesitate to bring it along. Drafting a Will is a deeply personal endeavour, and our advisors are happy to create a document that reflects your unique wishes.