Settling an estate

We’re here to help!

Whether the estate is big or small, Desjardins has experts you can trust to help you navigate the estate settlement process and support you with services tailored to your needs.

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Making your job easier

Settling an estate, referred to legally in Quebec as liquidating a succession, is a big responsibility. Desjardins advisors are trained to support you every step of the way. They can help you:

  • get basic information on how to settle an estate
  • open an estate account
  • inform other Desjardins stakeholders of the death (including other Desjardins caisses and business lines)
  • close the deceased’s accounts (chequing, savings, investments, etc.)
  • get started with estate settlement jobs like gathering documents, settling debts, transferring funds, submitting insurance claims, performing searches, etc.

Expertise you can count on

Desjardins has the expertise to guide you through each step in the estate settlement process:

  • Estate Assistance for caisse members provides access to legal advice.
  • The trust services team at Desjardins Private Wealth Management provides comprehensive management services for more complex estates
  • The wealth management advisor at the caisse supports you in your role as executor.

The executor’s role

Settling an estate takes a lot of work. The main task of the executor, referred to legally as the liquidator in Quebec, is to carry out the deceased’s last wishes.

You have a choice

You can refuse to be the executor of an estate if, for personal reasons, you don’t feel that you can carry out the tasks and responsibilities required of you. You can also choose to entrust the task to a trust services company, like Desjardins Private Wealth Management.

The executor’s to-do list

As the executor, you’ll need to get the following:

  • Death certificate or copy of the act of death from the Directeur de l’état civil
  • Marriage or civil union contract, if applicable
  • Will

You’ll need to open an account in the name of the estate. Most financial institutions will require you to provide the following:

  • Copy of the act of death issued by the Directeur de l’état civil
  • Notarial will or testamentary provision, verified holograph will, verified will made in the presence of witnesses or declaration of heredity
  • Will search certificates

You’ll need to notify the government and the deceased’s service providers to:

  • close the deceased’s accounts (hydro, phone and internet, bank, etc.) and cancel their ID and cards (driver’s licence, credit cards, etc.)
  • stop the payment of any benefits to the deceased
  • file a final tax return for the deceased

You’ll need to prepare an inventory or list of all the deceased’s assets and liabilities. Once the inventory is complete, you’ll need to determine market values.

As the executor, you’ll need to submit claims for any life insurance or other benefits.

You must also settle all of the deceased’s and the estate’s debts.

Did the deceased have life insurance with Desjardins? We can help you check.

Three notices must be published as part of the estate settlement process. The forms are available on the Registre des droits personnels et réels mobiliers website External link. Opens in a new window. (site in French only):

  • Avis de désignation du liquidateur (notice of designation of the liquidator)
  • Avis de clôture d’inventaire (notice of closure of the inventory)
  • Avis de clôture du compte de liquidateur (notice of closure of the liquidator’s account)

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