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.
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 sectors)
- Close the deceased person's accounts (such as chequing, savings or investment accounts)
- Get started with estate settlement tasks like gathering documents, settling debts, transferring funds, submitting insurance claims or performing searches
Expertise you can count on
We can guide you through each step in the estate settlement process via:
- Estate Assistance, which provides access to legal advice for Desjardins members
- Desjardins Private Wealth Management trust services, which provide comprehensive management services for more complex estates
- The wealth management advisors at your caisse or branch, who support 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 person'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
Only the deceased's last will has legal value. You'll need to check to see whether the deceased had one. You can search all registered wills in the Registre des dispositions testamentaires et des mandats (register of wills and mandates) through:
- the Barreau du Québec
- the Chambre des notaires du Québec
Holograph will
Holograph wills (wills handwritten by the deceased without witnesses) and wills made before witnesses must be verified by the Superior Court of Quebec or a notary.
No will
If the deceased didn't have a will, the estate is distributed according to the law.
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)
The websites below provide helpful information about the forms that need to be completed when someone dies.
- What to Do in the Event of Death External link. Opens in a new window. – Services Québec
- Successions External link. Opens in a new window. - Ministère de la Justice du Québec
- Testaments et mandats – Barreau du Québec (in French only)
- Search the Registers of Testamentary Dispositions and Mandates – Chambre des notaires du Québec
- Dealing with a Death External link. Opens in a new window. - Revenu Québec
- What to Do Following a Death External link. Opens in a new window. – Canada Revenue Agency
Need help settling an estate?
Read our FAQ Learn more about estate planning services
Book an appointment
By phone
Montreal area:
514-224-7737 Phone number for AccèsD customer service for the Montreal area. This link opens your phone app. (514-CAISSES)
Elsewhere in Canada and the US:
1-800-224-7737 Phone number for AccèsD customer service for Canada and the US. This link opens your phone app. (1-800-CAISSES)
We can also call you when it's convenient.
Schedule a call