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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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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.
Find an advisorSettling 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:
Desjardins has the expertise to guide you through each step in the estate settlement process:
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 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.
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:
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:
You’ll need to open an account in the name of the estate. Most financial institutions will require you to provide the following:
You’ll need to notify the government and the deceased’s service providers to:
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):
The websites below provide helpful information about the forms that need to be completed when someone dies.