JoAnn Kurtz 
Wills & Estate Planning For Canadians For Dummies 

Practical advice as you prepare to leave your legacy

You’ve worked your entire life to give your loved ones the best life they can have. Don’t let death be the end of your caring and thoughtfulness. You can make sure your family is taken care of after your death and your wealth and assets go where you intend with the help of Wills & Estate Planning For Canadians For Dummies. This down-to-earth guide takes some of the stress and uncertainty out of this unpleasant topic by offering straightforward advice about preparing end-of-life documents and planning your estate. Discover the best way to transfer your assets to your heirs and the charitable organizations of your choice. Find out how to prepare a living will, donate organs, and give instructions for your burial. You also get expanded information about family law in Canada, details on why you need a power of attorney, and guidance on will preparation, funeral planning, green burials, tax implications, and more.

* Understand the laws surrounding estates, wills, trusts, and taxes in Canada

* Get details on buying life insurance, naming your heirs and beneficiaries, and designating an executor

* Find advice for discussing inheritance matters with a legal professional when you have a tricky situation

* Put your mind at ease with a solid plan for your assets and your end-of-life care

Thanks to practical advice from an expert author, you can ensure that your affairs are in order and your loved ones will honor your final wishes. Wills & Estate Planning For Canadians For Dummies will help you leave behind a meaningful legacy for all who know and love you.

Table of Content

Introduction 1

Part 1: Estate Planning Basics 5

Chapter 1: What Is Estate Planning, Anyway? 7

Chapter 2: What Are You Worth? Preparing an Inventory of Your Estate 17

Chapter 3: The Taxman Cometh: Taxes and Your Estate 23

Part 2: Estate Planning Tools 55

Chapter 4: The Mysteries of Life Insurance Revealed 57

Chapter 5: Giving Away Your Things Before You Die 81

Chapter 6: Using Trusts in Estate Planning 93

Part 3: Creating an Estate Plan 111

Chapter 7: Choosing Your Beneficiaries and Executor 113

Chapter 8: Planning Your Children’s Future 127

Chapter 9: What to Do with Your Business 141

Chapter 10: Making Charitable Donations 155

Chapter 11: Planning Your Funeral and Organ Donation 173

Part 4: Putting Your Plan into Action 191

Chapter 12: Why You Need a Will 193

Chapter 13: Will Power 203

Chapter 14: Powers of Attorney: Who’ll Manage Your Money for You if You Can’t? 233

Chapter 15: Living Wills: Caring for You If You Can’t Care for Yourself 247

Chapter 16: Getting Professional Help 261

Chapter 17: Using Online Will Services 281

Part 5: Readying Your Estate and Keeping It Up to Date 289

Chapter 18: Don’t Leave a Mess Behind: Putting Your Affairs in Order 291

Chapter 19: It’s Even Better the Second Time Around: Updating Your Estate Plan 303

Part 6: The Part of Tens 319

Chapter 20: Ten Questions to Ask Before You Hire a Lawyer 321

Chapter 21: Ten Tips for Using the Internet for Estate Planning 325

Part 7: Appendixes 329

Appendix A: Prepare to Meet Your Lawyer 331

Appendix B: Instructions for Your Executor 341

Appendix C: Inventory for Your Executor 347

Index 351

About the author

Jo Ann Kurtz is a Toronto-based lawyer, educator, and author. She carried on a general practice before joining Seneca College, where she was the program coordinator of the Law Clerk Diploma program for many years. She is the author or co-author of many general interest and academic texts. She holds a J.D. from Osgoode Hall Law School.