WILLS AND ESTATES QUESTIONNAIRE
SECTION 1 – FAMILY INFORMATION
PERSONAL INFORMATION
WILLS AND ESTATES QUESTIONNAIRE
SECTION 1 – FAMILY INFORMATION
MARRIAGE INFORMATION
If you are single, separated, or divorced:
WILLS AND ESTATES QUESTIONNAIRE
SECTION 1 – FAMILY INFORMATION
CHILDREN:
If No, include name of other parent.
Number of step-children
If yes to any of the above questions, give details. (For example, if adopted, is the adoption legally finalized? For step grandchildren, do you intend them (or some of them) to be treated equally with biological grandchildren or not? If so, name them):
WILLS AND ESTATES QUESTIONNAIRE
SECTION 1 – FAMILY INFORMATION
If yes, please describe:
If yes, please describe:
If yes, give the name and date of death of the deceased child and the names of their children, if any:
WILLS AND ESTATES QUESTIONNAIRE
SECTION 2 – INSTRUCTIONS FOR WILL
PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE(S)
Another name for a personal representative used to be “executor.”
If you want your spouse to be the sole beneficiary of your estate, you may also want to name them as the primary personal representative [PR]. You should also name alternates, in case your first choice is unable to act at the time. Your PR must be an adult (18 years or older). For tax reasons, your PR should be a resident of Canada, and for practical and cost reasons, it is easiest for the PR to be resident in Alberta. If you have more than one PR, we recommend at least one of them is a resident of Alberta. This can be discussed further with your lawyer.
1.
ALTERNATES:
2.
3.
GUARDIAN(S) FOR MINOR CHILDREN:
1.
ALTERNATE GUARDIAN(S):
2.
WILLS AND ESTATES QUESTIONNAIRE
SECTION 2 – INSTRUCTIONS FOR WILL
BENEFICIARIES:
The following choices for distributing your estate are for your convenience only. It is intended to get you thinking about the issues to be discussed at the meeting with your lawyer.
1.
2.
3.
At what age are your children to receive their share of your estate?
The age of majority is 18 in Alberta. Unless specified otherwise, the will is drafted so that your PR holds each child's share in trust until the specified age with power to use income and capital from the trust for that child’s education, maintenance, and support.
4.
If one child dies before you do, or before reaching the age at which they are entitled to the share, who shall receive that share or the amount remaining?
5.
Family demise:
How is your estate to be divided if you and your spouse and all your children and grandchildren are killed in a common accident, or if any of your children or grandchildren survive you but die before becoming entitled to receive their entire portion of your estate?
WILLS AND ESTATES QUESTIONNAIRE
SECTION 2 – INSTRUCTIONS FOR WILL
6.
Specified gifts or legacies — list items or amounts and who is to receive it:
(Caution: Do not list any item unless they are definitely valuable or of great sentimental value or unless you are prepared to pay your lawyer to draft the will and change it when an item is sold or replaced).
7.
Money for guardians:
If it becomes necessary for the guardians that you name to look after and raise your minor children, will they require:
8.
PR compensation:
Personal representatives are entitled to be paid for the time, effort, and expertise they spend administering your estate. This can be a lump sum amount or a percentage of your estate. If you wish your PR to receive compensation for acting on your behalf, you may specify that they be compensated according to the usual rules, or you may specify the dollar amount or percentage of your estate they are to receive. They will also be 8 entitled to reimbursement for any out-of-pocket expenses they incur in administering your estate.
WILLS AND ESTATES QUESTIONNAIRE
SECTION 2 – INSTRUCTIONS FOR WILL
They will also be 8 entitled to reimbursement for any out-of-pocket expenses they incur in administering your estate.
In Alberta, a rough guideline of the compensation that a PR is entitled to is 1% to 5% of the value of your estate. If you wish to specify in your will the compensation that is to be received by your PR will it be:
WILLS AND ESTATES QUESTIONNAIRE
SECTION 3 – FINANCIAL INFORMATION
The purpose of this section is to provide us with sufficient information to assist you in planning your estate and to ensure we include appropriate powers in your will. It will also inform your PR(s) of all of your assets to make sure they do not miss any. If there is insufficient space to answer any of the following sections, please list on a separate paper.
In the left margin please indicate ownership of assets:
J – owned jointly by spouses (or indicate joint owners)
M – owned by you
S – owned by spouse
O – owned by you and/or spouse with some other person (please describe)
REAL ESTATE:
Principal Residence: (note that you can only have one principal residence for tax purposes)
Ownership:
or
WILLS AND ESTATES QUESTIONNAIRE
SECTION 3 – FINANCIAL INFORMATION
BANK ACCOUNTS:
Bank name
Location
GUARANTEED INVESTMENT CERTIFICATES AND TERM DEPOSITS:
Bank
Location
Maturity date
LIFE INSURANCE POLICIES: (indicate type: Term (“T”), Permanent (“P”), Universal (“U”))
Company
Policy no.
Value
Beneficiary
SEGREGATED FUNDS:
Company
Value
Beneficiary
PENSION PLANS:
Company
Beneficiary
REGISTERED RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLANS AND REGISTERED RETIREMENT INCOME FUNDS:
Financial institution
Location
Named beneficiary
WILLS AND ESTATES QUESTIONNAIRE
SECTION 3 – FINANCIAL INFORMATION
TAX FREE SAVINGS ACCOUNTS:
DEBTS OWED TO YOU: (e.g., by children or anyone else)
VALUABLE PERSONAL PROPERTY: (e.g., automobiles, mobile homes, boats, heirlooms, etc.)
WILLS AND ESTATES QUESTIONNAIRE
SECTION 3 – FINANCIAL INFORMATION
WILLS AND ESTATES QUESTIONNAIRE
SECTION 4 – LIABILITIES & MISCELLANEOUS
SAFETY DEPOSIT BOX:
FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS:
WILLS AND ESTATES QUESTIONNAIRE
SECTION 4 – LIABILITIES & MISCELLANEOUS
It is important that you communicate these arrangements with your family members. Having these in your will is not optimum because the will is generally not consulted until after funeral and memorial arrangements are completed.
OTHER ESTATE PLANNING:
If yes, please bring a copy in to the meeting with your lawyer.