Planning your estate provides peace of mind.

Talking about estate planning is never easy. Yet, taking the time to plan today is to offer your loved ones immense relief tomorrow. A will and a protection mandate are not only legal documents: they are real gifts you leave to your family, because they spare them conflicts, uncertainties and complicated formalities in a moment already difficult.

Why make a will?

A will is a legal document that expresses your wishes regarding the distribution of your assets after your death.

Without a will, it is the law that will decide for you.

👉 With a will :

You choose who will inherit and how.

You can appoint an executor to manage the estate.

You better protect your spouse, your children or your loved ones.

You avoid delays, additional costs and family tensions.

👉 Without a will :

The Quebec law establishes an automatic distribution of your assets (for example, between the legally married spouse and the children).

Your common-law partner has no automatic rights to your assets.

Additional court proceedings are often necessary.

Cela can lead to family conflicts and a lot of stress for your loved ones.

The different types of wills and their costs

In Quebec, there are three recognized forms of wills:

1. The holographic will (written and signed by hand, without a witness)

Free if you do it yourself.

But it must be validated by a notary or the court after death, which incurs fees (often $1,000 and up).

2. The witnessed will (written on computer or handwritten, signed in front of two witnesses)

Cost: minimal if you draft it yourself.

But as with the holographic will, it must be validated after death (comparable fees).

3. The notarial will (drafted with a notary, signed before the notary and witnesses)

Cost: generally between $300 and $800, depending on complexity.

Advantage: it does not need to be validated after death. It takes effect immediately, which speeds up and simplifies the procedures.

💡 In short: a notarial will costs more to draft, but it saves your family time, money and energy after your death.

And the protection mandate?

The protection mandate (formerly the “mandate in case of incapacity”) is another essential document. It allows you to designate in advance a trusted person who will take care of you and of your assets if you become incapable (illness, accident, aging).

👉 Without a mandate, it is the court that will decide who will manage your affairs and your care. This can be long, costly and difficult for your family.

👉 With a mandate, you choose the person who will respect your wishes, and your loved ones won’t have to undertake complicated legal proceedings.

Planning is offering peace of mind.

Taking the time to prepare a will and a protection mandate is taking a huge weight off your loved ones’ shoulders. It allows them to focus on what really matters: grieving and taking care of each other, without administrative hassles or conflicts.

A simple gesture today can become a true gift tomorrow.