Legal essentials
- A current will, signed and witnessed under your province's rules
- Power of attorney for property (financial decisions)
- Personal directive or representation agreement (health decisions)
- An executor who knows they have been named — and where to find the will
Medical wishes
- Advance care plan or living will
- Organ and tissue donation preferences
- Preferred hospital, doctor, and emergency contacts
- Allergies, conditions, and current medications in one place
Financial picture
- List of bank, RRSP, TFSA, and investment accounts
- Life and disability insurance policies and beneficiaries
- CPP, OAS, and workplace pension details
- Mortgages, loans, and recurring obligations
- Up-to-date beneficiary designations
Personal & family
- Funeral or celebration-of-life wishes
- Burial, cremation, or aquamation preference
- Letters or messages for loved ones
- Care instructions for pets and dependents
- Digital accounts and what should happen to them
Why this matters
Most of the difficulty families face after a loss is not grief alone — it is uncertainty. A short checklist, kept current, removes most of that uncertainty before it ever arrives.
This guide is for general information only and is not legal, financial, or medical advice. Rules vary by province — speak with a qualified professional about your family's situation.