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Table of Contents (Click here to return to the full Table of Contents on the Home Page)
Reasons for, and guidance on, planning ahead for the end of your life
Wills, power of attorney, estate planning
Appointing, and duties of, an estate executor or administrator
Your Legacy
Note that the legal requirements, advice and customs vary by jurisdiction, and you will need to check the suggested resources against your local circumstances.
Reasons for, and guidance on, planning ahead for the end of your life
1) Source : Government of Australia, Services Australia
This site provides advice on what to organize before you die - writing your will; making your wishes known; planning and saving for your funeral; and getting help with your money
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2) Source: ABC News, Australia
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Extract from the article, How to be prepared for your own death – “It's an uncomfortable truth, but you will die. Planning ahead for this event allows you to have a say in everything, from what song is played at your funeral, to what happens to your body and your stuff when you're gone. Telling your family and loved ones what you want to happen when you die can really help them in a difficult time, so think of it as an act of love for the people you care about.”
3) Source: Reader’s Digest
These two articles provide a good overview of the reasons for end of life planning along with some practical tips.
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4) Source: Government of Alberta, Canada
This booklet provides information about decisions before death; planning a funeral; options for the final resting place; what to do after the funeral; and a checklist for survivors. The Guide, Saying Farewell, can be downloaded as a pdf.
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5) Source: AgeUK, United Kingdom
AgeUK is a well-known charity organization. The webpage on end of life planning offers good advice on making a will, power of attorney, living wills, what to do when someone dies, and coping with bereavement. Many of the guides can be downloaded as pdf files.
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6) Source: National Institute on Aging, USA
NIA leads a broad scientific effort to understand the nature of aging and to extend the healthy, active years of life. NIA is the primary Federal agency supporting and conducting Alzheimer's disease and related dementias research.
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Wills, power of attorney, estate planning
Estate planning is the overarching term used for making decisions in relation to preparing a will and preparing an enduring power of attorney.
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Wills - Making a will is the only way to make sure your money, property, possessions and investments go to the people and causes you care about.
Enduring Power of Attorney - A power of attorney allows someone to make decisions on your behalf, in case there comes a time when you're no longer able, or no longer want, to make your own decisions.
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1) Source: Alzheimer Society of Canada
The mission of the Alzheimer Society of Canada is to alleviate the personal and social consequences of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias and to promote the search for causes, treatments and a cure.
Among the resources provided is a will planning checklist that was developed in partnership with the Royal Bank of Canada.
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2) Source: AgeUK, United Kingdom
AgeUK is a well-known charity organization. The webpage on end of life planning offers good advice on making a will, power of attorney, living wills, what to do when someone dies, and coping with bereavement. Many of the guides can be downloaded as pdf files.
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3) Source: National Council on Aging, USA
Mission - The National Council on Aging (NCOA) delivers the resources, tools, best practices, and advocacy our nation needs to ensure that every person can age with health and economic well-being.
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Appointing, and duties of, an estate executor or administrator
Wills usually name an executor, or an administrator, who is responsible for carrying out the instructions in the will. The executor or administrator can be one person or several people (e.g., a family member, a trusted friend, or a professional executor service such as a lawyer, an accountant, or a financial institution). Normally the services of the executor are paid from the estate.
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An executor is legally responsible for carrying out the instructions in the person's will and handling their estate. Being an executor isn't easy and it can take up a lot of time and energy. For example, on the RBC’s website, it suggests that, “It can take around 18 months, with as many as 70 different tasks, to settle even a simple estate. As an executor, you’ll have to probate the Will (if necessary), protect and distribute assets, pay outstanding debts and taxes, and prepare a final accounting for the beneficiaries of the estate.”
If there isn’t a will, then certain individuals may be eligible to apply for a grant of administration or probate in order to handle the estate – this process varies by country and state / province, and you should check your local regulations for details. In the UK for example, a grant of probate gives the designated person the legal right to deal with someone’s estate.
1) Source: AgeUK, United Kingdom
AgeUK is a well-known charity organization. The webpage on end of life planning offers good advice on making a will, power of attorney, living wills, what to do when someone dies, and coping with bereavement. Many of the guides can be downloaded as pdf files.
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2) Source: Royal Bank of Canada
Many financial institutions provide executor services, and you can do a quick search to see what’s available in your area.
The Royal Bank of Canada is one such example and it provides a useful and free executor checklist.
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Your Legacy
1) Source: Government of British Columbia, Canada
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2) Source: StoryCorps, New York, USA
StoryCorps is an independent nonprofit, sharing select stories with the public through its podcast, animated shorts, digital platforms, and best-selling books. StoryCorps is committed to the idea that everyone has an important story to tell and that everyone’s story matters.
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3) Source: The Legacy Project
Founded in 2000, the Legacy Project is an independent systems research, education, and innovation group. We draw on multidisciplinary research in the natural and social sciences, as well as Indigenous worldviews and knowledge.
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