Wills and Estate Planning Forms

This Canadian statutory declaration form must be completed by the executor of a deceased shareholder's estate to transfer shares owned by the deceased.

How to Use the Declaration for Transmission of Shares

The executor of the estate must submit the completed Declaration for Transmission of Shares to the company that issued the shares, to request that the shares be transferred to the estate.

The shares must be transferred into the deceased's estate so that they can be then distributed to the beneficiaries.

Downloadable Free Form

This statutory declaration template is a free form provided for the convenience of estate executors. It is provided in MS Word format as a downloadable document that can be reused as often as required.

Applicable Laws

The Declaration for Transmission of Shares on Death is governed by Canadian laws and is intended for use only for the administration of estates in Canada.

Download this free copy of the Last Will and Testament of heiress Doris Duke.

• Doris Duke (1912-1993) was an American heiress, horticulturalist, art collector and philanthropist.
• When Doris was just 12 years old, her father died and left her a fortune estimated at about $100 million. At the age of 14, she took her mother to court and successfully prevented her from selling the family's 2,700 acre estate.
• When Duke came of age, she used her wealth to pursue a variety of interests, including extensive world travel and the arts. During World War II, she worked in a canteen for sailors in Egypt, taking a salary of one dollar a year. She apparently spoke nine languages.
• In 1945, Duke began a short-lived career as a foreign correspondent for the International News Service, reporting from different cities across the war-ravaged Europe. After the war, she moved to Paris and wrote for the magazine Harper's Bazaar.
• While living in Hawaii, Duke became the first woman to take up competition surfing. A lover of animals, in particular her dogs and pet camels, in her later years Duke became a wildlife refuge supporter, an environmental conservationist, and a patron of historic preservation.

Biographical material taken from Wikipedia.com.

Learn about the Duties of an Executor with this free downloadable summary of the responsibilities of the executor of an estate.

• The executor (sometimes called a personal representative) is responsible for such things as:
  • reviewing the will,
  • arranging probate,
  • taking inventory of the assets,
  • preparing the final tax return,
  • distribution of the assets to the beneficiaries (heirs).
• 'Duties of an Executor' is a free downloadable PDF checklist and guide.

Elizabeth Edwards (1949-2010), best-selling author and US health care activist, was also the wife of North Carolina Senator John Edwards. This is a copy of her Last Will and Testament.

• Elizabeth obtained a law degree from UNC and practiced law until 1996.
• Edwards was well known for her support of universal health care and gay marriage, and her opposition to the war in Iraq, which were points of disagreement between her and her husband. She was a staunch advocate for women's health, especially cancer patients.
• Senator Edwards' revelations about his extramarital affair caused many Americans to rally around in support of his wife. She separated from him in 2010, and died of cancer later that year.

Download this free copy of the Last Will and Testament of Elvis Aaron Presley, the King of Rock and Roll (1935-1977).

• Elvis dominated the popular music charts for decades, until the coming of the Beatles in the 1960s. His unique blend of blues, country and folk combined with his smooth sexy delivery and pelvic gyrations made him a superstar.
• Elvis' first single, 'Heartbreak Hotel' released in 1956, was also his first number 1 hit. He went on to have a string of hits, accompanied by television appearances before swooning audiences of screaming crazed female fans.
• Elvis made his film debut in 1956's Love Me Tender.
• After his army stint, he returned to recording and making movies. In 1968 he returned to live performance with a highly successful television special, a long-standing Las Vegas stint and numerous tours.
• Presley was the first to broadcast a concert globally via satellite, the 'Aloha from Hawaii' special broadcast in 1973.
• Elvis' death as a result of prescription drug abuse robbed us of one of the most important cultural icons of the 20th century. He remains the best-selling solo artist in the history of pop music. Today, millions of Elvis fans still mark the anniversary of his death with candlelight vigils at his mansion at Graceland.

Biographical information taken from Wikipedia.com.

This is a copy of the Will of Epicurus (341 BC-270 BC).

• Epicurus founded one of the major philosophies of ancient Greece, helping to lay the intellectual foundations for modern science and for secular individualism.
• Many aspects of his thought are still highly relevant some twenty-three centuries after they were first taught in his school in Athens, called 'the Garden.'
• Epicurus's philosophy combines a physics based on an atomistic materialism with a rational hedonistic ethic that emphasizes moderation of desires and cultivation of friendships.
• His world-view is an optimistic one that stresses that philosophy can liberate one from fears of death and the supernatural, and can teach us how to find happiness in almost any situation.
• His practical insights into human psychology, as well as his science-friendly world-view, gives Epicureanism great contemporary signficance as well as a venerable role in the intellectual development of Western Civilization.

The above taken from www.epicurus.net

Download a free copy of the Last Will of American novelist Ernest (Papa) Hemingway (1899-1961).

• The works of Ernest Miller Hemingway are considered classics of American literature. His writing style, known as the iceberg theory, was characterized by economy and understatement, and it influenced many other 20th century writers. His characters exuded authenticity, which reverberated with his public.
• In his younger years Hemingway worked as a reporter until World War I when he became an ambulance driver in Italy. This experience formed the basis for A Farewell to Arms.
• After the war he worked in Paris as a foreign correspondence, which led to him covering the Spanish Civil War, after which he wrote For Whom the Bell Tolls. During World War II he was present at D-Day and the liberation of Paris. In the midst of all this, he found time to get married four times.
• Hemingway's public persona was that of a hard drinking, hard living adventure seeker. After publishing The Old Man and the Sea, Hemingway went on safari to Africa and was almost killed in a plane crash, which left him in ill health for most of the rest of his life.
• He won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1954.
• Hemingway committed suicide at his home in 1961.

Source: Wikipedia.org

Do you know what the short-term and long-term financial impact would be for the survivor if you or your spouse or partner were to die?

• Use this Estate Planning Analysis Worksheet to help you determine:
  • the immediate cash requirements of the surviving spouse / partner,
  • ongoing monthly income needs, and
  • available assets.
• This Estate Planning Analysis Worksheet should be completed by both you and your spouse or partner.
• It is provided in MS Word format and can be easily downloaded and filled in, either on the computer or by hand.

Put together all the information you need to create your estate plan with this comprehensive Estate Planning Checklist & Questionnaire for Canadian residents.

What is an estate plan and why do I need one?

The purpose of an estate plan is two-pronged: (1) after your death, to distribute your estate assets to the people or organizations that you designate, and (2) while you're still living, to give someone you trust the authority to make financial and healthcare decisions for you if you become unable to do so.

That's a simplified version, but it pretty much sums up the essence of an estate plan. 

The documents that make up your estate plan will include a Will (sometimes accompanied by the formation of a testamentary trust), a Power of Attorney for financial matters, and a Personal Directive (also called a Living Will, Healthcare Directive or Medical Directive), for healthcare and personal care matters.

Every person who owns assets, investments, or personal property that they want passed on to family members or others needs to have a Will, so that your property and personal items are distributed according to your wishes.

And each of us faces the uncertainty of a future time where we may no longer be able—whether physically or mentally—to make decisions for ourselves.

That is why every Canadian adult should make an estate plan—to ensure your wishes are followed, and to give both you and your loved ones peace of mind.

Learn more about making an estate plan in Canada.

What is the scope of this questionnaire?

The Estate Planning Checklist & Questionnaire will help you compile the data and provide the answers your legal and financial advisors will need to prepare your estate plan documents (will, trust, power of attorney, health care directive, etc.).

The Questionnaire will assist you in pulling together information your advisors and executors will need regarding:

• personal and family information
• assets and investments in your name, or jointly held with others
• life insurance policies
• liabilities you are responsible for
• business information, including farming interests
• personal balance sheet and income statement
• a list of documents your legal and financial advisors will want to review
• digital assets and online accounts

There are two versions of the digital assets section. One version is for your executors, which includes log-in details and information about:

• email accounts
• websites and domains you own
• social media, blogs and other user-generated content
• shopping accounts
• affiliate accounts and online revenue streams (such as Etsy, EBay, Amazon Handmade, Kijiji, etc)
• cryptocurrency accounts
• online banking and investment accounts

The other version of this digital assets section is for your lawyer and financial advisor, and does NOT include any usernames, passwords, passkeys, codes or other log-in details.

Once you have answered all questions in each section, you and your advisors will be able to prepare your estate plan documents with ease.

Learn more about digital assets:  What is a digital footprint? Should it be part of your will?

Templates for Canadians by Canadians

This document makes references to Canadian taxes and registered savings plans, but could be used in other countries with relatively minor changes to the specific questions.

The Estate Planning Checklist & Questionnaire for Canada is available as a downloadable MS Word template. You can reuse this document for other members of your family. Buy once, use as often as you like.

Our document templates are created by human professionals, in some instances with assistance from AI tools. They are always reviewed, vetted and finalized by humans. 

MegaDox.com—supplying you with the documents you need to manage your business and your life since 1999.

Protect your future and your loved ones with a complete Alberta Estate Planning Document Package — Will, Power of Attorney and Personal Directive Forms.

Planning ahead is one of the most important steps you can take to protect your family, your finances, and your personal wishes.

This comprehensive Alberta Estate Planning Package includes the essential legal documents you need to prepare for unexpected events, manage your affairs if you become unable to do so, and ensure your wishes are respected.

Designed specifically for residents of the Province of Alberta, this convenient downloadable package includes professionally prepared templates for:

1. Alberta Enduring Power of Attorney
2. Alberta Revocation of Power of Attorney
3. Alberta Personal Directive, including Personal Directive Card and Guide
4. Canada Complete Legal Will Kit
5. Alberta Codicil to Will

These editable documents allow you to create, update, and organize your estate planning documents from the comfort of your own home.

Learn more about making a will in Alberta.

What is included in the Alberta Estate Planning Package?

1. Alberta Enduring Power of Attorney

An Enduring Power of Attorney allows you to appoint a trusted person (your attorney) to manage your financial and property matters if you are unable or choose not to manage them yourself.

This document can help ensure that someone you trust has the authority to handle important financial and legal matters, including:

• Managing bank accounts and investments
• Paying bills and expenses
• Handling real estate and property matters
• Managing business and financial transactions
• Dealing with government agencies and other organizations

An Enduring Power of Attorney is an important part of an Alberta estate plan because it allows you to choose who will act on your behalf rather than leaving decisions to be made without your input.

2. Alberta Revocation of Power of Attorney Form

This Revocation of Power of Attorney form allows you to formally cancel a previously granted Power of Attorney.

Use this document when you want to terminate an existing appointment and no longer wish the named attorney to have authority to act on your behalf.

3. Alberta Personal Directive

An Alberta Personal Directive allows you to provide instructions about your personal care and health care decisions and appoint someone you trust to make decisions for you if you become unable to communicate or make those decisions yourself.

Your Personal Directive can address important personal matters, including:

• Medical treatment preferences
• Health care decisions
• Living arrangements
• Personal care choices
• Appointment of a decision-maker (agent)

A Personal Directive is a key part of future planning because it ensures that someone you choose can make personal decisions according to your wishes.

The Personal Directive form includes a Personal Directive Information Card and a guide to understanding Personal Directives.

4. Legal Will Kit for Canada (Including Alberta Requirements)

This comprehensive Canadian Legal Will Kit provides the information, instructions, and forms needed to prepare your own legally structured will.

The Canadian Will Kit package includes:

• A customizable Last Will and Testament template
• Step-by-step information and instructions
• Guidance to help you complete your will correctly
• Alberta Affidavit of Witness of a Will form
• Comprehensive estate planning questionnaire

Creating a will allows you to:

• Decide how your property and assets will be distributed
• Name beneficiaries
• Appoint an executor to administer your estate
• Provide instructions regarding your final wishes
• Help reduce uncertainty and stress for your family

5. Alberta Codicil to Will

An Alberta Codicil to Will allows you to make certain changes or additions to an existing will without preparing an entirely new document.

A codicil may be useful when you need to update your estate plan because of changes such as:

• Adding or removing a beneficiary
• Changing an executor
• Updating specific gifts or instructions
• Reflecting changes in your personal circumstances

Why do you need an Alberta estate plan?

Many people put off estate planning because they assume it is only necessary for older adults or people with significant assets. In reality, every adult can benefit from having documents that explain their wishes and appoint trusted decision-makers.

Without proper planning, your family may face additional stress, delays, or uncertainty when dealing with your financial affairs, health care decisions, or estate administration.

A complete Alberta estate plan can help you:

• Protect your family and loved ones
• Maintain control over important decisions
• Choose who manages your affairs if you cannot
• Clearly communicate your wishes
• Make future decisions easier for those close to you

Why should I buy this Alberta estate planning package?

• Assistance and guidance. Each document in this Estate Planning Package comes with instructions and information to guide you through it.
• Reusable, editable forms. These fully editable MS Word forms are reusable and can be used by more than one person in your household, making this an affordable and practical way to organize your estate planning documents.
• Easy download. The documents are compiled into a .zip file for easy downloading and extraction.
• Compliance with laws. These Estate Planning Package forms are compliant with Canadian tax laws and the laws of the Province of Saskatchewan.
• Save money. Purchasing this all-in-one Estate Planning Package saves you almost 50% compared with purchasing each document separately.

Prepare your Alberta will, Powers of Attorney, and Advance Health Care Directive today and gain the peace of mind that comes from knowing you have planned for the future.

Additional Resources

• What is estate planning?, IG Wealth Management
• Why every Canadian should make a legally valid will, Empire Life
• Explaining the words and phrases commonly found in a Will, MegaDox.com
• Top Tips to Avoid Estate Tax in Canada, Munroe & Crawford