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| Preface | |
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| Acknowledgements | |
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| Estate Planning Checklist | |
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| What is Estate Planning? | |
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| What Should Be in an Estate Plan? | |
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| When Should You Prepare an Estate Plan? | |
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| Do You Want the Government to Be One of Your Beneficiaries? | |
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| Is It Worth Preparing an Estate Plan? | |
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| Will There Be Anything Left? | |
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| Retirement Planning | |
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| A Cash Flow Analysis | |
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| Increase Your Income Through a Reverse Mortgage | |
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| Common Death Benefits | |
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| Canada Pension Plan/QPP | |
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| Old Age Security/Seniors Benefits | |
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| Workers2 Compensation | |
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| War Veterans Allowances | |
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| Company Pension Plan | |
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| If You Are Not Retired | |
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| If You Have Retired and Are Receiving a Penion | |
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| Other Benefits | |
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| Summary | |
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| Dying Intestate: Distributing Your Estate Without a Will | |
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| Who Gets What | |
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| Delays in the Distribution of Your Estate | |
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| Higher Cost of Administering Your Estate | |
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| Additional Income Taxes Payable | |
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| Lost Investment Opportunities | |
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| Appointment of Guardians | |
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| Underage Beneficiaries | |
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| No Provision for Joint Disaster | |
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| Summary | |
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| Distributing Your Estate Through a Will | |
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| Who Gets What | |
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| Reducing the Cost to Die | |
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| Making the Gift More Tax Effective | |
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| What Is Fair? | |
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| Your Executor | |
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| Responsibilities of the Executor | |
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| Powers of the Executor | |
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| Appointing Your Executor | |
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| Compensating Your Executor | |
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| Keeping Your Will Up to Date | |
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| Moving | |
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| Legislation Changes | |
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| Marriage and Remarriage | |
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| Separation | |
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| Divorce | |
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| Summary | |
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| The Format of a Will | |
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| Common Clauses | |
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| Identify the Testator | |
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| Revoke All Previous Wills | |
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| Appoint Your Executor | |
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| Authorize Your Debts to Be Paid | |
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| Specify Who Gets What | |
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| Make Any Specific Bequests | |
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| Distribute the Residue | |
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| Optional Clauses | |
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| Appointing a Guardian for Minor Children | |
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| Managing Assets for Minor Children | |
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| Common Disaster Clause | |
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| Investment Powers of the Executor | |
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| List of Allowed Investments | |
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| Prudent Investor Standard of Care | |
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| Alternate Beneficiary for Life Insurance | |
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| Name a Beneficiary for RRSPs and RRIFs | |
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| Establishing Testamentary Trusts | |
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| Helping Your Children Protect Their Inheritance | |
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| Handwritten, Forms, and Formal Wills | |
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| Signing the Will | |
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| Distributing Your Estate by Giving It Away Now | |
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| Giving Away Personal Possessions | |
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| Giving to Your Adult Children | |
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| A Loan Versus an Outright Gift | |
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| Gifts to Young Children | |
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| Gifts to Charities and Charitable Foundations | |
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| What Happens on Death | |
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| Probate | |
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| Probate Fees | |
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| Strategies for Reducing Probate Fees | |
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| Designated Beneficiaries | |
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| Joint Ownership of Assets | |
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| Real Estate | |
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| Other Assets | |
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| Gifts | |
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| Multiple Wills | |
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| Trusts | |
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| Converting Personal Debt to Secured or Corporate Debt | |
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| Summary | |
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| Financial Powers of Attorney | |
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| The Power of Attorney Document | |
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| If You Live in Ontario | |
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| If You Live in British Columbia | |
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| If You Live in Quebec | |
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| If You Live in Alberta | |
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| Selecting Your Power of Attorney | |
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| The Powers of the Attorney | |
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| Preparing a Power of Attorney | |
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| Reviewing a Power of | |