On this page you’ll find
Life events that can affect your estate plan
Not every change in your life will require a change to your estate plan, but consider reviewing it if any of these life changes occur:
- marriage or common law partnership
- birth or adoption of a child
- separation or divorce – of you or a family member
- remarriage
- serious illness or severe complications due to disease, medical procedure, or treatment of you or a beneficiary or executor
- death of a spouse, family member, executor or trustee
- move to another province or out of country
- purchase of property outside of province or country
- sale of significant assets that make up your estate or change in how they are held
- major change in financial or business situation (such as an inheritance or bankruptcy or desire to pass on the family business to adult children).
- Desire to give to a charity during your lifetime or upon your death
Your wishes may change over time, even if no life events have occurred. It’s worth reviewing your estate plan every few years to confirm that it still reflects your wishes.
Other events that can affect your estate plan
You should also review your estate plan if laws such as family laws or succession laws, or tax laws change. Changes in such laws can affect your estate planning objectives and impact how you intend your assets to be distributed.
Key point
Moving to another province or out of country could require a change to your will.