Two Years, Not Two Months: What Executors Don’t Expect When Kaveh’s father died, the lawyer read through the will and confirmed what Kaveh already half expected. His father had named him executor. His sister looked across the table and said, “Well, you’re better with paperwork than I am.” Kaveh didn’t Read more
What Will You Actually Be Judged On? The Executor Standard Most People Have Never Heard Of A friend of mine once described agreeing to be someone’s executor the way most people do: “They asked. I said yes. It seemed like the right thing to do.” That’s the whole conversation for Read more
Most Executors Don’t Know They Can Be Paid Most people who agree to be an executor do it out of love, loyalty, or a sense of obligation. It feels like the right thing to do. It rarely feels like a job. But it is a job. And in Canada, it’s a Read more
AI Estate Administration: What Executors Need to Know Executors are increasingly using AI tools to help them manage estate work. Not necessarily because they are interested in technology, but because they find themselves overwhelmed. They’re facing unfamiliar documents, long email chains, confusing instructions from institutions, and timelines that feel unclear. Read more
Probate in Canada: How It Works and Why It Matters Many people feel uneasy when the topic of probate comes up, often because they’re unsure what it actually involves. Some people worry they’re doing something wrong if probate is required. Others assume probate should be avoided at all costs. And Read more
The Final Return: Tax Steps Executors Can’t Afford to Miss When someone passes away, their tax responsibilities don’t end with their last breath. In fact, for the executor, this is where the tax work truly begins. Preparing the final tax return, often called the “terminal return,” is one of the Read more
Beyond the Will: Prepare Your Executor for What’s Ahead Naming an executor in your will is a vital step in estate planning. But what happens after the ink dries? Many people think naming a trusted family member or friend is all that’s needed. But your executor’s responsibilities begin when yours Read more
Family Conflict and the Executor’s Dilemma Being named an executor can feel like both an honour and a burden. It’s a sign of trust. Someone believed in your judgment enough to put you in charge of managing their final wishes. But when grief and family conflict intersect, even the most Read more
The Certified Executor Advisor Advantage: A Lifeline for Executors When someone you love passes away, or when you’re trying to get your own affairs in order, you don’t usually think, “I should find a Certified Executor Advisor.” Instead, you’re faced with questions like: Where do I even start as an Read more
Executor Survival Kit: You’ve Been Named. Now What? So… you’ve just found out you’ve been named executor. Maybe you expected it. Maybe it came out of left field. Either way, it’s official. You’re now the person responsible for settling someone’s estate. And while most people assume this is just a Read more
