A Structured Starting Point for the Road Ahead
Being named an Executor can feel overwhelming. Executor Essentials offers you a structured, informed starting point, with clear time-limited support to help you navigate the early and middle stages of estate administration with confidence.
If this is your first time acting as Executor, or if you want to make sure nothing critical is overlooked, this service will help you avoid missed deadlines, incomplete documentation, and unnecessary stress. You receive expert guidance, tailored tools, and follow-up support within a defined time frame.
What’s Included
- 60-minute initial consultation to review the estate, the will and key documents, clarify your responsibilities, and outline next steps
- Customized Executor checklist and action plan tailored to the estate’s size, complexity, and provincial or territorial requirements
- Guidance and practical support for key tasks, which may include:
- Preparing for probate (the court process goes by different names across Canada)
- Understanding CRA requirements (and Revenu Québec’s, in Quebec) and planning for final and trust returns
- Communicating with banks, investment firms, insurance providers, and other institutions
- Working with lawyers, accountants, and other professionals
- Communication tips and sample wording to help you update beneficiaries in a clear and professional way
- Up to three 30-minute follow-up meetings, scheduled as needed within an agreed time frame as you work through the early and middle stages of the estate administration
- Optional referrals and organizational tools, such as the Executor Digital Organizer, if you choose to add them
Executor Essentials is provided by Nancy Boisvert, Certified Executor Advisor (CEA). Meetings are available in every province and territory by video call, and in person in the Calgary area. If you’ve sent your documents ahead, a phone call works too.
Who This Service Is For
This service is ideal for:
- First-time Executors or individuals who’ve never managed an estate before
- Executors who want a clear starting point before beginning court or probate processes
- People seeking peace of mind that they’re meeting their obligations properly
- Family members supporting an Executor who want clarity and structure during a difficult time
- Anyone who wants confidence, organization, and professional guidance in fulfilling executor duties
If you’ve just been named and want to understand the role before you start anything, the Executor Clarity Consultation is a better first step.
Why This Service Matters
Acting as an Executor can feel like taking on a second job at a time when you may also be dealing with your own grief and responsibilities. There are forms to complete, assets to identify, institutions to contact, and legal requirements to meet. Without guidance, it’s easy to feel uncertain or worry about making a mistake.
Executor Essentials helps you bring order and structure to the process by making sure you have:
- A clear understanding of your role and responsibilities
- A prioritized list of what needs to be done first and what can wait
- A customized checklist to keep you on track
- Time-limited follow-up support so you can ask questions as you move forward
Prefer to work through it on your own?
The Executor’s Compass™ Suite is a self-guided option for Executors who’d rather organize the estate at their own pace. It includes the Executor’s Compass™ and the Estate Administration Timeline, which open right in your browser, and the Estate Administration Spreadsheet, which you open in a spreadsheet program such as Excel, Google Sheets or LibreOffice Calc. Some features or formatting may look different depending on the program you use. Learn more about the Executor’s Compass™ Suite.
Next Steps
If you’ve recently been named as an Executor, Executor Essentials will give you the clarity, tools, and support you need to begin with confidence. Contact NEXsteps to discuss Executor Essentials.
Disclaimer: NEXsteps provides education, guidance, and organizational support for estate planning, executor readiness, and estate administration preparation. These services are not legal, financial, medical, or tax advice. Please consult the appropriate licensed professionals for advice specific to your situation.
