1. Life for those after death.

2.  A legal written instructions for the distribution of property and possessions after death. ◦ For any one with assets it is important to have a will. ◦ A person who dies without a will is call intestate, and the succession in this situation is determined by provincial and territorial legislation.

3.  You can draw up your own will, but to insure that it is written properly and laid out the way you want your assets to go get a lawyer.  Will are not written like you see in the movie where crazy requests or requirements are made.

4.  Probate is a legal process to distribute a deceased person's estate.  It includes: ◦ applying for Letters Probate to prove in court that the deceased's will is valid (usually a routine matter) ◦ identifying and drawing up an inventory of the deceased's property ◦ having the property appraised ◦ paying debts, probate fees, taxes, and ◦ distributing the remaining property as the will directs.

5. ◦ Probate rarely benefits your beneficiaries, and it always costs them money and time. ◦ The deceases’ assets are frozen until probate has been settled.

6. ◦ The executor named in your will is the person who handles the probate. ◦ If there is no will or the will fails to name an executor, the probate court appoints someone to handle the process. It is usually the closest capable relative or the person who inherits the bulk of the deceased person's assets.

7.  To save time and money for those you care about ◦ Have a will ◦ Bequeaths your spouse ◦ Make your benefactors' a person not your estate on insurance, and saving programs ◦ Give a gift while alive ◦ Joint tenancy