ANNOUNCER: I’m here with Josh Laplante from Cohen Highley Lawyers. When a family member passes, is there an official reading of the will in a lawyer’s office?
JOSH: Not normally in Canada.
ANNOUNCER: So how is the will information circulated?
JOSH: Well, if the will is held at a law firm, procedures vary depending on the lawyer. Often the individual appointed as the state trustee or executor will provide proof of death and valid ID, and then the firm will release the will to that individual.
ANNOUNCER: What are the trustee’s responsibilities?
JOSH: There are several responsibilities which include gathering and safeguarding the deceased’s property, arranging for the funeral, paying the deceased’s debts and taxes, and distributing what’s left to the beneficiaries as indicated in the will.
ANNOUNCER: Does the will itself give the trustee access to bank accounts?
JOSH: Well, it depends on the bank. Typically, they’ll want a certificate of appointment of estate trustee, which is formerly known as probating the will, before they release a large sum of money. Or at the very least, they’ll ask for the estate trustee to sign an indemnity.
