Managing an inheritance | National Bank

Advisory services

Leaving an inheritance

Find out where to start.

Have you come into an inheritance?

Find out how to proceed.

Need to talk to an advisor?

Get answers.

Make an appointment

Be prepared

Are you buying a home, getting married, having a baby, or facing another milestone?

Live for the moment, but remember to plan for the future: update your last will and testament whenever you acquire new assets or your family expands.

Why is it important to plan?

To protect you in case of incapacity
To distribute your assets and prevent any misunderstanding on your death
To cover funeral expenses
To ensure your wishes are respected
To find the best tax strategies for your heirs

Get started

Make a list of your assets

Print our brochure, The importance of informing others of your intentions to start taking stock of your assets and liabilities.

Identify your wishes

Think about who you want to leave your estate to, and who will take care of you and your assets should you become incapacitated.

Talk to an expert

The team of experts¹ at National Bank Trust can help you make decisions that will help give you peace of mind.

Talk to your advisor who can refer you to the experts at National Bank Trust if appropriate.

Make an appointment

3 questions to ask when planning your will

Who do you want to leave your estate to?

Drafting a will lets you choose your heirs and decide how much you will leave to them and under what terms.

Your financial planner² can help you think about your estate and assess tax implications.

Find a Financial Planner

Who will you appoint to execute your estate?

You can designate someone you trust (like a friend or family member) to be the executor/liquidator of your estate. Bear in mind that this is often an arduous task.

You also have the option of appointing National Bank Trust as your executor/liquidator, whether solely or jointly with a loved one. If you have been appointed an executor/liquidator, we can help you complete some of the tasks involved.

Advice for executors/liquidators

Are you protected in case of incapacity?

If you lose your independence and are unable to make decisions about your life and your assets, who will act on your behalf?

Contact a legal advisor to draft a will and save your loved ones from having to make decisions for you.

Learn about power of attorney

Tip

Do you have significant wealth and a complex financial or family situation? Establishing a trust might be the way to go. Find out how our estate and trust solutions can help.

Have you come into an inheritance? 3 key questions to ask

Should I accept the inheritance?

If you inherit an estate with more debt than assets, it's considered insolvent. If you accept the inheritance, you can be held liable for any debt owed by the estate.

If you refuse it, do not:

Take possession of assets belonging to the estate
Transfer any money to your bank account
Miss the deadline to refuse the inheritance (after 6 months)

What should you do when you receive the inheritance?

Should you pay off your debt or travel the world? If you've just come into a large sum of money, it's important not to make snap decisions.

Take some time to think and meet with an advisor so you can decide the best way to spend the money based on your goals and situation.

Make an appointment

Where should you put the money?

Have you given it some thought and are ready to take the next step? Investing some of the money is a smart move.

Whether you have short or long-term goals, find out which investment and savings solution is right for you based on your investor profile. An advisor can help.

See our investment solutions

Have you given it some thought and are ready to take the next step? Investing some of the money is a smart move.

Tip

Have you inherited a large sum of money? Learn more about our wealth management services.

Little details that matter

Legal disclaimers

1. Estate planning services are offered through National Bank subsidiaries. Estate planning experts provide their services on behalf of National Bank Trust, a wholly owned subsidiary of National Bank of Canada.

2. Financial planning services are offered through subsidiaries of National Bank. Financial Planners provide their services on behalf of National Bank Investments Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of National Bank of Canada.

Ready to get started?

Meet with an advisor and get personalized advice.

Make an appointment

Will planning

Advisory services

Leaving an inheritance

Learn more ↓

Have you come into an inheritance?

See details ↓

Need to talk to an advisor?

Be prepared

Why is it important to plan?

Get started

Make a list of your assets

Identify your wishes

Talk to an expert

3 questions to ask when planning your will

Who do you want to leave your estate to?

Who will you appoint to execute your estate?

Are you protected in case of incapacity?

Have you come into an inheritance? 3 key questions to ask

Should I accept the inheritance?

What should you do when you receive the inheritance?

Where should you put the money?

Little details that matter

Ready to get started?

Find a branch

Frequently Asked Questions