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End-of-Life Plan

Executor


Executor



Frequently Asked Questions
What is an executor?An executor is a trusted individual named in your Last Will and Testament to administer your estate. Your executor is responsible for tying up your financial and legal matters as well as distributing your assets to beneficiaries.Who should I choose to carry out my final wishes?Many people appoint the executor (also known as a personal representative) of their Last Will to carry out their final arrangements. If this isn't possible or desirable for you, be sure to choose someone you know and trust to carry out your end-of-life plans.

In Alberta, normally the authority to make decisions about your remains and make memorial arrangements goes to the following people, in order:
- The personal representative of your estate
- Your spouse or adult independent partner
- Your adult child
- Your parent
- Your guardian, if you had one at the time of your death
- Your adult grandchild
- Your adult sibling
- Your adult nephew or niece
- Your adult next of kin


Your End-of-Life Plan

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End-of-Life Plan for ________________________

I, ________________________, currently of _______________, AB, being of sound mind, willfully and voluntarily declare that these are my final wishes as to the disposition of my body after my death and any services or memorialization to be held in my name.

This document is not intended to be interpreted as my Last Will and Testament.

    1. Appointee
    2. I request that the executor of my Last Will and Testament, ________________________, currently of _______________, AB, be in charge of planning and executing my last wishes.
    1. Death Announcement
    2. I do not wish to have any announcement published online or in print upon my death.
    1. Organ Donation
    2. I wish to donate my organs upon my death and am a registered organ donor in the province of Alberta.
    1. Final Disposition of My Body
    2. Upon my death, I have no preference as to how my body is dealt with.
    1. Services in My Memory
    2. Upon my death, I do not wish to have any formal services held in my honour.


I recognize that it may not be possible for my appointee to fulfill all of my wishes and request that ________________________ act to follow the spirit of these wishes as well as they can and within the limits of any applicable law.


SIGNATURE

_________________________

_________________________

________________________

Date

WITNESSES

SIGNED AND DECLARED by ________________________ on the ______ day of ________________, ________ to be the declarant’s End-of-Life Plan expressing their own wishes as to the disposition of their body and any services to be held in their name. We declare that ________________________ is personally known to us, that they signed this End-of-Life Plan in our presence, and that they appeared to be of sound mind and not acting under duress, fraud, or undue influence.

_________________________

_________________________

Witness #1 Signature

Witness #2 Signature

_________________________

_________________________

Witness #1 Name (please print)

Witness #2 Name (please print)

_________________________

_________________________

Date

Date

Last Updated February 20, 2024

Written by


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What is an End-of-Life Plan?

An End-of-Life Plan is an estate planning document outlining your final memorial and burial wishes. This can include details like whether you want a formal service and how you want your remains handled.

An End-of-Life Plan is also known as a:

  • Funeral planning document
  • Final wishes document
  • Last wishes document
  • Burial instructions

Why is having an End-of-Life Plan important?

Think of an End-of-Life Plan like a checklist or guide detailing how you want your friends and family to celebrate your life. Outlining your wishes helps your family because they won’t have to guess about what you want and make tough decisions while they grieve.

An End-of-Life Plan is only one of the estate planning documents that every adult should make. To help prepare your loved ones for the future, having these  documents ready will further help them should anything happen to you:

These documents will give your family peace of mind, knowing they can follow through with all your final wishes regarding financial responsibilities, medical care, and more.  

How to write an End-of-Life Plan

LawDepot’s user-friendly questionnaire allows you to include all the key information to complete your End-of-Life Plan. Customize your plan by including your wishes for the following:

1. Appointee

Your appointee is the person, or people, who will carry out your final wishes on your behalf. An appointee should be someone you trust to fulfill your wishes to the best of their ability. Also, if you have an existing Will, your executor may also act as your appointee. 

2. Announcement of your passing

This step details how you would like your appointee to inform people of your passing. Options can include a small, informal notice or an obituary.

3. Organ donations

Many people wish to help others after their passing through organ donation. In your End-of-Life Plan, state if you’re an organ donor to ensure your appointee and loved ones are aware of your wishes and reduce delays in medical personnel removing any donated organs. 

If you’re not already an organ donor but wish to be one, you can register via your province or territory’s government website

4. Your remains

Once you’ve passed, your family needs to know how you wish your remains to be handled or prepared for burial. This can include being:

  • Buried in a cemetery or private plot
  • Entombed in a mausoleum
  • Donated to medical science or education
  • Cremated and having your ashes buried, entombed, given to a loved one, or spread at a specific location

5. Funeral wishes

Creating your End-of-Life Plan can include any specific funeral wishes you have for your family to follow. Types of arrangements include:

  • Funeral
  • Graveside service
  • Memorial service
  • Visitation or viewing

While outlining your funeral wishes, include any specific religious or spiritual traditions you may want your family to conduct. 

6. Financial planning 

To help your family follow through with your requests, you can include details on the funding for your final wishes, such as burial and funeral services. In your plan, you can indicate if you have put aside savings specifically for these plans or if your estate will reimburse any costs. 

7. Final thoughts and messages

To finish up your End-of-Life Plan, you can leave any final thoughts or messages for specific loved ones. Write them in your End-of-Life Plan for them to read upon your passing. 

8. Any other final instructions

Our questionnaire allows you to highlight any further instructions you wish your loved ones to have that may be more specific. For example, if you want a memorial or funeral service, you may decide to have family and friends donate to a charity of your choice rather than send flowers for the service. 

Does an End-of-Life Plan need to be witnessed or notarized?

End-of-Life Plans don’t need to be notarized in Canada. However, it is the best practice to have it witnessed when signing. This helps validate your wishes regarding the disposal of your remains and funeral requests.

LawDepot’s End-of-Life Plan template creates a witness section on your document to help further validate your plans.

Is an End-of-Life Plan legally binding?

Though an End-of-Life Plan is not legally binding, it’s still essential for appointees or executors to try and fulfill your wishes to the best of their ability. 

To help your appointee, discuss your plan with them and other loved ones so they know your wishes, where any funds will come from, and how they can best fulfill your requests.

Related Documents:

  • Last Will and Testament: Create your decisions in writing for who will receive your assets and property after you pass away.
  • Living Will: Specify your health care treatment preferences or appoint someone to make medical decisions for you if you become incapacitated.
  • Power of Attorney: Grant another person authority to manage your legal and financial affairs on your behalf if you become incapacitated or cannot do so on your own.
  • Personal Care Profile: Summarize your cultural beliefs, social interests, or other personal information that caregivers can use to improve your quality of life if you become ill or incapacitated.
  • Just-In-Case Instructions: Write out the details of your personal, legal, and financial documents and where to find them for your executor.
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End-of-Life Plan

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