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What records should I leave for my executor?

An asset list, account details, insurance policies, digital access, the location of the original will, and your burial instructions.

This is legal information only. For advice on your own circumstances, speak to a lawyer.

An asset list, account details, insurance policies, digital access, the location of the original will, and your burial instructions.

The Canadian position

None of this belongs in the will itself, which becomes a public record after probate.

Keep it in a sealed document your executor knows about.

The Islamic position

Making the estate findable is part of the same obligation as making the will findable.

Cryptocurrency with no recorded key is simply lost to the heirs.

What to do about it

  1. List accounts, policies and property.
  2. Record where the original will is kept.
  3. Note digital access separately and securely.
  4. Include burial instructions.
  5. Update it annually.
Note

This is legal information only. For advice on your own circumstances, speak to a lawyer.

Citations & sources

Every factual claim on this page traces to a source below. Details change — check the original source before relying on any figure, fee or legal position. Anything under “further reading” is related material, not a source for what is stated here.

Canadian legislation & government
  1. Locating wills and documents — Law Society of Ontario
  2. Apply for probate of an estate — Government of Ontario
  3. Estate Administration Tax — Government of Ontario
  4. Estates Act, RSO 1990, c E.21 — Government of Ontario
Further reading — Treadstone Law
  1. Cremation vs burial instructions executor follow ontario — Treadstone Law
  2. Is a will public record in ontario — Treadstone Law
  3. Digital asset clause in a will ontario — Treadstone Law
  4. Is a probated will public record ontario — Treadstone Law
  5. Wills & estates practice — Treadstone Law