5 Documents Every Canadian Should Have Before It's Too Late
Nobody wakes up thinking "today I'll get my affairs in order." It's always something for later — after the renovation, after the kids start school, after things calm down.
But here's the uncomfortable truth: if something happened to you tomorrow, would your family know what to do? Would they have access to what they need? Would they know what you wanted?
These five documents exist to make sure the answer is yes.
1. A will
A will is the most fundamental document in your estate plan. It says who gets what, who's responsible for carrying it out, and — if you have children — who takes care of them.
Without one: The province decides how your assets are distributed, using a standard formula that may not match your wishes. The process takes longer, costs more, and can create conflict between family members.
What you need to know: - You can write a basic will yourself, but having a lawyer review it adds legal weight - Name an executor — someone you trust to handle the details - Update it after major life events: marriage, divorce, birth, death, property changes - Store the original somewhere safe and tell your executor where it is
2. Power of attorney for property
This gives someone the authority to manage your finances if you can't — paying bills, managing investments, selling property, handling taxes.
Without one: Your family may need to go through a court process to get authority over your finances. This takes time and money — exactly when they have the least of both.
What you need to know: - Choose someone you trust completely — this is significant authority - You can set conditions: it only takes effect if you're incapacitated, or it's effective immediately - In Quebec, this is called a "mandate" (or "protection mandate" under recent reforms) - It ends at death — your will takes over from there
3. Power of attorney for personal care
This names someone to make healthcare decisions on your behalf if you can't make them yourself. In some provinces, this person is called a Substitute Decision Maker.
Without one: Doctors will turn to your next of kin, which is usually your spouse or adult child. But without clear documentation, disagreements can arise — especially in blended families or estranged relationships.
What you need to know: - This is separate from the financial power of attorney — you can name different people for each - Have a real conversation with this person about your values and preferences - It covers everything from treatment decisions to where you live if you need care
4. An advance directive
Also called a "living will," this document records your wishes for medical care in situations where you can't communicate. It covers questions like:
- Do you want life-sustaining treatment if there's no reasonable chance of recovery?
- How do you feel about resuscitation, ventilators, tube feeding?
- What does comfort-focused care mean to you?
- Are there treatments you want to refuse under any circumstances?
Without one: Your substitute decision maker has to guess. That's an enormous burden to place on someone you love.
What you need to know: - Laws vary by province — some provinces give advance directives more legal weight than others - Be as specific as you can, but know that you can't anticipate every scenario - Review it every few years or after any major health change - Give copies to your doctor, your substitute decision maker, and your hospital
5. A personal information document
This one isn't legally required, but it might be the most practically useful. It's a single document that tells your family everything they need to know:
- Bank accounts and financial institutions
- Insurance policies and policy numbers
- Subscriptions and recurring payments
- Online accounts and how to access them
- Location of important documents (deed, passport, birth certificate)
- Emergency contacts
- Funeral preferences
- Anything else that would take weeks to figure out without guidance
Without one: Your family spends weeks — sometimes months — piecing together your financial and digital life, often missing things entirely.
Where to start
If you have none of these, don't try to do everything at once. Start with the two most impactful:
1. A will — even a simple one 2. Power of attorney for personal care — because this covers the decisions that affect you most directly
Then work your way through the rest. Each one is a gift to the people you love.
How My Elephant helps
My Elephant's guided questionnaire walks you through many of these topics naturally. Your personalised plan captures your values, care preferences, and personal wishes — and you can store important documents securely in the Vault, encrypted with bank-level security.
You don't need a lawyer to start. You just need 20 minutes and the willingness to reflect.