If you have a will, any savings and investments you had outside a registered plan will transfer to the person or organization you have named. This includes real estate.

If you die “intestate” – meaning you do not have a will – your savings, investments and other property will be disbursed according to the laws of the province where you lived. You have no say in what happens.

That’s why it’s so important to have a legal will. Today. Learn more

Did you know: If you leave a lot of debt behind when you die, there may not be much left of your estate for anything or anyone else. That’s because your estate must first pay off your debts, plus probate fees and taxes, before any money goes to anyone else.

Content in this section is provided in partnership with the Investor Education Fund, a non-profit organization promoting financial literacy to Canadians. To find out more go to GetSmarterAboutMoney.ca.