Wills and Estates

Writing a will and choosing someone to manage your estate is important. If you need help, INAC offers workshops on preparing a will and administering an estate.

If you have a will, this written document speaks for you after your death. Your will describes:

• who you want to carry out your plans for your estate when you die (your executor);
  
• who you want to benefit from the will (your heirs and beneficiaries);
  
• how you want your debts to be paid (e.g., funeral expenses, loans, credit cards); and
  
• how you want your estate to be distributed among your heirs or beneficiaries once your debts are paid.

If you die without a will, and no family member wishes to administer your estate, a departmental administrator will be appointed. The Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development has statutory and fiduciary duties in relation to the estates of deceased Indians who were "ordinarily resident" on a reserve during their lifetime.

For an estate to be administered under the Indian Act, the deceased individual must be registered as an Indian or entitled to be registered under the Indian Act. The individual must also have been ordinarily resident on a reserve or Crown land at the time of death.

For more information, contact INAC toll-free at 1 800 567-9604.

Estates

What should I do when a loved one dies?

Settling a family member’s estate

What is a will and how do I make one?

Why make a will?

INAC Programs in the Guide...