When you probate an estate, you prove by legal process that a will has been validly made and executed. This may sound complicated, but it isn't. It is actually possible for you, the layperson, to probate a simple estate. Furthermore, you can save thousands of dollars in legal fees.

Learn what you should do after a death; the powers and duties of executors and administrators; how estates are divided if there is no will; what to do about out-of-province assets; what forms are necessary and how to complete them properly; how to file for probate without a lawyer; and much more. All the information you need is included in this kit.

Here are some of the topics that are explained:

How to save money by doing it yourself What forms are necessary and how to complete them properly What all these documents and terms mean The actual mechanics of probate and/or administration procedures How an estate is divided if there is no will How to access the value of the deceased's assets How to advertise for creditors What to do about out-of-province assets How to transfer the assets of the estate to the rightful beneficiaries The rights of common-law spouses and illegitimate children What to do after you receive your Certificate of Appointment of Estate Trustee What benefits survivors are entitled to under the Canada Pension Plan - And more!

David I. Botnick graduated from Osgoode Hall Law School in 1981 and was called to the Bar of Ontario in April 1983. He is currently a partner in a law office in northwest Toronto, where he practices largely in the areas of family law, wills and estates, real estate, and personal injury. He has written booklets and newspaper articles on various legal topics of interest to the general public. His goal in his writing and in his practice is to make the law understandable and useful for everyone. He is also the author of Wills for Ontario and Ontario: Marriage, Separation, and Divorce, two other titles in the Self-Counsel Press series.

David I. Botnick's profile page