Early estate planning helps you manage your financial matters and ensure that your wishes for the disposition of your estate are known. Estate planning encompasses a variety of activities including:

• Leaving a will,
• Naming beneficiaries in insurance and other policies,
• Planning and prepaying for your funeral,
• Using life insurance to cover expenses,
• Giving gifts before your death,
• Using your RRSP contributions as you wish,
• Buying permanent life insurance as an investment,
• Transferring property to joint ownership,
• Setting up trust fund(s), and
• Making arrangements in case of incapacity.

The following are good references to get you started on estate planning:

• Government of Canada
• Canadian Armed Forces
• Beechwood Military Cemetery

Canadian National Military Cemetery

If you are considering burial at the Canadian National Military Cemetery in the Beechwood Cemetery in Ottawa, see: https://beechwoodottawa.ca/en/communities/defence-and-security-services/national-military-cemetery for the information you need.

Last Post Fund

The mission of the Last Post Fund is to ensure every veteran has a dignified funeral and burial, as well as a military gravestone, due to insufficient funds at the time of death.

Cremation Urns

For those wishing to acquire a cremation urn bearing a military crest, Barn and Stable produces such items for the Canadian National Military Cemetery and will produce custom items upon request. Contact them at: info@barnandstable.com