The short answer
Review whether your will, documents for financial and personal decisions during incapacity, account and policy designations, pension records and important contacts are current and can be found. The names and legal rules vary by province or territory, so confirm the documents that apply where you live.
Four groups of records to find and review
Will and estate representative
Confirm whether a current will exists, where the signed original is kept and who is named to administer the estate. The role's name can vary.
Financial and personal decision documents
Financial authority and health or personal-care authority are usually separate. Their names, signing rules and legal effect depend on provincial or territorial law.
Designations and contract records
Review the people recorded on registered accounts, pensions and insurance policies. A provider designation and a will are different records that may interact under current law.
Pensions, benefits and professional contacts
Keep enough information to find current pension terms, benefit estimates, insurance records and the professionals or organizations that can answer questions.
Review the record without storing sensitive details here
- Record that a document or source exists and where an authorized person could find it.
- Record the date it was last reviewed or confirmed.
- Write down a question that needs official or professional confirmation.
- Do not place a SIN, password, access code, account number or full legal document in Retired Kevin.
Some designations need their own check
The CRA distinguishes a TFSA successor holder from a designated beneficiary, and RRSP or RRIF outcomes can depend on the plan contract, the will, the recipient and current tax rules. Do not assume that one label has the same effect for every account or province. Ask the provider what its current record shows, then confirm important legal or tax consequences with the appropriate qualified professional.
Return after a meaningful change
A marriage, separation, death, move to another province or territory, change in health, new pension choice or unavailable representative can make a review useful. A regular check can also confirm that contact details and stored originals are still current.
Related questions
A few useful follow-ups.
Can Retired Kevin tell me whether a document is legally valid?
No. Validity and legal effect depend on the document and the law where you live. Use current provincial or territorial information and qualified legal help.
Should I upload my will or account records?
No. Retired Kevin does not need copies of legal documents or sensitive account details. The Organizer can hold a brief source, date, question or next action.
Optional organizer
Record what you want to find or confirm.
My Retirement Organizer keeps brief sources, dates, questions and next actions. It does not interpret documents, monitor dates or replace professional help.
Official sources
Check current information before acting.
- Canada.ca: Estates and wills, with provincial and territorial links (opens in a new tab)
- Federal, Provincial and Territorial Seniors Forum: Powers of attorney and joint bank accounts (opens in a new tab)
- CRA: If a TFSA holder dies (opens in a new tab)
- CRA: Death of an RRSP annuitant (opens in a new tab)
Sources reviewed August 13, 2026.