Facing a Death in the Family

Ashley Thomson is a full librarian at Laurentian University and co-editor or co-author of nine books, most recently Margaret Atwood: A Reference Guide, 1988-2005.

Written by two lawyers, this accessible, well-organized, and
meticulously researched handbook contains answers to practically any
question one might have about the topic of facing a death in the family.
Its 25 chapters are set out in a roughly chronological order, covering
subjects that range from caring for someone who is sick, to paying the
bills, to dealing with business matters following the death. There are
practical tips throughout. For example, we learn that executors need to
receive a “clearance certificate” from Revenue Canada certifying
that the estate has paid all income taxes owing (until they receive such
a certificate, executors should be cautious about disbursing the estate
to beneficiaries, because they might be on the hook for anything owing).


Much of the law related to this topic is province-specific, so readers
seeking answers to all their questions may still require the services of
a good lawyer. That said, this book a must-have for anyone facing the
death of a family member.