Why prepare your estate file before it becomes urgent
Because the problem is not only succession: it’s the urgency, the dispersion of information, and the gray areas. A file prepared during your lifetime transforms a potentially chaotic situation into clear execution.
"Later" is costly — in time, friction, and uncertainty
When information is not structured, your loved ones (or your representative/liquidator) must reconstruct: where the documents are located, which accounts exist, which contacts to call, which keys open what, and which decisions are possible. They must also “imagine,” without precise instructions or decisions made in advance, how you would have wanted your assets to be distributed. Lost time often turns into stress, errors, and family tensions.
What “later” typically creates
Lengthy searching (documents, access, contacts, recurring obligations)
Urgent decisions (without complete visibility)
Misunderstandings (“who had the right,” “who knew,” “where it was”)
Multiplication of parties and back-and-forth exchanges
Doing it beforehand means replacing improvisation with a usable file
An estate file prepared during your lifetime is not “just another” document. It’s a structure: inventory, document index, access register, and update plan. The main benefit: your loved ones no longer have to guess.
Concrete results
Reduced searching: information is located and organized
Clear access: who is authorized, how, and when
Transferability: delivery at the appropriate time according to your rules
Continuity: simple and realistic update plan
When is it particularly worthwhile?
Scenario 1 — Dispersed information
Multiple institutions, accounts, paper and digital documents, social networks, web applications, passwords, contracts: without an index, your loved ones must “map” in an emergency.
Scenario 2 — Distant or unavailable loved ones
When loved ones are at a distance (or unfamiliar with your affairs), a structured file becomes an “instruction manual.”
Scenario 3 — Desire to reduce gray areas
You want to avoid misunderstandings regarding access, keys, document location, and the logic of transmission.
An important clarification: organization and coordination, not confusion
The “estate file during your lifetime” service aims at structuring information and operational preparation.
If legal acts are required (e.g., will, protection mandate), they are subject to specific forms and requirements; VALORA can coordinate with qualified professionals according to the mandate.
Example: the protection mandate is provided for in the Civil Code of Québec and must be made by notarial act en minute or before witnesses (formal requirement).
An estate file = sensitive data. Confidentiality is not optional.
This service involves highly sensitive personal information. VALORA applies a minimization approach (collect only what is necessary), access control, and service provider governance.
Reference: the collection, use, and disclosure of personal information by a business in Quebec are governed by the Act respecting the protection of personal information in the private sector (P-39.1).
FAQ
Is it "too early" if I'm in good health?
No. The benefit comes from avoiding urgency and information dispersion.
Do I have to disclose everything in detail?
No. The level of detail is defined during the assessment. We aim for usability, not over-collection.
Will my loved ones have access right away?
No. You define the authorized persons and the delivery protocol.
Does this replace a will or protection mandate?
No. The file organizes information; legal acts have their own requirements.
What is the confidentiality framework?
The service is structured to limit access and document exchanges, in accordance with the framework applicable to businesses in Quebec.
How much does it cost?
$160/hour/person, by milestones, with a range based on assumptions (volume, dispersion, document availability).
