I know this sounds a bit irreverent or flippant however it is meant to stimulate some hard thinking about the real costs of dying. Sure, there are lots of lists around, but I haven’t found 1 yet that covers everything I have seen in nearly 43-years in this industry. Is this list perfect? Absolutely not – but it will get you thinking about your own and your family’s situation. Remember, not all of these will apply to you – but some will – and the costs range widely.
* Probate Fees * Legal Fees * Copying and certifying fees * Paid searches for titles, etc. * Legal notifications to family * Legal notifications to creditors * Asset Transfer fees * Estate Accounting Fees * Terminal Tax Return Fees * Estate Tax Return Fees * Rights and Things Tax Return Fees * Ongoing Tax Return Fees if estate not settled within 12 months * Testamentary Trust Tax Return Fees *Preparing and filing tax election fees (estate and personal) * Executor and Trustee Fees (annually until Estate and all trusts closed) * Executor and Trustee disbursements – copying, telephone, faxing, certifications, mileage, parking, travel expenses * Valuation fees – real estate, listed personal property, personal property, real estate and other capital and/or depreciable property * Transfer costs for title transfer to Executor and/or Trustee and eventually to residual beneficiaries * Commissions paid for asset sales – real estate, estate sales, sale of listed personal assets, if necessary * Commissions paid to investment advisors for selling stocks and bonds not held in managed-money accounts *Income taxes payable – terminal tax return, estate tax return(s), Rights and Things tax return, Trust tax return(s) * Tax due on transfer of pensions and registered assets to other than spouse * Shrinkage of realisable asset value due to urgency of sale – tax paid on FMV not $ received – must replace lost $ * Account closing fees on nominee accounts and self-directed investment accounts
* Court fees – Probate and other as necessary if Will contested * Court costs if you die intestate * Banking Fees – estate bank accounts, trust bank accounts * Rental Fees – safety deposit box or other secure location *Funeral, memorial and related costs – cultural, faith-based, community or family expectations. Wake or similar * Costs of collecting promissory notes owed to deceased – loans to family members and businesses * Terminal care costs not covered by Government, group or personal plans * Legal costs to defend Will from challenges * Payment of all legally enforceable debts – including ones you guaranteed or co-signed * Perpetual pet care * Costs of care for children and other dependents (maybe your parents!) * Cost to close your social media accounts * Payment for ongoing business management until it is sold * Short-term emergency funds for survivors * Ongoing income for survivors including education costs * Cash Bequests * Murphy is alive and well – expect a visit along with family discord! * Your guess: ______________________________
I can promise a few things about this list: a) your estate will have at least one cost not included here; b) you will be very unpleasantly surprised at the total amount of money (and time) involved; c) your estate will be cash-poor – not enough cash in the bank to pay these costs which means that; d) the net value of your estate, without proper planning and a source of replacement tax-free cash, could even be bankrupt which means your family and heirs would get zero. Do you and your family need assistance?