Question 1

What is a Legacy Vault?

Accepted Answer

A Legacy Vault is a secure online platform designed to help you organize important personal, financial, legal, insurance, real estate, and corporate information in one place. It provides a clear roadmap for your executor and loved ones, helping reduce stress and confusion during difficult times.

Question 2

Why do I need a DepartRight™ Legacy Vault?

Accepted Answer

Many families struggle to locate important documents, passwords, contacts, insurance policies, and financial information after a loved one passes away. A Digital Legacy Vault™ helps ensure this information is organized, secure, and readily available when needed most. Plus, it provides a safe place to leave private messages to loved ones and ensures that personal items are left with the right people.

Question 3

What information can I store in my DepartRight™ Legacy Vault?

Accepted Answer

You can organize personal information, family details, legal documents, insurance policies, financial accounts, property information, business records, important contacts, passwords, digital account information, final wishes, and personal messages for loved ones.

Question 4

How do I give vault access to my executor and or family after I pass away?

Accepted Answer

The Digital Legacy Vault™ includes a Designated Executor Access feature. When setting up your Digital Legacy Vault™, you can designate your executor and/or trusted family members to have access to your vault when needed.

Each authorized individual will be assigned a username and a unique Recovery Key Code that can be used only to access and view the contents of the vault. For security purposes, these users cannot edit, modify, or delete any information. They will have permission only to view and print the contents of the vault.

You are responsible for securely sharing and storing the Recovery Key Code with your designated executor or trusted family members.

The Recovery Key Code grants the designated executor or beneficiary secure read-only access to the vault. This helps ensure that your important information, documents, contacts, and wishes can be accessed by the people you trust when they need them most.

Once Designated Executor Access is activated using the Recovery Key Code, the vault transitions to beneficiary viewing mode, and the vault owner's login credentials are deactivated to help protect the integrity of the information within the vault. Authorized executors and designated beneficiaries with a valid Recovery Key Code may view, print, and download the contents of the vault; however, they cannot edit, modify, or delete any information. Access to the vault will remain available for the duration of the active Vault plan.

Question 5

Is my information secure?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The Legacy Vault is designed with security and privacy in mind. Information is protected through end-to-end encrypted data storage, secure cloud infrastructure powered by AWS technology, and enhanced login protection with multi-factor authentication.

Question 6

Can I update my information after I create my vault?

Accepted Answer

Yes. With the purchase of a Legacy Vault, you receive one year of access to complete and download your vault.
Once you download a section or your complete vault, or all contents of your vault, you will no longer be able to access the downloaded sections or your Vault unless you subscribe to annual Secure Cloud Storage and ongoing access. This will allow you to update your information anytime life changes, helping ensure your information remains accurate, current, organized, and accessible when needed most.

Question 7

Can I upload important documents?

Accepted Answer

Yes. You can securely upload and store important documents, such as wills, powers of attorney, insurance policies, property records, corporate documents, and other personal files, within your Legacy Vault.

Question 8

Can anyone at DepartRight read my vault?

Accepted Answer

No. The Digital Legacy Vault™ is designed with zero-knowledge privacy in mind. Your information is locked through on-device encryption that happens before anything is saved, storage that holds only the scrambled version of your data, and a design where no DepartRight employee can ever see what's inside.

Question 9

Can I download and print my DepartRight™ Legacy Vault?

Accepted Answer

Yes. You can download and print individual sections or your complete Legacy Vault for your records to secure and to share with trusted individuals. When you purchase your Legacy Vault, you have up to 1 year to complete and download all the content within your vault to safely secure.

Question 10

Who should create a DepartRight™ Legacy Vault?

Accepted Answer

Anyone who wants to ensure their important information, documents, and wishes are organized and accessible should consider creating a Legacy Vault. It is especially valuable for individuals, couples, families, retirees, professionals, and business owners who want to ensure their legacy and final wishes are properly cared for.

Question 11

What is the benefit for my executor and loved ones?

Accepted Answer

The Legacy Vault helps reduce stress, confusion, and uncertainty by providing a secure and organized place for important information, documents, contacts, and personal wishes. It gives your executor and loved ones the guidance they may need during a difficult time, without wasting time trying to locate and figure everything out.

Question 12

How are my investments taxed when I die?

Accepted Answer

Yes, your investments may be subject to tax at death.
Almost all investments (Non-Registered or Registered) are treated as if you sold them the moment before your death, which could trigger tax — unless a specific rollover or exemption applies. The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) assumes a person disposed of their assets at fair market value (FMV), even if nothing was actually sold.

Question 13

What is the purpose of life insurance in estate planning?

Accepted Answer

A planning tool to assist Beneficiaries with a TAX FREE benefit when faced with the loss of a loved one. Also utilized in Corporate setting to create Tax-FREE liquidity accessible through the Capital Dividend Account (CDA).

Question 14

What Happens to My Investments When I Pass Away?

Accepted Answer

In Canada, most investments—whether registered or non-registered—are generally treated as though they were sold immediately before death. This is known as a deemed disposition and may result in taxes being payable by the estate.
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) assumes assets are disposed of at their fair market value, even if no actual sale takes place. Certain exemptions, rollovers, and planning strategies may help reduce or defer these taxes

Question 15

Why Is Life Insurance Important in Estate Planning?

Accepted Answer

Life insurance can provide your beneficiaries with a tax-free lump-sum benefit when they need it most. These funds can help cover estate taxes, debts, final expenses, and provide financial security for loved ones.

For business owners, life insurance can also create tax-efficient liquidity within a corporation through the Capital Dividend Account (CDA), helping facilitate succession and estate planning strategies.

Question 16

What is Probate?

Accepted Answer

Probate is the legal court process that validates a deceased person's Will and confirms the authority of the Executor or Estate Trustee to administer the estate.
Many financial institutions, banks, and land registries require probate before releasing assets or transferring ownership. Proper planning can sometimes help reduce the complexity and costs associated with probate.

Question 17

Do I need a Will?

Accepted Answer

Yes. A Will allows you—not the government—to decide what happens to your assets, who will care for your dependents, and how your legacy will be carried forward.
Without a valid Will, provincial laws determine how your estate is distributed, which may not align with your wishes.

Question 18

What Is a Power of Attorney (POA) and Why Do I Need One?

Accepted Answer

A Power of Attorney is a legal document that allows you to appoint someone you trust to make decisions on your behalf if you become unable to do so.
A POA can help protect your finances, property, and personal well-being during your lifetime. Unlike a Will, which only takes effect after death, a Power of Attorney is a living-planning tool that provides protection while you are alive.

Question 19

What Is a Trust and How Can It Help My Estate Plan?

Accepted Answer

A Trust provides greater control, protection, and flexibility over how assets are managed and distributed during your lifetime, at death, and for future generations.
While a Will distributes assets once, a Trust can manage assets over time according to specific instructions, offering potential benefits such as asset protection, tax planning opportunities, and long-term support for beneficiaries.

Question 20

How Can a Canadian-Controlled Private Corporation (CCPC) Support Estate Planning?

Accepted Answer

For business owners, a Canadian-Controlled Private Corporation (CCPC) can provide valuable estate and succession planning opportunities, including:
Locking in the current value of shares
Shifting future growth to children or a family trust
Helping cap the estate tax liability at death
Creating greater certainty around business succession planning
These strategies can help preserve wealth and support a smooth transition of ownership.

Question 21

What Is a Shareholders' Agreement and Why Is It Important?

Accepted Answer

A Shareholders' Agreement helps protect your family, business, and legacy by establishing clear rules for what happens to business ownership when a shareholder passes away.
A properly structured agreement can:
Ensure a smooth and predictable transfer of shares
Prevent unintended individuals from becoming shareholders
Provide liquidity to pay taxes and facilitate the buyout of a deceased shareholder's estate
Protect the long-term continuity of the business
For business owners, a Shareholders' Agreement is a critical component of a comprehensive estate and succession plan.

Question 22

What happens if I forget my password?

Accepted Answer

If you forget your password, you can securely reset it through our account recovery process. Enhanced login protection and verification measures help ensure that only authorized users can access your Digital Legacy Vault™.

What People Ask Most About the DepartRight™ Legacy Vault