A working record of the estate.
Every account, policy, property, and debt, tracked in one place. You won't have all of this on day one. Add what you know, and fill in the rest as it comes together.
This pairs with the Executor Checklist. The checklist tells you what to do and when. This inventory is where you record what you find.
How this works
- Fill it in as you go. The tool is designed to be used over weeks or months, not completed in one sitting.
- Every change saves automatically. Your Cherry Hill team has access to this record through the same link you're using — they can see what you see.
- Most executors discover information gradually. Blank sections are normal — that's not you falling behind; it's how the work actually unfolds.
- Use Share read-only link to give a co-executor, family member, or professional a view-only copy so everyone's looking at the same thing.
- Use Full PDF to print the complete inventory. The Professional Team section has its own standalone print option too.
Estate overview.
The basics — who the estate belongs to, where, and the reference details that anchor every other section.
Professional team.
Every professional involved in the estate, in one place — so the executor isn't the one chasing everyone down.
Your Cherry Hill team helps coordinate the professionals involved in the estate. Depending on how we're working together, that might mean quarterbacking the full process or simply being available when financial questions come up. Either way, the goal is the same: make sure the pieces connect so you don't have to chase everyone down yourself.
- POA authority ends at death. If the POA and executor are different people, the handoff needs to be managed carefully.
- Cherry Hill never serves as executor or POA. We coordinate, educate, and support — the executor retains all decision-making authority.
- Keep this section current. Professionals may change as the estate moves through different phases.
Financial accounts.
Chequing, savings, RRSP, TFSA, non-registered, corporate. Every account the deceased owned — solo or joint — belongs here.
Insurance policies.
Life, long-term care, critical illness, disability. Track the policy itself and the status of any claim.
Real property.
The primary residence, any secondary or rental properties, land, commercial holdings. Ownership structure matters here — solo, joint, corporate, trust.
Personal property & belongings.
Some items are specifically named in the will. Others aren't, but the family still needs to sort out who gets what. This section handles both.
Items the will specifically directs to a named recipient. Track each one from identification through transfer.
Items that aren't specifically bequeathed but the family needs to divide. Use this to track who's asked for what and whether agreement has been reached.
Debts & liabilities.
Mortgage, lines of credit, credit cards, personal loans, tax owing, medical costs. All legitimate debts must be settled before distributing to beneficiaries.
Government & tax.
The structured steps most estates need to complete with CRA and the provinces. Your accountant handles most of this — your role is to make sure nothing falls through the cracks.
No distributions should be made before the CRA Clearance Certificate is received. If the estate distributes assets early and taxes are owing, the executor may be held personally liable for the shortfall.
Distribution tracker.
Each beneficiary, their entitlement per the will, and the record of interim and final distributions.
Final distribution amounts may change until the estate is fully settled and the CRA Clearance Certificate is received. Avoid giving beneficiaries specific figures until you're certain.
Companion tool
The Executor Checklist walks through the phases of settling an estate in the order things tend to happen. This inventory is where you record what you find; the checklist is where you track what's done. Ask your Cherry Hill team for the checklist link if you don't already have one.
Changes save automatically.
Every field you edit is saved to your Cherry Hill record within a second or two. Come back whenever you need to — this may be a companion for many months.