If you are designated as the liquidator of a succession (executor of an estate), you are the one representing the deceased throughout the settling of the succession (estate). As such, you must notify us as quickly as possible of the death.

In addition, you must let us know that you are the liquidator by filing form LM-14-V, Information About a Representative, along with:

• proof of death (act of death, death certificate or burial or cremation document);
• certified copies of the will search certificates issued by the Chambre des notaires du Québec and the Barreau du Québec; or
• proof of the last will and testament, such as:
  • a certified copy of the notarial will,
  • a certified copy of the holograph will (a will written by hand) or the will made in the presence of witnesses and a certified copy of the judgment probating the will or the minutes of the probate,
  • a notarial codicil (modification to the last will), or a codicil made in the presence of witnesses accompanied by a certified copy of the judgment probating the codicil or of the minutes of the probate, or
  • a marriage or civil union contract.

Make sure to send clear, legible and good quality documents.

In the case where there is no will or no one is named as the liquidator, in addition to proof of death and copies of will search certificates, you must submit either form LM-14.1-V, Designation of a Liquidator by the Heirs, or any other original or certified copy of a document designating you as the liquidator.

Note that if the will of the person who designated you as liquidator was homologated (officially approved) by a court judgment, you do not have to submit a will search certificate issued by the Chambre des notaires du Québec and the Barreau du Québec.

Designating liquidators

A will may designate several liquidators for a single succession, in which case they must act jointly. If they are unable or unwilling to do so, they must designate one of them to represent the deceased in dealings with us by filing form MR-69-V, Power of Attorney, Authorization to Communicate Information, or Revocation.

A deceased person who designated several liquidators may also have specified that one or the other of the designated liquidators can act alone. In that case, the liquidators are exempt from acting jointly and do not have to designate one of them to represent the deceased.

Authorization or power of attorney

As liquidator, you can authorize us to share confidential information about the deceased's tax file with a person who can act on your behalf, such as an accountant or a family member of the deceased. To do so, file form MR-69-V with form LM-14-V and any supporting documents you have not already filed.

If we do not receive form MR-69-V, we will send any correspondence to the liquidator designated as principal representative on form LM-14-V.

As liquidator of the succession, your obligations with Revenu Québec include:

• preparing and filing the income tax return(s) of the deceased;
• paying the deceased's income tax and debts; and
• submitting an inventory of the property of the succession and obtaining from us a certificate authorizing the distribution of the property.

As the liquidator of a succession, or as the trustee of a trust created by a will, you may have to administer property, income, earnings or benefits until the succession is settled.

For more information about the role of the liquidator and how to settle a succession, see What to Do in the Event of Death on the Services Québec website.