Estate Planning
No one likes to think about their mortality. Estate planning is one of those things that does just that, so many will just put it off to another day which leaves it to the family to figure out. There always seem to be questions regarding the possibility of entitlements from a former employer. Whether you retired from Scarborough Fire or Toronto Fire that employer will be the City of Toronto.
Many issues can arise should you pass without a Will. By having up-to-date Wills, Living Wills, Powers of Attorney, and other instructions you make things much easier for your family and loved ones.
If you haven’t already done so, now is a good time for your estate planning, or review your plan to make sure it is up to date. Your plan should include clear instructions as to your obituary, funeral arrangements, and any other business that may need taken care of in the event of your passing. Having a detailed plan will make things much easier for your family.
As a retired Scarborough Fire Fighter (SFD) or Toronto Fire Fighter (TFS) be sure to include instructions to contact the City of Toronto to inquire about any possible entitlements, and try to have as much employment information as possible available when reaching out.
As we move through this journey of life our circumstances can change, so it’s also important to make sure the beneficiary is correct on any insurance, OMERS, or other documents requiring one.
All too often we’ve seen artifacts just thrown away. It doesn’t hurt to have instruction in your Plan or Will to leave your Fire Service Memorabilia to specific family members and/or perhaps our own Scarborough Fire Museum or the Toronto Fire Historical Society, so our history can be better preserved.
The following links can be of help with estate planning…
The City of Toronto Pension, Payroll & Employee Benefits Department can be contacted at – 416-338-0016 (8:30 – 5:00 M-F) or try using this form TEAM Central Online Form – TEAM (Toronto Employee and Manager) Central
Powers of Attorney (Ontario) / Wills, Estates, and Trusts – Ministry of Ontario General (Ontario)
Also, be aware that the Scarborough Fire Life Insurance Policy – Article 1203 is still in effect – get an acknowledgment from the City of Toronto of your policy.
Stay Safe, Stay Healthy