The articles in this web guide were created for Indigenous people in Quebec with attention to the different laws that apply to them.
Who is this guide for?
This guide explains the rules for wills and estates for these Indigenous people:
- registered under the Indian Act
- living in a community (“reserve”) when they died
The rules also apply to these Indigenous people:
- temporarily away from the community
- living outside the community, for example, to study or for health reasons.
The guide does not apply to some communities.
The rules in this guide don’t apply to these Indigenous people:
- Inuit, Naskapi, Cree and Métis people
- living outside a community (“off reserve”)
If you’re an Indigenous person living outside a community, or if you’re not an Indigenous person, the Civil Code of Québec applies to you. To learn more, read our articles on wills and estates.
Wills and Estates
Special rules apply to wills and estates of Indigenous people who live in a community.
Making a Will
Making a will lets you express your wishes about decisions to be made after you die.
Settling an Estate
You can choose who will settle your estate when you die.
Inheritance
Special rules determine who will inherit land or a house in an Indigenous community.
Loss of Autonomy
There are various ways to help loved ones who can no longer manage their own affairs.
Tools for Community Workers
The Criminal Legal Process
Our guide, I’m in trouble with the law. Can you help?, answers questions about the criminal legal process. It focuses on the reality of Indigenous people in Quebec.
Legal Careers
Get to know real-life Indigenous legal professionals through these powerful video testimonials (English and French).
Interested in learning more about legal careers? Discover our legal careers activity for teachers on legallifeskills.ca.