There are no "i"s or "t"s in "Oscar", but we dot and cross them anyway.

[metawidget]

The dust has settled from Oscar's arrival to a point — he's looking around more, more expressive, and all his bodily functions seem to be up and running just fine! I can change a diaper, sometimes before Oscar objects too strongly, and he drowses long enough that Elizabeth and I managed to sit down for a sometimes-one-handed game of Dominion last night (a real squeaker with curse cards bouncing around a lot and unusual quantities of duchies bought up).

I'm starting to think about all those prudent technical things new parents are supposed to do. We've got QPIP's and my employer's parental benefits' application processes rolling, submitted the declaration of birth and the heel-prick samples (and have the urine sample day on the calendar), we seem to have enough clothes and gear and baby wipes cached in strategic places around the house. Now, what about wills, life insurance (on us), RESPs, and other prudent-but-abstract things new parents might want to do? Is there a sensible order of operations here? A particular professional that can help orchestrate things? Parents and professionals reading this who know about this sort of thing and want to share: what are your experiences or recommendations? What should be left for later or done soonish?

Comments

[asimplelife.livejournal.com]

I don't know about in QC but in Ontario you can register for a birth cert and SIN number all at once. When it came in I went into the bank and opened an RESP. Avoid third-party companies that do this for you! You will get screwed. Go to a bank or credit union.

However, the two most important points: a will and life insurance. STAT. If you both died in a car accident tomorrow Oscar's fate would be decided by the courts regardless of your preference. Even if you do a handwritten one it's better than nothing at all.

Insurance is simple: I got term through the alumni association for about $40 a month for the both of us for $250k (each, no medical). You may be able to do better through your union, I would call your rep to see. I can't give you the ins-and-outs of term vs. whole life anything is better than nothing.

[metawidget]

Yup, we ticked a few extra boxes and "signed here" a bunch of times when doing the declaration of birth, and now Oscar will have a health card, a SIN, a birth certificate and child benefits attributed to him.

I hadn't thought about the union for insurance — they do seem to have a long list of member deals, likely including life insurance. My thought had been to go to the same company we use for house insurance, but two quotes won't hurt.

[tocityguy.livejournal.com]

If you're thinking of insurance it's usually cheap for young children and in the case of one friend, who has MD, it turned out to be a real boon.