My husband and I are Canadian and U.S. citizens living in New Jersey, but we spend a couple of months a year in Montreal. Since we are not Canadian residents, we are curious if my place of death would matter for tax and estate purposes if I were to pass away while visiting, and specifically, if Quebec’s rules related to wills would apply to us.

As an American immigrant to Canada, I understand this concern all too well. An unexpected death during a visit in Montreal would be hard enough on your family. The last thing you want is a legal or tax mess in Quebec to make the situation even more agonizing for your loved ones.

But here’s the good news: Where you die matters far less than where you’re considered a tax resident and where your assets are located.

To get a better grasp on your unique situation, I spoke with Toronto-based financial planner Sam Rook, of Bird’s Eye Wealth Planners. Your question touches on three distinct but interrelated topics: Immigration, tax residency and estate planning.

“It does not matter where you die. It matters where your assets are located and the country you are a resident of while you are........

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