COMMENTS AND INSTRUCTIONS
FORM 1
SPOUSE'S CONSENT TO TRANSFER TO A REGISTERED RETIREMENT INCOME FUND
CONTRACT
This consent must be completed by the spouse of a member or former member (hereinafter called "the
owner") of a pension plan that is subject to the provisions of The Pension Benefits Act, 1992 (the Act),
where the owner wishes to transfer his or her pension benefit entitlement to a registered retirement
income fund contract.
A registered retirement income fund contract has no limit on the amount of annual income that may be
withdrawn. The owner could withdraw the entire balance in the contract leaving the spouse with no
survivor benefit payable on the death of the owner. Prior to signing this consent form, the spouse should
seek the advice of a lawyer and a qualified financial advisor.
Under The Pension Benefits Act, 1992, a spouse is the spouse of a former member at the day on which the
pension is payable to the former member. "Spouse" means:
(a) a person who is married to a member or former member; or
(b) if a member or former member is not married, a person with whom the member or former member
is cohabiting as spouses at the relevant time and who has been cohabiting continuously with the
member or former member as his or her spouse for at least one year prior to the relevant time.
This consent must be completed and signed by the spouse if the owner has assets in:
· a registered pension plan;
· a locked-in retirement account contract;
· a life income fund contract; or
· a locked-in retirement income fund contract
and the owner wishes to transfer to a registered retirement income fund contract.
The consent must be:
· completed in its entirety;
· signed by the spouse, in the presence of a witness, outside of the immediate presence of the owner; and
· filed with:
(a) the administrator of the registered pension plan if the assets are still held by the plan; or
(b) the financial institution that issued the locked-in retirement account contract, the life income fund
contract or the locked-in retirement income fund contract holding the assets of the owner.
We strongly urge the spouse to seek independent legal advice before signing this consent.