InfoCapsule 4: Holder

On this page

• List of acronyms
• Preface
• Legal representative
• Qualifying family member (QFM)

Alternate format

A PDF version of the InfoCapsules for RDSP providers is available on the index page.

Preface

The holder is the entity that opens the Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP), names a beneficiary and makes decisions concerning the plan. There must be at least 1 holder at all times.

Table 1: The holder of a plan for a beneficiary

Legal representative

A legal representative (including a guardian, a curator, an agency, an institution, or a public department) is an individual or institution legally authorized to act on behalf of the beneficiary through the provincial or territorial laws in which the beneficiary resides.

Qualifying family member (QFM)

A QFM is a legal parent, spouse, common‑law partner or siblings of an adult beneficiary who may become the holder of an RDSP that is open for the first time for an adult beneficiary whose capacity to enter into a contract is in doubt, and for whom no legal representative was appointed.

This temporary measure is effective until December 31, 2026.

Who can be the holder once the beneficiary reaches the age of majority, for a plan that was initially opened when the beneficiary was a minor?

• If the legal parent(s) was the plan holder before the beneficiary reached the age of majority, the legal parent may remain as sole holder(s) or become joint holder(s) with the beneficiary
• The beneficiary may become the holder (if contractually competent)
• A legal representative may become the holder (if the beneficiary is not contractually competent)