Probate and Estates

Probate and Estate Administration

We understand that administering an Estate can be a challenging process during a difficult time for you and your loved ones. Our team prides itself on providing you clear communication and support during the process of obtaining a Grant of Probate or Administration for the deceased’s estate.

In order for us to get started we would ask that you please fill out our initial intake form below so that we can review your circumstances and tailor our services to your specific needs. If you do have questions that the information on this website does not answer, please contact us directly at info@willsimplelaw.ca or call 587.425.5430.

Pricing

While we do not have a one-size fits all approach to Estate Administration, our services are provided on a flat rate basis starting at $1,700 to provide you with a Grant of Probate/Administration from the Alberta Court of King’s Bench. Upon review of the information received from you via our intake form, our office will review the circumstances of the Estate and provide you with a confirmed flat rate fee.

We also offer consultation meetings at the rate of $250 for a 1 hour meeting (in-person or zoom) with a Wills and Estates lawyer. For those clients who do book a consult, the $250 fee will be waived if our office is ultimately retained for Probate/Administration purposes.

Please note, it is our aim to minimize the amount of time spent in a lawyer’s office to free you up for the day to day responsibilities required as a Personal Representative for an estate. As the courts have transitioned to a digital process for Probate/Administration applications, much of the process can now be done online.

What is Probate and/ or Estate Administration?

Probate

In the case of a deceased person with a valid will, the Personal Representative will need to apply for a Grant of Probate. Probate is the process of the Court confirming that a will is the last true testament of the person who created it. Once Probate has been granted, the Court has authorized the Personal Representative named in the will to administer and distribute the estate according to the will.

Estate Administration

When someone dies without a will (“intestate”) OR if some of their significant estate matters have not been addressed in their will (“partially intestate”), a Grant of Administration will be required. A Grant of Administration is the process where the Court grants the applicant the powers of a Personal Representative and confirms their appointment as the individual to administer the estate. There are certain rules of priority for who is entitled to apply to administer an intestate estate which are found in the Estate Administration Act.

What steps do I need to take as the Personal Representative?

The Personal Representative will have a fairly large number of responsibilities, some of which will relate to the Probate process and some which are in addition to or outside this process. For some general information please visit our website willsimplelaw.ca and take some time to review the FAQ’s relating to estates. We also note that the Alberta government has a website with references and resources for personal representatives, https://www.alberta.ca/deceased-persons-estates

*Please also note that our office is currently only able to administer Alberta estates with personal representatives who also reside in Alberta.

Contact Us

If you are a Personal Representative with questions regarding Probate and Estate Administration, please contact our office and we would be pleased to assist. Email info@willsimplelaw.ca or please visit us at willsimplelaw.ca