Wills
Having a valid and up to date Will is a cornerstone to a proper estate plan.
Our lawyer will meet with you for a first appointment to gather information and answer your questions regarding the contents of your Will. Unlike some other firms, you will not be given a long and complicated questionnaire to fill out prior to the first appointment. Instead, we will send you a simple document with some suggested topics to think about prior to the first meeting with the lawyer.
Your documents will be drafted based on your meeting with the lawyer and then a second appointment will be scheduled to review the documents with the lawyer and sign. Throughout the process, you will be working with the lawyer (not an articling student or paralegal).
To request the “Things to think about” document and schedule your first appointment, please call (403) 516-2211 or email us
At Housecall Wills & Estates, you’ll meet with a professional, qualified lawyer who can help you with your Will and Estate planning needs.
FAQ’s
Information given here should not be taken as legal advice. This is general information only and you may need to speak to our lawyer regarding your particular circumstances.
Why can't I just use one of those do-it-yourself Will kits?
To be blunt, mistakes in your Will cannot be fixed (with very few exceptions) after you have died.
If you make a mistake in writing or signing your Will there are technical and inflexible rules that could invalidate your wishes. You may have complicating factors such as:
Disabled adult children
Ex-spouse(s)
Step-children
Wanting to exclude adult children
Second marriage with children from the first marriage (this is a big reason you need some professional help)
Tax issues
I’m the Executor of a Will – Do I need to get a Grant of Probate? What is Probate?
A Grant of Probate is not always necessary (even if the person at the bank said you require it).
Please call us for a no-cost consultation with our lawyer to determine if Probate is necessary and to answer your questions about the process and the cost.
“Probate” is the process of proving to the Court that:
i) this is the last Will and;
ii) this person is, in fact, the Executor named in the Will
My loved one has passed away without a Will. What can I do now?
This is a complicated question. Please call the office @ (403) 516-2211 and our lawyer will provide a no-cost consultation to give you an answer.
What happens if I don’t have a Will?
The lack of a named Executor (also called a Personal Representative) can make handling your affairs difficult for your family and you will have no say over how your estate will be distributed. The Alberta Wills and Succession Act sets out the rules for the division of your estate.
I’m thinking of changing my Will. Do I have to go back to the lawyer who prepared it in the first place?
No, you and your Will are not tied to the lawyer who initially prepared it and you can hire any lawyer to make changes. You can change your Will at any time.
How many appointments are required?
Most Wills, EPAs, and Personal Directives are completed and signed with 2 appointments. The first appointment is used to gather information needed to draft your documents and answer your questions. This appointment is conducted via Zoom or FaceTime, or at your home if you prefer. The second appointment is used to sign your documents in person with the lawyer – either at your home or office.
We are pleased to offer evening appointment availability (currently on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays).
How soon can I book an appointment?
We are generally booking first appointments 2 – 3 weeks in advance.
What do I need to prepare and what information do I need to have ready for the first appointment?
We will email a document to you giving you a sample of the kinds of issues and questions that you need to consider prior to the first appointment. Don’t worry if you don’t have all of the answers, there will be plenty of time to discuss those things with the lawyer in the first appointment.