9 Reasons Getting a Will is EASY
People often put off getting a Will for various reasons. While we believe that anyone who’s at least 18 years of age, and who has capacity, should have a valid, up-to-date Will in place as part of a holistic, comprehensive Estate plan, people aren’t always eager to have their Wills drafted. One of the primary... Read More
Capacity: What is it, and Who Decides Whether You Lack It?
The thought of losing capacity can be terrifying, however, it’s something that must be accounted for when creating an effective Estate plan. We recommend a Will, a Personal Directive, and an Enduring Power of Attorney to most of our Estate planning clients. Because a Will only takes effect upon your passing away, it’s imperative that... Read More
Stigmatized Property in Alberta: Buying or Selling a Home with a History
After reading the title of this blog post, you might be wondering what on earth a “stigmatized property” is. A stigmatized property is a property that may be shunned by buyers based on something other than the physical condition, selling price, or other features of the home. While stigmatized property may sound like an odd... Read More
Independent/Dependent Contractors, Employees: What’s the Difference?
Independent Contractor Although independent contractors often enter into a contract for services, this is not an employment contract and does not create an employer-employee relationship. Instead, an independent contractor is governed by a business relationship, the terms of which will usually be set out in a specific contract between the parties. This means that independent... Read More
Alberta Estate Beneficiaries: Who Do I Put in My Will?
Creating an Estate plan and instructing your Wills & Estates lawyer to prepare your Will requires you to make a number of decisions. While most lawyers will send you an Estate planning questionnaire to guide the process, the decision-making responsibility ultimately rests on your shoulders. You’ll need to decide who you’ll appoint as your Estate’s... Read More
Types of Wills in Alberta
You may have heard of a “living Will”, “Last Will & Testament”, or simply a “Will”. Are there differences between these documents? The short answer is yes, there are different types of Wills in Alberta. However, spoiler alert, in most cases a formal Will is the most common and suitable option for the average person.... Read More
10 Reasons to Choose West Legal as your Calgary Probate Lawyer
Serving as an Estate’s Executor, or Personal Representative, isn’t always an easy task. In order to avoid the stress, inconvenience, and hassle that may come with acting as an Estate’s Executor, it’s essential that you take a team approach to Estate administration. A key aspect of the team approach to Estate administration is hiring a... Read More
10 Most Common Mistakes Executors Make
Acting as an Estate Executor, or Personal Representative, is a challenging role that comes with significant responsibility. It’s also an important task. While most people don’t ‘enjoy’ acting as an Estate Executor, and while Executors are entitled to financial compensation in many cases, the true reward of Executorship is that you’re providing a valuable service... Read More
Alberta Estate Administration: Who’s Involved?
As an Estate Executor (Personal Representative) in Alberta, you might sometimes feel as though you’re being pulled in dozens of different directions. Beneficiaries will want their shares of the Estate as soon as possible. Family members who were left out of the Will may contact you wondering why. Your probate lawyer may ask you to... Read More
Executor (Personal Representative) Duties in Alberta
If you’ve ever acted as an Estate Executor, or Personal Representative, before, you’ll know that there is considerable responsibility and work involved in the Estate administration process. If you’re a first-time Executor, it can be daunting to know where to start. To help, we’ve put together this checklist of Alberta Executor duties. While it’s not... Read More