Wills
A will is a legal document outlining how you would like your property, possessions and money to be given out after you die. It also allows you to name a guardian for any children who are minors and who will take care of your pet(s) when you die.
Your will allows you to name the person or persons (personal representative(s) or executor(s)) who will represent your estate after your death and carry out your will.
Every adult 18 years old and older should have a will.
Why is it important to have a will?
In Alberta, without a will, you cannot choose who gets your property and possessions (your beneficiaries) and who will carry out your wishes. Instead, your estate will be distributed according to laws in Alberta, which may not align with your wishes or the needs of the people that matter most to you.
How to create a will
There are two types of wills:
- A formal will is a written document signed in the presence of two witnesses. To be a witness, you cannot benefit from the will you are signing.
- A holograph will is a document prepared by you in your own handwriting and signed in your own handwriting. You do not need witnesses for a holographic will for it to be valid.
For more information about the two types of wills, and what to consider before completing a will on your own, visit the Government of Alberta’s Wills in Alberta website.
Keep your original will in a safe place, tell the person named as your personal representative that you have made a will and let them know where it is kept or give them a copy. Review your will every few years or whenever your life changes (e.g., marriage, the birth of a child, divorce, death of a family member).
More resources
Making a Will: A guide about writing or changing a will.
Making a Will Checklist: A checklist of things to think about before making a will.
Being a Personal Representative: A booklet about what is involved in being a Personal Representative (previously known as an Executor) named in someone’s will.
Beneficiaries: Dying Without a Will: A booklet about who inherits the estate of a person who dies without a will in Alberta.