Wills, Estates, & Final Wishes

In the first few days, focus on just a few key steps:

• Contact a funeral home 

• Notify close family and friends 

• Locate the will (if there is one) 

• Begin gathering important documents

You don’t need to do everything at once.

The early steps are about getting support in place and understanding what comes next.

Yes.

Funeral arrangements can move forward before the will is located or read.

In Alberta, the funeral home is legally required to follow a specific order of priority when determining who has the authority to make arrangements.

This typically begins with:

• the executor named in the will 

• then a spouse or partner 

• followed by adult children, parents, and other next of kin

If the will hasn’t been found yet, arrangements can still proceed — but they must be made by the person who has legal authority within that order.

If wishes are known, they can help guide decisions.

If not, families make the best decisions they can with the information they have.

In most cases, this falls to the executor named in the will.

That person is responsible for:

• contacting banks, credit cards, and service providers 

• providing required documents (like a death certificate) 

• closing or transferring accounts 

If there is no will, an administrator is appointed to take on this role.

For many people, the hardest part isn’t the responsibility itself — it’s knowing who to contact first, and what each organization requires.

No. A death certificate is an important document, but it doesn’t automatically grant access to accounts or authority to act. 

It’s the document that allows things to begin.

What it does do is:

• confirm the death to banks, government agencies, and institutions 

• allow conversations and processes to begin 

To actually act on accounts, you’ll typically need:

• proof of your role as executor (or administrator) 

• and in some cases, probate documents

You’ll likely need:

• death certificates 

• the original will (if there is one) 

• identification 

• financial records and account information 

Each institution may ask for something slightly different, which is why keeping everything organized early can help.

Yes — in many cases, accounts are temporarily frozen once a death is reported.

This helps:

• protect the estate 

• prevent unauthorized access

The executor can then work with each institution to:

• close accounts 

• transfer funds 

• or settle outstanding balances

Debt is paid from the estate, not from family members personally (in most cases).

This means:

• debts are settled using the deceased’s assets 

• things like loans, credit cards, and taxes are addressed before distributions 

If there isn’t enough money in the estate to cover everything:

• some debts may go unpaid 

• family members are usually not responsible, unless they co-signed or jointly held the debt 

Not always — but many people choose to work with one.

A lawyer can help:

• determine if probate is required 

• prepare court documents 

• guide the executor through legal responsibilities

For simpler estates, some executors manage parts of the process themselves.

For more complex situations, legal guidance can save time and stress.

Probate is a legal process that confirms:

• a will is valid 

• the executor has authority to act 

In Alberta, probate may be required if:

• there are significant assets 

• financial institutions request it 

• or ownership needs to be legally transferred

Not every estate needs probate — but many do, depending on the situation.

There’s no single timeline — but most estates take several months to over a year to close.

Timing depends on:

• whether a will is in place 

• if probate is required 

• how many accounts, assets, or properties are involved 

• how quickly documents can be gathered and processed 

Even straightforward estates take time, because many steps depend on external institutions and approvals.