Estate Planning
Estate planning allows you to make important decisions about your property, finances and personal affairs before those decisions need to be made.
Overview
At GP Legal Hub, we help individuals and families prepare clear and practical estate planning documents that reflect their wishes and provide direction to the people they trust.
Whether you need a Will, Enduring Power of Attorney, Personal Directive, or a complete estate planning package, we can help you put the appropriate documents in place.
Plans for
Estate planning fees
Most comprehensive
$999 flat fee
plus GST and applicable disbursements
Prepared individually, these three documents total $1,350.
$650 plus GST and applicable disbursements
$350 plus GST
$350 plus GST
Most comprehensive
$1,499 flat fee
plus GST and applicable disbursements
Prepared individually, these three documents total $2,250.
$950 plus GST and applicable disbursements
$650 plus GST
$650 plus GST
GST and applicable disbursements are additional where indicated. Prices are subject to change without notice. More complex estate plans may require additional legal work and may not qualify for the standard flat fees.
A complete plan
If you lose capacity
Addresses personal and healthcare-related decisions if you lose capacity.
If you lose capacity
Addresses financial and property decisions if you become unable to manage those matters yourself.
After your death
Addresses what happens to your estate after your death.
Together, these documents provide a more comprehensive plan for your affairs.
A Will is one of the most important documents in an estate plan. Your Will provides instructions about how you want your estate to be administered and distributed after your death.
Without a properly prepared Will, the distribution of your estate may be determined by applicable legislation rather than by your personal wishes.
A Will can address matters such as
Your executor is the person responsible for administering your estate after your death.
The executor's responsibilities can include identifying your assets and liabilities, dealing with financial institutions, paying debts and taxes, applying for probate where required and distributing your estate to your beneficiaries.
Choosing the right executor is an important part of preparing your Will. We can discuss the role of an executor with you and help you understand the considerations involved in selecting the appropriate person.
An Enduring Power of Attorney allows you to appoint someone to make financial and property-related decisions on your behalf in accordance with the terms of the document.
Your attorney may be given authority to deal with matters such as
An Enduring Power of Attorney can continue to operate if you lose the capacity to make financial decisions for yourself, depending on how the document is structured. Having one in place can reduce uncertainty about who will manage your financial affairs if you become unable to do so yourself.
A Personal Directive allows you to appoint one or more individuals to make personal decisions for you if you lose the capacity to make those decisions yourself.
These decisions may include matters relating to
Your Personal Directive can also provide instructions regarding your wishes and preferences. Preparing one allows you to choose who you trust to make these decisions rather than leaving your family without clear direction.
Your situation
Couples often want their estate plans prepared together. We offer estate planning packages for couples who wish to prepare mirror documents.
Mirror Wills generally contain similar provisions reflecting the couple's shared estate planning intentions while remaining separate legal documents for each person.
A typical couple’s package may include:
Each person has their own documents and can make decisions appropriate to their individual circumstances.
Estate planning can be particularly important for parents with minor children.
Your Will can address issues such as:
We can discuss these considerations with you when preparing your estate plan.
Estate planning can become more complex where spouses or partners have children from previous relationships.
A carefully considered estate plan can help address competing family interests and clarify your intentions regarding your spouse, children, stepchildren and other beneficiaries.
If you have a blended family, let us know during your consultation so that we can discuss your circumstances and estate planning objectives.
If you own a corporation, partnership or other business interest, your business should be considered as part of your estate plan.
Depending on your circumstances, this may involve consideration of:
More complex business and tax planning may require coordination with your accountant, financial advisor or other professionals.
Updating your estate plan
You should consider reviewing your estate planning documents after significant changes in your life. Even where nothing significant has changed, periodically reviewing your estate plan can help ensure that it continues to reflect your wishes.
How it works
Six simple stages, with one set of changes included in our standard Will and complete packages.
Begin your estate planWe'll ask you to provide information about your family, assets, beneficiaries and estate planning wishes.
We'll discuss your circumstances, your objectives and the estate planning documents you require.
This is also an opportunity to ask questions and discuss decisions such as your executor, attorney, agent and beneficiaries.
We prepare your estate planning documents based on the instructions provided during your consultation.
You'll have an opportunity to review your documents and provide feedback.
Our standard Will and complete estate planning packages include one set of changes.
Once your documents are finalized, we'll arrange a meeting for proper execution of your estate planning documents.
After signing, you should keep your estate planning documents safe and review your estate plan periodically or following significant changes in your circumstances.
Fees and additional costs
The fees displayed on this page apply to standard estate planning matters within the scope described. GST and applicable disbursements are additional as indicated.
Additional legal fees may apply where an estate plan involves complex trusts, extensive tax planning, corporate interests, multiple sets of revisions, complicated family arrangements, substantial additional drafting or other work outside the standard scope.
We will discuss any additional fees with you where your estate planning needs fall outside our standard packages.
GST and applicable disbursements are additional where indicated. Prices are subject to change without notice.
FAQs
Don't see your question? Call us at 403-892-3439 and we'll talk it through.
A Will allows you to provide instructions regarding the administration and distribution of your estate after your death.
Whether your estate is large or modest, having a Will can provide greater clarity regarding your wishes.
A Will generally deals with the administration of your estate after your death.
An Enduring Power of Attorney deals with financial and property-related decisions during your lifetime and can continue to operate if you lose capacity, depending on its terms.
An Enduring Power of Attorney generally deals with financial and property matters.
A Personal Directive deals with personal matters, which may include healthcare, accommodation and other personal decisions.
No. Each person has their own Will.
Couples can prepare mirror Wills containing similar provisions, but each Will remains a separate legal document.
Yes.
Your estate planning needs may change throughout your life. Your Will and other estate planning documents can generally be updated or replaced, provided you have the legal capacity to do so and the appropriate legal requirements are satisfied.
If you die without a valid Will, Alberta's intestacy legislation may determine how your estate is distributed.
The result may not be the same as what you would have chosen yourself.
A Will, Enduring Power of Attorney and Personal Directive serve different purposes.
Preparing all three provides a more comprehensive estate plan addressing both death and potential incapacity.
Yes.
We offer mirror estate planning packages for couples.
Yes.
We can discuss your circumstances during your consultation. More complex estate plans may require additional legal work and may not qualify for the standard flat fees shown on this page.
Estate planning
Estate planning gives you an opportunity to make important decisions now and provide greater clarity for your family in the future. Whether you need a Will, Personal Directive, Enduring Power of Attorney, or a complete package, GP Legal Hub can help you put your plan in place.
The information provided on this page is general information only and does not constitute legal advice.
Estate planning needs differ depending on an individual's family circumstances, assets, business interests, tax circumstances and personal objectives.
The fees displayed are for standard estate planning services and may vary where additional or more complex legal work is required.
Submitting information through this website or contacting GP Legal Hub does not create a lawyer-client relationship. GP Legal Hub must first agree to act for you and confirm the terms of the engagement.
