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Last Will and Testament

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Your Last Will and Testament

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LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF __________________________

I, __________________________, presently of ________________________, Alberta, declare that this is my Last Will and Testament.


  1. PRELIMINARY DECLARATIONS
  2. Prior Wills and Codicils
  3. I revoke all prior Wills and Codicils.
  4. Marital Status
  5. I am not married or in an adult interdependent relationship.
  6. Current Children
  7. I do not have any living children.
  8. The term 'child' or 'children' as used in this Will includes the above listed children and any children of mine that are subsequently born or legally adopted.
  9. EXECUTOR
  10. Definition
  11. The expression 'my Executor' used throughout this Will includes either the singular or plural number, or the masculine or feminine gender as appropriate wherever the fact or context so requires. The term 'executor' in this Will is synonymous with and includes the terms 'personal representative' and 'executrix'.
  12. Appointment
  13. I appoint __________________________ of __________________________, Alberta as the sole Executor of this Will.
  14. No bond or other security of any kind will be required of any Executor appointed in this Will.
  15. Powers of My Executor
  16. I give and appoint to my Executor the following duties and powers with respect to my estate:
    1. To pay my legally enforceable debts, funeral expenses and all expenses in connection with the administration of my estate and the trusts created by my Will as soon as convenient after my death. If any of the real property devised in my Will remains subject to a mortgage at the time of my death, then I direct that the devisee taking that mortgaged property will take the property subject to that mortgage and that the devisee will not be entitled to have the mortgage paid out or resolved from the remaining assets of the residue of my estate;
    2. To take all legal actions to have the probate of my Will completed as quickly and simply as possible, and as free as possible from any court supervision, under the laws of the Province of Alberta;
    3. To retain, exchange, insure, repair, improve, sell or dispose of any and all personal property belonging to my estate as my Executor deems advisable without liability for loss or depreciation;
    4. To invest, manage, lease, rent, exchange, mortgage, sell, dispose of or give options without being limited as to term and to insure, repair, improve, or add to or otherwise deal with any and all real property belonging to my estate as my Executor deems advisable without liability for loss or depreciation;
    5. To purchase, maintain, convert and liquidate investments or securities, and to vote stock, or exercise any option concerning any investments or securities without liability for loss;
    6. To open or close bank accounts;
    7. To maintain, continue, dissolve, change or sell any business which is part of my estate, or to purchase any business if deemed necessary or beneficial to my estate by my Executor;
    8. To maintain, settle, abandon, sue or defend, or otherwise deal with any lawsuits against my estate;
    9. To employ any lawyer, accountant or other professional; and
    10. Except as otherwise provided in this Will, to act as my Trustee by holding in trust the share of any minor beneficiary, and to keep such share invested, pay the income or capital or as much of either or both as my Executor considers advisable for the maintenance, education, advancement or benefit of such minor beneficiary and to pay or transfer the capital of such share or the amount remaining of that share to such beneficiary when he or she reaches the age of majority or, during the minority of such beneficiary, to pay or transfer such share to any parent or guardian of such beneficiary subject to like conditions and the receipt of any such parent or guardian discharges my Executor.
  17. The above authority and powers granted to my Executor are in addition to any powers and elective rights conferred by provincial/territorial or federal law or by other provision of this Will and may be exercised as often as required, and without application to or approval by any court.

  18. DISPOSITION OF ESTATE
  19. Distribution of Residue
  20. To receive any gift or property under this Will a beneficiary must survive me for thirty (30) days. Beneficiaries of my estate residue will receive and share all of my property and assets not specifically bequeathed or otherwise required for the payment of any debts owed, including but not limited to, expenses associated with the probate of my Will, the payment of taxes, funeral expenses or any other expense resulting from the administration of my Will. The entire estate residue is to be divided between my designated beneficiaries with the beneficiaries receiving a share of the entire estate residue.  All property given under this Will is subject to any encumbrances or liens attached to the property.
  21. I direct my Executor to distribute the residue of my estate as follows ("Share Allocations"):
    1. All of the residue of my estate to __________________________ of __________________________, Alberta, for their own use absolutely.
  22. Wipeout Provision
  23. Should all my named beneficiaries predecease me, or fail to survive me for thirty (30) full days, then I direct my Executor to divide any remaining residue of my estate into one hundred (100) equal shares and to pay and transfer such shares as follows:
    1. 100 shares to be divided equally between my parents and siblings, or the survivors thereof, for their own use absolutely, if all or any of them is then alive. If any of these beneficiaries shall die before becoming entitled, in accordance with the terms of this Will, to receive the whole of his or her share of my estate, but such beneficiary has a child or children which survive me, that beneficiary shall be deemed to have survived me for the purposes of this distribution.

  24. TESTAMENTARY TRUST
  25. Testamentary Trust For Minor Beneficiaries
  26. It is my intent to create a testamentary trust (the "Testamentary Trust") for each minor beneficiary named in this Will. I name my Executor(s) as trustee (the "Trustee") of any and all Testamentary Trusts required in this Will. Any assets bequeathed, transferred, or gifted to a minor beneficiary named in this Will are to be held in a separate trust by the Trustee until that minor beneficiary reaches the designated age. Any property left by me to any minor beneficiary in this Will shall be given to my Executor(s) to be managed until that minor beneficiary reaches the age of majority.
  27. Trust Administration
  28. The Trustee shall manage the Testamentary Trust as follows:
    1. The assets and property will be managed for the benefit of the minor until the minor reaches the age set by me for final distribution;
    2. Upon the minor reaching the age set by me for final distribution, all property and assets remaining in the trust will be transferred to the minor beneficiary as quickly as possible; and
    3. Until the minor beneficiary reaches the age set by me for final distribution, my Trustee will keep the assets of the trust invested and pay the whole or such part of the net income derived therefrom and any amount or amounts out of the capital that my Trustee may deem advisable to or for the support, health, maintenance, education, or benefit of that minor beneficiary.
  29. The Trustee may, in the Trustee's discretion, invest and reinvest trust funds in any kind of real or personal property and any kind of investment, provided that the Trustee acts with the care, skill, prudence and diligence, considering all financial and economic considerations, that a prudent person acting in a similar capacity and familiar with such matters would use.
  30. No bond or other security of any kind will be required of any Trustee appointed in this Will.
  31. Trust Termination
  32. The Testamentary Trust will end after any of the following:
    1. The minor beneficiary reaching the age set by me for final distribution;
    2. The minor beneficiary dies; or
    3. The assets of the trust are exhausted through distributions.
  33. General Trust Provisions
  34. The expression 'my Trustee' used throughout this Will includes either the singular or plural number, or the masculine or feminine gender as appropriate wherever the fact or context so requires.

    (1) Powers of Trustee

    To carry out the terms of my Will, I give my Trustee the following powers to be used in his or her discretion at any time in the management of a trust created hereunder, namely:

    1. The power to make such expenditures as are necessary to carry out the purpose of the trust;
    2. Subject to my express direction to the contrary, the power to sell, call in and convert into money any trust property, including real property, that my Trustee in his or her discretion deems advisable;
    3. Subject to my express direction to the contrary, the power to mortgage trust property where my Trustee considers it advisable to do so;
    4. Subject to my express direction to the contrary, the power to borrow money where my Trustee considers it advisable to do so;
    5. Subject to my express direction to the contrary, the power to lend money to the trust beneficiary if my Trustee considers it is in the best interest of the beneficiary to do so;
    6. To make expenditures for the purpose of repairing, improving and rebuilding any property;
    7. To exercise all rights and options of an owner of any securities held in trust;
    8. To lease trust property, including real estate, without being limited as to term;
    9. To make investments he or she considers advisable, without being limited to those investments authorized by law for trustees;
    10. To receive additional property from any source and in any form of ownership;
    11. Instead of acting personally, to employ and pay any other person or persons, including a body corporate, to transact any business or to do any act of any nature in relation to a trust created under my Will including the receipt and payment of money, without being liable for any loss incurred. And I authorize my Trustee to appoint from time to time upon such terms as he or she may think fit any person or persons, including a body corporate, for the purpose of exercising any powers herein expressly or impliedly given to my Trustee with respect to any property belonging to the trust;
    12. Without the consent of any persons interested in trusts established hereunder, to compromise, settle or waive any claim or claims at any time due to or by the trust in such manner and to such extent as my Trustee considers to be in the best interest of the trust beneficiary, and to make an agreement with any other person, persons or corporation in respect thereof, which shall be binding upon such beneficiary;
    13. To make or not make any election, determination, designation or allocation required or permitted to be made by my Trustee (either alone or jointly with others) under any of the provisions of any municipal, provincial/territorial, federal, or other taxing statute, in such manner as my Trustee, in his or her absolute discretion, deems advisable, and each such election, determination, designation or allocation when so made shall be final and binding upon all persons concerned;
    14. To pay himself or herself a reasonable compensation out of the trust assets; and
    15. To employ and rely on the advice given by any attorney, accountant, investment advisor, or other agent to assist the Trustee in the administration of this trust and to compensate them from the trust assets.

    The above authority and powers granted to my Trustee are in addition to any powers and elective rights conferred by statute or federal law or by other provision of this Will and may be exercised as often as required, and without application to or approval by any court.

    (2) Other Provisions


    1. Subject to the terms of this Will, I direct that my Trustee will not be liable for any loss to my estate or to any beneficiary resulting from the exercise by him or her in good faith of any discretion given him or her in this Will;
    2. Any trust created in this Will shall be administered as independently of court supervision as possible under the laws of the Province or Territory having jurisdiction over the trust; and
    3. If any trust condition is held invalid, it will not affect other provisions that can be given effect without the invalid provision.

  35. GENERAL PROVISIONS
  36. Individuals Omitted From Bequests
  37. If I have omitted to leave property in this Will to one or more of my heirs as named above or have provided them with zero shares of a bequest, the failure to do so is intentional.
  38. Insufficient Estate
  39. If the value of my estate is insufficient to fulfill all of the bequests described in this Will then I give my Executor full authority to decrease each bequest by a proportionate amount.
  40. No Contest Provision
  41. If any beneficiary under this Will contests in any court any of the provisions of this Will, then each and all such persons shall not be entitled to any devises, legacies, bequests, or benefits under this Will or any codicil hereto, and such interest or share in my estate shall be disposed of as if that contesting beneficiary had not survived me.
  42. Severability
  43. If any provisions of this Will are deemed unenforceable, the remaining provisions will remain in full force and effect.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have signed my name on this the ________ day of ________________, ________, at __________________________, Alberta, declaring and publishing this instrument as my Last Will, in the presence of the undersigned witnesses, who witnessed and subscribed this Last Will at my request, and in my presence.

_____________________________
__________________________ (Testator) Signature

SIGNED AND DECLARED by __________________________ on the ________ day of ________________, ________ to be the Testator's Last Will, in our presence, at __________________________, Alberta, who at the Testator's request and in the presence of the Testator and of each other, all being present at the same time, have signed our names as witnesses.


________________________
Witness #1 Signature
________________________
Witness #1 Name (Please Print)
________________________
Witness #1 Street Address
________________________
Witness #1 City/Province


________________________
Witness #2 Signature
________________________
Witness #2 Name (Please Print)
________________________
Witness #2 Street Address
________________________
Witness #2 City/Province

Page of

AFFIDAVIT OF EXECUTION

CANADA

PROVINCE OF ALBERTA

TO WIT:

I, ________________, of ____________, Alberta, MAKE OATH AND SAY THAT:

  1. I was personally present and did see __________________________, who is known to me to be the person named in the attached Last Will and Testament ("the Instrument"), duly sign the Instrument.
  2. The Instrument was signed at __________________________, Alberta.
  3. That I am the subscribing witness to the Instrument.
  4. __________________________ was personally present and did see me duly sign the Instrument.
  5. That I believe the person named in the instrument, whose signature I witnessed, __________________________, is at least the age of majority in Alberta.


SWORN BEFORE ME at _____________, Alberta this ________ day of ________________, ________.

 


 ________________________
 Signature


________________________
A Commissioner for Oaths/Notary Public in and for the Province of Alberta
My Commission expires: ____________

 

 ________________________
 Name

Last Updated April 27, 2023

What is a Last Will and Testament?

You can use a Last Will and Testament to control the distribution of your estate and to appoint a legal guardian for any dependents after you pass away.

Probate courts (the segment of the court system that handles wills and estates) use your Last Will as a guide when settling your estate.

This document includes custom instructions for allocating money and property to certain people or organizations. It also appoints someone to act as your executor and oversee this distribution (often a trusted family member or a hired professional).

Who are the parties in a Last Will and Testament?

  1. Testator: The owner of the Last Will and Testament. Once the testator dies, their estate gets distributed according to the terms of their Will.
  2. Executor: Also known as a personal representative, the executor administers the Last Will and Testament.
  3. Beneficiary: A beneficiary is someone who will receive something from the estate. You may name multiple beneficiaries and divide your assets as you see fit.

Looking for a Last Will and Testament in French?

Use our Testament.

What are the requirements for a Will to be valid in Canada?

Each Canadian jurisdiction has laws that outline the legal requirements for a valid Will. Generally, a valid Will needs to be:

  • Signed by the testator, who is an adult with legal capacity, in the presence of witnesses
  • Signed by witnesses, who are also adults with legal capacity

That being said, a handwritten (i.e., a Holographic Will) or electronic Will may be legal in some Canadian jurisdictions. However, these types of Wills may undergo closer scrutiny during the probate process. It’s also likely that a handwritten Will won’t be as comprehensive as a written one. 

LawDepot’s Last Will and Testament template helps ensure you include all the details needed for a comprehensive document that meets legal requirements in your jurisdiction.

When do you need a Last Will and Testament?

Although many people put off creating a Will until they reach a certain age, the reality is this: any adult who wishes to control the distribution of their estate will benefit from a Last Will and Testament.

After all, life is unpredictable, and you don’t want to miss the chance to make your final wishes known.

That being said, it’s important to write your Last Will and Testament when you have time to carefully consider your wishes

Of course, certain life events or circumstances may spur your decision to create a Will sooner than later. For instance, you should create or update your Last Will and Testament if you:

How do I write a Last Will and Testament?

Use LawDepot’s Last Will and Testament template to create a simple yet comprehensive estate plan. Then, save it as a PDF, or print and sign it according to the laws of your province or territory. 

Canadian laws don’t require you to hire a lawyer to write a Will, but you can have one review your document if you think it’s necessary. For instance, complex estates with high-valued assets or investments might require more thought when it comes to naming beneficiaries and creating instructions. 

To complete your Last Will and Testament, you’ll need to provide:

1. Testator information

You must include the testator’s full name, place of residence, and marital status, as these details affect the laws that apply to the distribution of their estate. 

2. Family details

Children typically have inheritance rights to their parents’ estates. As such, be sure to list all of the testator’s biological and legally adopted children

You should also make note if the child (whether a minor or an adult) is a dependent. For example, this might include adult children who are mentally or physically disabled, or who are attending post-secondary and are under 25. 

If you have dependent children, you can appoint a guardian to care for them in the same way a parent would. 

3. Estate assets and instructions

First, name the beneficiaries that you want to inherit your estate assets. If you’ll have more than one beneficiary, consider how much of the estate each one will inherit. 

You may list individuals or organizations as beneficiaries in your Will. If you’re listing a charity, be sure to include the charity registration number. This is the official reference number issued by the government to every charity. You can typically find this number on donation receipts or the charity’s website.

If your listed beneficiaries cannot, for whatever reason, accept the inheritance, you can also add a wipeout beneficiary to inherit instead. Otherwise, people typically leave their inheritance to be divided equally among their parents and siblings.

If you have minor beneficiaries, LawDepot’s Last Will and Testament template allows you to add a term for delaying their inheritance until they reach a certain age.

Next, state who will receive specific gifts (e.g., a family heirloom), if any. Keep in mind that there are some things that a testator cannot give away in their Will:

  • Proceeds from programs that already have beneficiaries (e.g., life insurance)
  • Jointly held property with rights of survivorship (i.e., the other owner automatically inherits the deceased’s share)
  • Their spouse’s separately owned property

4. Executor information

Name someone to act as your executor and list their contact information. The executor of your estate is the person you appoint in your Last Will and Testament to carry out your final instructions. This person is legally bound to administer your Will.

Generally, your executor cannot be a minor or someone that has been convicted of a criminal offence. Some provinces may also put restrictions on executors who live out of the province.

Note that you may have more than one executor. In this case, they must cooperate to administer the estate. 

It’s also best practice to name an alternate executor should anything prevent your first choice from carrying out your estate plans.

Choosing the right executor may be challenging, but it’s a crucial decision because your executor bears a large responsibility on your behalf. This person should be someone you trust, who understands their duties, and who is willing to act as your personal representative. You can appoint your spouse, a friend, a relative, or a professional (like your lawyer or accountant) to be your executor.

An executor’s duties may include:

  • Distributing your property and assets to your beneficiaries
  • Repaying your debts with money from your estate
  • Recovering money other parties may owe you
  • Filing necessary forms (including your final tax return)
  • Managing your business as directed

5. Final details

If you’d like to add specific instructions that aren’t already addressed in the questionnaire, you can write the clause yourself. For example, you may wish to forgive someone for an unpaid debt.

However, you should avoid adding instructions for funeral plans, as it’s likely your Last Will won’t be read until after your funeral. What’s more, these instructions will not be legally binding.

Does a Last Will and Testament need to be notarized?

You don’t need to notarize your Will for it to be valid. 

However, LawDepot’s Last Will and Testament template includes an Affidavit of Execution, which is a document that does require a Notary Public or Commissioner for Oaths to witness and sign

The Affidavit of Execution acts as further evidence of the testator’s intent to create the Will. It helps verify the identities and signatures of the testator and witnesses. Probate courts may request this document when reviewing the Will. If produced, witnesses likely won’t need to testify in probate court about having witnessed the execution of the Will.

Where should I keep my Will?

Not only is it important to store your Last Will and Testament in a safe location, but it’s also crucial to ensure that your executor can access it when needed

For example, you can keep your Will in a safety deposit box at your bank. However, banks often have strict policies about who can access this box and when. 

In any case, be sure to leave clear instructions to your executor about where you keep the original copy of your Will. Although you can give copies of your Will to your executor (or even beneficiaries), the original document must be presented in probate court.

Related Documents:

  • Power of Attorney: Grant someone the authority to make financial and other decisions for you when you can't.
  • Health Care Directive: State your medical preferences when you're incapacitated and name someone to represent your wishes.
  • Codicil: Make changes or additions to your Last Will and Testament.
  • Gift Deed: Give money or property to a person or organization.
  • End-of-Life Plan: Outline your wishes for memorial services and what to do with your remains.
Try our seven-day free trial and create your Last Will today
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