Estate Planning:
Every person or family should have Wills, Powers of Attorney and Personal Directives. Most law offices bundle these documents in relatively inexpensive flat fee packages. All lawyers should include the Affidavit of Witness at the time the Will is signed. Home Made will kits are often improperly drafted, and it costs far more for lawyers to try and rectify deficient wills.
A commissioner can sign the Affidavit of Witness with the witness - does not have to be a lawyer or notary.
Estate Admin:
When there is a will you may have to apply for a Grant of Probate. When there is no will, it would be a Grant of Administration. Similar applications, and the fees should be about the same. Most lawyers refer to a fee schedule - $2250 + 1% gross value of estate. Some offices are willing to offer a discount or negotiate on the fee. Our minimum fee is $3000. Most law offices can also assist with the sale or transfer of real estate after the Grant is issued. They can help with distributions and releases.
It used to be applications were done on the paper NC forms. It was taking the Court four months or longer to issue a Grant.
Lawyers now have access to the Surrogate Digital Service:
https://surrogate.alberta.ca/assets/...al-Service.pdf
Eligible applications can now be processed through the service in less than one month. The NC forms have been replaced by the GA paper forms - these applications are now being processed in 2- 3 months.