Can a family member draw up a will?

Can a family member draw up a will?

Generally speaking, you are free to give your property away to whomever you wish. Alberta’s Wills and Succession Act does place some limits on that freedom. If you do not adequately provide for your family members in your Will, then the Act allows those family members to apply for support from your estate.

In Alberta, any adult (age 18 or over) who is mentally capable can make a Will. A person under the age of 18 can make a Will if they: have a spouse or adult interdependent partner; or • are a member on active service with the Canadian Forces (naval, land or air force); or • have the Court’s permission.

What happens when a sibling contest a will?

If your sibling actually contests the will or codicil and the court agrees that the will or codicil is invalid, or that parts of it are invalid, there are several outcomes. The entire will or codicil can be thrown out. If there is an earlier will in existence, that will could be put into place instead.

What should I do if I have multiple beneficiaries in my will?

If you are selecting multiple beneficiaries in your will, you have to decide how to distribute your assets among them. There are several options for distributing your property among multiple beneficiaries. One option is to divide the property equally among all beneficiaries.

How are the beneficiaries of an estate divided?

One option is to divide the property equally among all beneficiaries. You can also choose to divide the property unequally and, for example, leave 40% of your estate to your sister and 60% to your mother. Another method is to leave specific gifts to certain beneficiaries.

Can a beneficiary see the terms of a will?

At that time, all beneficiaries, as well as the general public, may access the will to see the terms. However, the executor is under no obligation to personally provide this information to beneficiaries nor is the executor required to disclose the contents of the will to any beneficiary beyond their particular inheritance.

What’s the proper way to name a beneficiary?

When naming people as beneficiaries, make sure to use their full legal names. It can also be beneficial to add the person’s relation to you (e.g., spouse, father, sister). If two beneficiaries have similar names, be sure to distinguish between them in some way (“my father, John Smith and my brother, John Smith Jr.”)