Edmonton Probate Lawyer
If you've been named executor or you're navigating a loved one's estate, you don't have to figure out probate alone. We offer remote-first probate assistance to families in Edmonton and across Alberta with no retainer and no upfront fees.
Compassionate Guidance Through Alberta's Estate Administration Process
WillWise is an Edmonton probate law firm helping executors settle Alberta estates with care, efficiency, and transparency. Whether you're an executor in Edmonton, elsewhere in Alberta, or managing an Alberta estate from out of province, our experienced team will support you through probate and estate administration. Our remote-friendly process means most matters can be handled from the comfort of your home.
Why Edmonton Executors Choose WillWise
Executors can be held personally responsible if an estate is administered improperly, even when mistakes are made in good faith. The role is unfamiliar to most, the stakes are real, and it often arrives during a period of grief. A knowledgeable guide makes the process more manageable and substantially reduces the risk of personal liability.
WillWise was created to be that guide. We offer:
A compassionate approach. Many of our clients are grieving. We pace the work accordingly, explain things clearly, and lift the legal and administrative weight so you can focus on your family.
A remote-friendly process. Most probate and administration matters don't require in-person meetings. Whether you're in Edmonton, elsewhere in Alberta, or managing an Alberta estate from another province, you can work with us from home.
A team that understands executors. Our team includes a Certified Executor Advisor, a professional formally trained in the full scope of what executors face, from court applications to the practical realities of administering an estate.
How Probate Works in Alberta
Probate is the legal process by which Alberta's Court of King's Bench (Surrogate Division), commonly called the Surrogate Court, confirms the validity of a will and the executor's authority to administer the estate. It's typically required when the deceased held assets solely in their name, such as real estate or significant bank accounts. Once the court issues an Alberta Grant of Probate, the executor can deal with those assets, pay debts, and distribute the estate to beneficiaries. When there is no will, a similar process called administration applies, and the court issues a Grant of Administration instead.
How long the process takes largely depends on how quickly the estate's information and documents are gathered before filing. Once submitted, most applications are granted quickly, especially when filed electronically through the Surrogate Digital Service. Paper applications and those that require serving additional parties take longer.
When you work with WillWise, our process involves:
Step 1: Information gathering
After an initial call, we guide you in collecting the information required to apply, including details about the deceased, their family, and the estate's assets and debts.
Step 2: Application preparation and submission
We prepare the probate or administration application on your behalf, submit it to the court, and keep you informed throughout. You'll hear from us once the grant is issued.
Step 3: Ongoing executor support
Once the grant is in hand, we provide guidance on the steps that follow and are available to assist directly with those steps at your request.
Transparent Pricing
WillWise is designed around the realities executors face. We don't require a retainer or upfront payment, and our fees are clearly structured so you know what to expect from the beginning. In most cases, legal fees are invoiced once the Grant of Probate or Administration is received.
Applications for Grants of Probate and Administration: $2,500, plus 1% on the first $2,000,000 of estate value, and 0.5% on any amount above that
Ongoing Executor Support: Hourly rate or by agreement, depending on the scope of work
Other Legal Services: Hourly rate or by agreement
Fees are subject to GST. Disbursements, including court fees, are billed separately and are not marked up.
During your initial call, we'll review your specific situation and confirm what the work will involve before any engagement begins.
Frequently Asked Questions
Reviewed by Megan Koper, JD, Lawyer & Principal at WillWise. Last reviewed: June 2026.
-
You're not legally required to. In Alberta, an executor can apply for probate without a lawyer. But probate carries legal duties, strict court requirements, and personal liability for the executor if something goes wrong. A probate lawyer reduces the risk of costly errors, handles the court paperwork, and keeps the estate moving correctly and efficiently. With WillWise, a Certified Executor Advisor is your main point of contact throughout, guiding you through the application and answering your questions, so you're not navigating the process alone.
-
The cost of hiring a probate lawyer in Edmonton has three parts: the lawyer's legal fees, disbursements (including court fees), and GST. Legal fees vary by firm and often depend on the estate's size and complexity, with many Alberta lawyers following a recognized guideline of a base fee plus a small percentage of the estate's value. Most firms quote case by case rather than publishing a price. The main disbursement is the court (probate) fee, set on a sliding scale from $35 to a maximum of $525 based on the estate's value. WillWise publishes its pricing up front: a flat $2,500 plus 1% on the first $2 million of estate value, and 0.5% above that. Disbursements and GST are additional. There is no markup on disbursements, and no upfront retainer is required. Legal fees are generally invoiced once the grant is received.
-
WillWise prepares and submits your probate application to the Court of King's Bench (Surrogate Division) on your behalf, working from the information you provide. This includes reviewing the will and advising on any concerns about its validity. It also means navigating the nuances of the application: who needs to be served, who may have a potential claim against the estate, and what additional steps may be required to complete the application.
Most estates qualify for Alberta's Surrogate Digital Service (SDS), which allows us to file the application electronically. We file paper applications for those estates that do not qualify for the SDS. If there is no will, we handle the application for a Grant of Administration in the same way. Once the grant is issued, we provide a reporting letter summarizing your duties as executor and the steps to administer and finalize the estate, so you know exactly what to do next.
-
No. WillWise works with clients remotely, so we can help executors of Alberta estates no matter where they live. Whether you're in Edmonton, elsewhere in Alberta, or out of province, you can work with a probate lawyer from the comfort of home. An executor may still need to travel to where the estate's assets are located for other reasons, such as securing property or meeting with financial institutions, but the legal work can be handled remotely.
-
In Alberta, a Grant of Probate is typically issued within one to three weeks of submitting the application through the Surrogate Digital Service (SDS). Most of the overall timeline now comes from gathering the estate's information and documents before filing, since the court's part of the process is fast. That turnaround is a major improvement over the several months probate used to take under the previous paper-based system, and faster than the process in many other provinces. WillWise files all qualifying applications through the SDS; those that do not qualify are filed on paper, which takes longer.
-
Yes. Probate is the step where the court confirms the executor's authority, while administering the estate is the full process of dealing with and finalizing the estate, much of which happens after probate is granted.
Many of our clients feel they have enough information to administer the estate themselves, based on what we provide during the probate process, including the reporting letter we send at the end. Others prefer our direct support through the rest of the process. That support can include:
Preparing transfers of land and bills of sale
Preparing the accounting and releases for beneficiaries
Advising on the appropriate timing of distributions
Dealing directly with beneficiaries to help prevent misunderstandings and the disputes that can follow
In some cases we also hold estate funds in trust and carry out the distributions on the executor's behalf. This additional support is provided on request and for an additional fee.
-
The first step is a conversation about the estate: the will, the beneficiaries, the assets and debts, and any steps taken so far. From there, WillWise confirms whether probate is needed and provides a fee quote based on the estate's value. If you choose to proceed, our Certified Executor Advisor will help you gather the information needed for the application and walk you through the immediate steps you need to take as executor. Because there's no upfront retainer, you can get started without paying anything until the grant is received. Book your free call to get started.
Edmonton and Surrounding Communities
While our office is in Edmonton, we act for executors across Alberta (Calgary, Red Deer, Sherwood Park, Lethbridge, Grande Prairie, and smaller communities) as well as out-of-province executors administering Alberta estates. Because the Surrogate Court accepts digital applications, working remotely with an Alberta probate lawyer is straightforward, regardless of where you live. Our remote-friendly process means most matters can be handled by phone, video, and email, no matter where you're located.
Ready to take the first step?
Book a complimentary call. We'll help you understand whether probate is required and what comes next.
