This paper provides tips for dealing with some common twists to the ordinary estate administration scenario. It includes background information on grants of probate, including expedited grants and limited grants of administration. It also addresses common problems or issues that may be encountered in estate administration, such as photocopies of wills or wills lacking an affidavit of witness, validity issues, and missing or deceased beneficiaries, and provides strategies for dealing with those situations. A sample consent order for a missing person declaration is included.

This paper is part of a collection presented at LESA’s Estate Administration Fundamentals program held in Edmonton on November 30, 2016 and in Calgary on December 7, 2016.