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62575.04Blended family structures have become a defining feature of modern estate planning practice. Second marriages, adult interdependent partnerships, stepchildren, and continuing obligations to former spouses or partners frequently give rise to competing claims that strain traditional estate planning approaches. In this environment, domestic contracts, most commonly prenuptial, postnuptial, cohabitation, and separation agreements, have assumed an increasingly central role. Disputes frequently arise, not from uncertainty in the law itself, but from inadequate integration between family law agreements and estate planning documents. Accordingly, this paper emphasizes coordination, risk identification, and practical drafting considerations from the perspective of estate planning practitioners. These materials are part of a collection presented at LESA’s Estate Planning for Blended Families program in Edmonton on April 22, 2026.
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62575.02The ever-evolving landscape of who might be considered a family member, and who a testator might be expected to consider in an estate plan, creates a layer of complication that can often result in litigation upon the death of the testator, and chaos in the administration of an estate. As the composition of families in modern society changes, so too does the application of the FMS provisions of the Wills and Estates Act. This paper reviews some of the ways in which less traditional, yet overwhelmingly common, family relationships have been managed by courts in the context of FMS applications. These materials are part of a collection presented at LESA’s Estate Planning for Blended Families program in Edmonton on April 22, 2026.
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62575.01Blended families are more likely to have an unequal property balance between the spouses. Estate planning lawyers need to fully understand how each spouse owns their property, if they have a property agreement, and what they want to do with their property. This paper explores rights, obligations, and how to best plan estates. Topics include pre-planning, statutory rights, and advising clients. These materials are part of a collection presented at LESA’s Estate Planning for Blended Families program in Edmonton on April 22, 2026.
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62567.01Author: Eleanor Carlson Administering an Alberta estate becomes more complex when the personal representative lives outside the province—or outside Canada altogether. As families become increasingly mobile and geographically dispersed, these situations are more common and present unique legal and practical challenges. This paper explores the legal requirements, procedural hurdles, and practical considerations involved when personal representatives are based abroad. These materials were presented at LESA’s Bridging the Distance: Non-Resident Personal Representatives in Alberta Estates webinar on March 3, 2026.
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62553.03Estate Planning and asset management are often the main drivers in the use of trusts. Their creditor protection properties may be considered a bonus, if not altogether overlooked. This paper explores matrimonial creditors, and third-party and arm’s length creditors. Topics include spouses as creditors; trusts and division of family property; trusts and family maintenance and support; fixed vs. discretionary trusts; fraudulent conveyance legislation; and sham trusts. These materials are part of a collection presented at LESA’s Drafting Trusts program in Edmonton on February 11, 2026.
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62553.02Testamentary trusts can serve useful purposes, when constructed correctly. This paper explores how to draft meaningful and effective will clauses of testamentary trusts for minors and young adults. It also discusses the advantages and dangers of building spousal trusts in wills. These materials are part of a collection presented at LESA’s Drafting Trusts program in Edmonton on February 11, 2026.
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62553.01Often the last thing on caregivers’ minds is their estate planning. A lawyer who is familiar with some of the basic elements of disability trust planning can be a relief. This paper explores the following questions (1) when would you consider creating a trust for a disabled beneficiary? (2) what are the benefits and drawbacks? (3) What are the two types of trusts that can be drafted for disabled beneficiaries? (4) what are the essential elements of trusts for disabled beneficiaries? And (5) how are these trusts taxed? These materials are part of a collection presented at LESA’s Drafting Trusts program in Edmonton on February 11, 2026.
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62555.01This paper reviews twenty key Alberta decisions from 2025 concerning wills, estates, and related areas of capacity, undue influence, and estate administration. These cases collectively demonstrate the Alberta courts’ continued emphasis on testamentary intention, the importance of procedural compliance in estate administration, and a careful balance between capacity, undue influence, and rectification principles. The summaries are organized thematically to assist practitioners in identifying key trends and takeaways. These materials were presented at LESA’s Wills and Estates: Case Law Update 2025 webinar on December 10, 2025.
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62541.01Estate practitioners are tasked with the challenging responsibility of assisting clients and the Courts to navigate through the ever-changing legal landscape surrounding AIPs. This paper explores the implications of adult interdependent relationships and how they are treated in the estate context in Alberta. These materials were presented at LESA’s Were they AIPs? A Comprehensive Review of Adult Interdependent Relationships in the Estate Context webinar on November 24, 2025.
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62530.05Organization is key to being an effective lawyer. It is a crucial skill in the management of a busy practice. This paper explores the importance of file organization with helpful tips and examples. These materials are part of a collection presented at LESA’s Family Law Conference (Kananaskis) program in Kananaskis on October 24–25, 2025.
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62530.04Creating and maintaining a good filing system is instrumental to moving any file forward. This paper explores strategies for developing a well-organized filing system to help improve overall efficiency over time. These materials are part of a collection presented at LESA’s Family Law Conference (Kananaskis) program in Kananaskis on October 24–25, 2025.
