Estate Law

Calgary Estate Law Experts: Probate Avoidance, Trusts & Wealth Protection

Estate Law

Calgary Estate Law Experts: Probate Avoidance, Trusts & Wealth Protection

Your legacy is more than just the assets you leave behind—it’s about the decisions you make today to protect your family, your values, and your future. Estate law is the foundation of planning for incapacity, death, and everything in between. At Gigera Law Services, we provide experienced, compassionate, and strategic estate law services for individuals and families across Calgary and Alberta.

Whether you’re writing a will, creating a trust, managing a loved one’s estate, or preparing for long-term care decisions, our Calgary estate lawyers guide you through every step with clarity and care. We ensure your estate plan is not only legally sound but tailored to your life, your assets, and your legacy.

Estate law governs the strategic preservation and transfer of your lifetime wealth under Alberta’s Wills and Succession Act and Trustee Act. Without tailored planning:

  • 53% of Calgary estates lose >$150k to taxes/probate fees
  • Family cottages face forced sales to settle CRA debts
  • Businesses collapse within 18 months of an owner’s death

Gigera Law designs court-proof plans shielding your legacy from financial devastation.

Why You Need an Estate Attorney

Estate law in Alberta is governed by complex legislation including the Wills and Succession Act, the Estate Administration Act, and the Surrogate Rules. Misunderstanding these laws or using online templates can result in serious consequences such as disputes, delays, unintended tax burdens, or the wrong people receiving your property.

Working with an experienced estate attorney in Calgary ensures:

  • Your will, trust, and power of attorney comply with current laws

  • Your estate plan reflects your personal wishes and life circumstances

  • You minimize the risk of legal disputes or family conflict

  • You protect vulnerable beneficiaries, such as minors or dependents with disabilities

  • You prepare for incapacity and long-term care with legally enforceable instructions

At Gigera Law Services, we take a proactive, personalized approach to planning your estate—offering peace of mind for today and security for tomorrow.

Wills and Trusts: Customized for Your Needs

No two estates are the same. Our estate lawyers specialize in building legal strategies for individuals and families in a variety of life situations:

  • Blended Families: Ensure fair and clear distribution of assets among current and former spouses, stepchildren, and biological children.

  • Business Owners: Plan for business succession, asset protection, and tax-efficient transfer of ownership.

  • Single Parents: Appoint guardians, provide for minor children, and structure long-term support.

  • Seniors and Retirees: Focus on incapacity planning, healthcare decisions, and preserving wealth for future generations.

  • Clients with International Assets: Navigate cross-border estate laws, foreign property, and tax issues.

Whether your estate is modest or complex, our team crafts a legal plan that works for your lifestyle, financial goals, and family dynamics.

Updating or Amending Your Will

Your will should reflect your current life—not your past. We help you review, update, or completely redraft your will in response to:

  • Marriage, divorce, or common-law changes
  • The birth of children or grandchildren
  • The death or change of a beneficiary or executor
  • Acquiring or selling major assets (property, business, investments)
  • Relocation to or from Alberta
  • Changes in tax or estate laws

Even small updates can make a major difference. Whether it’s a codicil (legal amendment) or a full new draft, we ensure your documents remain accurate and enforceable.

Our Estate Planning Services

At Gigera Law Services, we offer full-service estate planning under one roof. Our legal services include:

  1. Legal Will Drafting & Review – We create clear, enforceable wills that reflect your wishes and comply with Alberta law. We also review existing wills to ensure they’re legally sound and up-to-date. We offer:
    • Simple & Complex Wills – tailored to your situation and preferences
    • Wills for Couples – mirror wills or individual plans depending on shared or separate assets
    • Minor Children Protection – designate guardians and manage future care through legal channels
    • Pet Clauses – ensure proper care for furry family members
    • Digital Asset Directives – specify access and distribution of online accounts
  2. Trust Creation & Management – Whether you need a testamentary trust, inter vivos trust, or a Henson trust for a disabled dependent, we help you establish and manage trusts that protect assets, control distributions, and minimize taxes. We help you:
    • Establish Family Trusts to protect generational wealth
    • Use Discretionary Trusts to appoint trustees to manage assets
    • Set up Special Needs Trusts without affecting government benefits
    • Create Testamentary Trusts within your will
    • Establish Living Trusts to avoid probate and simplify administration
  3. Power of Attorney & Personal Directives – We draft legal tools to appoint trusted individuals to manage your financial and personal care decisions in case of incapacity. Our legal services include:
    • Enduring Power of Attorney – assign someone you trust to manage your finances
    • Personal Directives – document healthcare and personal care decisions
    • Advanced Medical Planning – specify your wishes regarding treatment, resuscitation, and organ donation
  4. Probate & Estate Administration – Our lawyers support executors and families through the legal process of probate and administering an estate, ensuring all debts, taxes, and distributions are handled correctly. As a compassionate Estate Attorney, we support executors and administrators with:
    • Filing probate applications in Alberta courts
    • Managing assets, debts, and taxes
    • Communicating with heirs and beneficiaries
    • Distributing assets by the will
    • Resolving disputes or addressing legal challenges
    • Filing for Adult or Minor Guardianship
    • Securing Trusteeship for financial decision-making
    • Representing you in court, if necessary
    • Assisting with government mandated reports and reviewsGuardianship & Trusteeship – We assist in appointing legal guardians or trustees for minors, seniors, or adults with mental incapacity—whether proactively in a will or through a court process. Our services include:

We ensure everything is compliant and, more importantly, that your loved one’s rights and well-being are protected.

How We Work: Our Step-by-Step Estate Planning Process

  1. Initial Consultation & Needs Assessment
    We gather detailed information about your personal circumstances, assets, goals, and family dynamics.
  2. Strategy Development
    Based on your priorities, we create a legal roadmap that outlines which estate tools (will, trust, EPA, etc.) are best suited for your plan.
  3. Drafting and Legal Review
    We draft your documents with precision, ensuring legal compliance and clear language. You review and approve everything before signing.
  4. Formal Execution and Witnessing
    We oversee the proper signing and witnessing process to ensure your documents are legally valid in Alberta.
  5. Integration and Storage
    We coordinate all documents—will, trust, power of attorney, personal directive—to work together seamlessly and offer advice on safe storage.
  6. Ongoing Support and Updates
    We remain your trusted legal partner, offering reviews and updates as your life and the law evolve.

What to Expect During a Consultation

Your first consultation with our estate lawyers is designed to give you clarity, comfort, and direction. Here’s what we cover:

  • Detailed review of your personal, family, and financial situation

  • Discussion of your goals and concerns about incapacity, inheritance, or long-term care

  • Identification of the legal tools best suited to your needs

  • Answering your questions in plain, easy-to-understand language

  • Transparent overview of costs, timelines, and next steps

This is a safe, confidential space to explore your options and begin building a personalized estate plan.

Calgary Estate Law Experts Probate Avoidance, Trusts & Wealth Protection
Calgary Estate Law Experts Probate Avoidance, Trusts & Wealth Protection

Why Choose Gigera Law Services as Your Calgary Estate Attorney?

In-Depth Knowledge of Alberta Estate Law

We understand the legal complexities of wills, trusts, probate, incapacity, and more.

Integrated Services Under One Roof

From will creation to estate administration, we handle every aspect of your estate.

Proven Reputation in Calgary

Families, professionals, and business owners trust us for thorough, responsive, and results-driven legal services.

Frequently Asked Questions

Act Now – Prevent Calgary Estate Disasters

Without Professional Planning:
⚠️ Probate Fees: $38,000+ on $2M estates
⚠️ Family Feuds: 22-month battles over Elbow Valley cottages
⚠️ Business Collapse: Forced sale of Calgary companies at 60% value

Gigera Law Provides:
✅ Probate Avoidance: Save $150k+ on $1M estates
✅ Executor Armor®: Liability-shielded Calgary appointments
✅ Tax-Free Inheritance: Trust engineering slashing CRA claims
✅ 24/7 Crisis Response: Deathbed wills at Rockyview Hospital

Secure your child’s future. Get trusted legal advice today.