How to Make a Legal Will in Alberta
- Governing statute: Wills and Succession Act, S.A. 2010, c. W-12.2
- Minimum age to make a will: 18
- Witnessing rule: 2 witnesses required, present at the same time as you sign.
- Handwritten (holographic) wills: Alberta is one of the provinces that recognizes a "holograph will" — a document entirely in your own handwriting and signed by you, with no witnesses required — under the Wills and Succession Act, S.A. 2010, c. W-12.2. It's still riskier than a properly witnessed will (easier to challenge, easier to lose, no independent confirmation of your intent), so we recommend the standard signed-and-witnessed route whenever it's available to you.
What makes a will legal in Alberta
A will in Alberta is governed by the Wills and Succession Act, S.A. 2010, c. W-12.2. To be valid, the testator must be at least 18 years old, sign the document, and have that signature witnessed by 2 witnesses (each at least 18) who are present at the same time and are not beneficiaries under the will. Notarization is not required — signing and witnessing correctly is what makes a will legal, not who drafted it.
What happens if you die without a will in Alberta
If you die without a will in Alberta, the Wills and Succession Act, S.A. 2010, c. W-12.2 decides who inherits — not you. Your spouse or adult interdependent partner and children split your estate by a fixed formula (a spouse doesn't automatically get everything if you have children from another relationship), other relatives may be entitled to a share if you have no spouse or children, and an estate with no eligible relatives passes to His Majesty the King in right of Alberta. A will lets you choose your own beneficiaries instead.
Your options for making a will in Alberta
In Alberta you generally have four routes to a will: an online generator like I'M DEAD (fast, free to preview, province-specific, you still print and sign in person); a lawyer (highest cost, best for complex estates); a paper will kit (cheap but generic, easy to get Alberta-specific rules wrong); or a fully handwritten holograph will (legal here, but riskier to rely on — see the holographic-validity note above). For a typical estate, an online will plus correct signing covers most people's needs.
Fast, province-specific, free to preview — you still print and sign in person.
Highest cost, best for complex estates, trusts, or a contested family situation.
Cheap but generic — easy to get your province's specific rules wrong.
Risky without a general holographic-will exception — see the note below.
Power of attorney terminology in Alberta
Enduring Power of Attorney — the person you appoint is called your Attorney, under the Powers of Attorney Act, R.S.A. 2000, c. P-20.
Personal Directive — the person you appoint is called your Agent, under the Personal Directives Act, R.S.A. 2000, c. P-6.
Alberta will FAQ
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Start your Alberta willOther provinces and territories we cover
Quebec — not supported (civil law is a different system).
Including Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut — which most online will platforms don't serve.