As a young, healthy parent, you may believe that having a Will
is the last thing on a long priority list. However, while a Will is
important for everyone, those with children should be particularly
mindful of the primary importance of having a Will. The following
provides just some of the many reasons why having a Will is so
important for parents:
Wills and Succession Act
In Alberta, if you do not have a Will, your estate property will
be distributed pursuant to the intestacy provisions of the
Wills and Succession Act. Other property, such as property
held jointly with another person or property that has a designated
beneficiary (such as life insurance or RRSPs) will pass directly to
the surviving joint owner or the designated beneficiary, and
generally not form part of your estate. The Wills and
Succession Act prescribes that, after payment of debts, your
spouse or "adult interdependent partner" will only
receive the whole of your estate if all of your
