CINXE.COM

<!DOCTYPE html><html data-wf-domain="www.fosterllp.ca" data-wf-page="5c05e60da70b98d3c1cc7bbc" data-wf-site="5b623e28a5fc3a41c7d16cff" lang="en" data-wf-collection="5c05e60da70b9868fdcc7ab1" data-wf-item-slug="wills-101-who-gets-what-where-do-my-children-go"><head><meta charset="utf-8"/><title>Wills 101: Who gets what and where do my children go? | Foster LLP</title><meta content="Wills 101: Who gets what and where do my children go? | Foster LLP" property="og:title"/><meta content="Wills 101: Who gets what and where do my children go? | Foster LLP" property="twitter:title"/><meta content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" name="viewport"/><link href="https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/5b623e28a5fc3a41c7d16cff/css/foster-2-0.70701d64d.min.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css"/><link href="https://fonts.googleapis.com" rel="preconnect"/><link href="https://fonts.gstatic.com" rel="preconnect" crossorigin="anonymous"/><script src="https://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/webfont/1.6.26/webfont.js" type="text/javascript"></script><script type="text/javascript">WebFont.load({ google: { families: ["Nunito Sans:regular,600,700","Roboto Slab:300,regular,700"] }});</script><script type="text/javascript">!function(o,c){var n=c.documentElement,t=" w-mod-";n.className+=t+"js",("ontouchstart"in o||o.DocumentTouch&&c instanceof DocumentTouch)&&(n.className+=t+"touch")}(window,document);</script><link href="https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/5b623e28a5fc3a41c7d16cff/5c09bfe8ec4e8aa2ce3f6f6a_Foster%20LLP%20Favicon.png" rel="shortcut icon" type="image/x-icon"/><link href="https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/5b623e28a5fc3a41c7d16cff/5c09bfec6a4181de154b09a5_Foster%20LLP.png" rel="apple-touch-icon"/><script async="" src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=G-QQBZ6TCZT8"></script><script type="text/javascript">window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || [];function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);}gtag('js', new Date());gtag('set', 'developer_id.dZGVlNj', true);gtag('config', 'G-QQBZ6TCZT8');</script><script src="https://www.google.com/recaptcha/api.js" type="text/javascript"></script> <script>(function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start': new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0], j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src= 'https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f); })(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-KDKPKKG');</script> </head><body><div data-collapse="medium" data-animation="default" data-duration="400" data-easing="ease" data-easing2="ease" role="banner" class="nav-bar w-nav"><div class="wrapper nav-bar-wrapper"><a href="/" class="brand w-nav-brand"><img src="https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/5b623e28a5fc3a41c7d16cff/64419f6634032fbc1e604424_Foster%20LLP%20Calgary%20Family%20Lawyers.png" width="178" alt=""/></a><div class="navigation"><nav role="navigation" class="nav-menu w-nav-menu"><a href="/services" class="nav-link w-nav-link">Services</a><a href="/partners-associates" class="nav-link w-nav-link">Our Team</a><div data-hover="true" data-delay="300" class="nav-dropdown w-dropdown"><div class="nav-link w-dropdown-toggle"><div class="nav-dropdown-icon w-icon-dropdown-toggle"></div><div>Resources</div></div><nav class="nav-dropdown-list w-dropdown-list"><a href="/blog" class="nav-dropdown-link w-dropdown-link">Blog</a><a href="/family-law-terms" class="nav-dropdown-link w-dropdown-link">Family Law Terms</a><a href="/interview-preparation" class="nav-dropdown-link w-dropdown-link">Interview Prep</a><a href="/important-cases" class="nav-dropdown-link w-dropdown-link">Important Cases</a><a href="/reported-decisions" class="nav-dropdown-link w-dropdown-link">Reported Decisions</a><a href="/helpful-links" class="nav-dropdown-link w-dropdown-link">Helpful Links</a><a href="/community-work" class="nav-dropdown-link w-dropdown-link">Community Work</a></nav></div><div data-hover="true" data-delay="300" class="nav-dropdown w-dropdown"><div class="nav-link w-dropdown-toggle"><div class="nav-dropdown-icon w-icon-dropdown-toggle"></div><div>Contact</div></div><nav class="nav-dropdown-list w-dropdown-list"><a href="/contact-us" class="nav-dropdown-link w-dropdown-link">Contact Us</a><a href="/careers" class="nav-dropdown-link w-dropdown-link">Careers</a></nav></div></nav><a href="/contact-us" class="button small w-hidden-small w-hidden-tiny w-button"><strong class="bold-text">Book a Free Consult</strong></a><a href="tel:403-261-5333" class="button small call-button w-hidden-tiny w-button"><strong>Call: 403-261-5333</strong></a><div class="menu-button w-nav-button"><div class="w-icon-nav-menu"></div></div></div></div></div><div class="progress-bar"></div><div class="page-wrapper"><div class="section page-header white"><div class="wrapper side-paddings"><div class="post-info"><a style="background-color:#ff704d" href="/blog-categories/family-law" class="badge">Family Law</a><h1 class="post-heading">Wills 101: Who gets what and where do my children go?</h1></div><img alt="" src="https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/5b623e28a5fc3a0afad16d06/5eb1a25ac755e032043a0c6b_Foster%20LLP_Wills%20and%20Estate%20Lawyer%20Calgary_AB_Calgary_%232100%2C%20520%205%20Avenue%20SW_%20(1).jpg" sizes="(max-width: 479px) 93vw, (max-width: 767px) 96vw, (max-width: 991px) 97vw, 92vw" srcset="https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/5b623e28a5fc3a0afad16d06/5eb1a25ac755e032043a0c6b_Foster%20LLP_Wills%20and%20Estate%20Lawyer%20Calgary_AB_Calgary_%232100%2C%20520%205%20Avenue%20SW_%20(1)-p-800.jpeg 800w, https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/5b623e28a5fc3a0afad16d06/5eb1a25ac755e032043a0c6b_Foster%20LLP_Wills%20and%20Estate%20Lawyer%20Calgary_AB_Calgary_%232100%2C%20520%205%20Avenue%20SW_%20(1)-p-1080.jpeg 1080w, https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/5b623e28a5fc3a0afad16d06/5eb1a25ac755e032043a0c6b_Foster%20LLP_Wills%20and%20Estate%20Lawyer%20Calgary_AB_Calgary_%232100%2C%20520%205%20Avenue%20SW_%20(1).jpg 1200w" class="image-5"/><div class="post"><div class="post-author"><img alt="" src="https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/5b623e28a5fc3a0afad16d06/5eb19d0ac755e0206939d5f5_5bd3293dafd4b2337bd0c0cc_Richelle-Dickson-BW-sized.jpg" class="post-author-avatar"/><h5 class="post-author-name">Richelle Dickson</h5><a href="/blog-authors/richelle-dickson" class="post-author-link">See All Posts</a></div><div class="post-content w-richtext"><p>Your Will reflects your wishes with respect to the distribution of your Estate. </p><p>You can specify which beneficiary receives your family heirlooms, jewelry or signed hockey jersey. </p><p>For the bulk of your Estate, your Will specifies who receives your Estate and in the case of your children, at what age that they receive their inheritance. </p><p>If you do not have a Will, minor children receive their inheritance at 18 years old. For most parents, 18 years old is too young for their children to inherit their Estate, so your Will can provide for the inheritance at 21 years, 25 years or even 30 years old. </p><p>Your Will also appoints an Executor. The Executor should be a trusted family member or friend that will manage your estate upon your death. The Executor will also be responsible for collecting your assets, paying your debts, including any funds owing to Revenue Canada, and distributing your Estate to your named beneficiaries. </p><p>It is crucial that your Executor is an individual that you trust and that can deal with selling your house, cashing in your investments, paying your debts and properly distributing your Estate in a timely manner. </p><p>The Guardian, a person who is legally responsible for your children, is also named in your Will. </p><p>If you pass away, your children will generally live with the appointed Guardian, and the appointed Guardian will be responsible for making all of the major decisions for your children. These decisions can include: </p><ul role="list"><li>Where they attend school.</li><li>Where they live.</li><li>All medical decisions.</li><li>And the day to day needs of your children. </li></ul><p>Your Will also provides guidance to your loved ones about other important items such as:</p><ul role="list"><li>If wish to donate your organs.</li><li>Who will take care of your pets.</li><li>Or whether you wish to be buried or cremated and the disposition of your ashes.</li></ul><p>Given the current Pandemic many people are preparing and revising their Wills. Having a current Will is very important and should be part of your estate and financial plan.</p><p>For more information please <a href="/contact-us">contact our offices</a> for a Wills information package. </p><p>Our office is an essential business and we can arrange an initial interview by telephone or video-conference to discuss your <a href="/services/calgary-wills-estate-lawyers">wills and estate</a> needs.</p></div></div></div></div><div class="section grade no-padding-top"><div class="wrapper"><div class="section-intro big-text"><h2 data-w-id="7d51ce5b-ff16-e9a8-48ef-83833de2f96b" style="opacity:0">You Might Also Like</h2><div data-w-id="7d51ce5b-ff16-e9a8-48ef-83833de2f96d" style="opacity:0" class="divider center"></div><div data-w-id="7d51ce5b-ff16-e9a8-48ef-83833de2f96e" style="opacity:0" class="intro-big-text">More Posts</div></div><div data-w-id="bb4fca09-684d-3757-5357-dcf2969b8153" style="opacity:0" class="full-width place-top w-dyn-list"><div role="list" class="blog-v2 w-dyn-items"><div role="listitem" class="post-item-v2 w-dyn-item"><a href="/blog/what-is-an-emergency-protection-order" class="post-card-v2 w-inline-block"><img alt="" src="https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/5b623e28a5fc3a0afad16d06/62956d5a06f976c7737650f4_Emergency%20Protection%20Order%20Calgary.jpg" sizes="(max-width: 479px) 93vw, (max-width: 767px) 47vw, (max-width: 991px) 48vw, 29vw" srcset="https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/5b623e28a5fc3a0afad16d06/62956d5a06f976c7737650f4_Emergency%20Protection%20Order%20Calgary-p-500.jpeg 500w, https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/5b623e28a5fc3a0afad16d06/62956d5a06f976c7737650f4_Emergency%20Protection%20Order%20Calgary-p-800.jpeg 800w, https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/5b623e28a5fc3a0afad16d06/62956d5a06f976c7737650f4_Emergency%20Protection%20Order%20Calgary-p-1080.jpeg 1080w, https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/5b623e28a5fc3a0afad16d06/62956d5a06f976c7737650f4_Emergency%20Protection%20Order%20Calgary.jpg 1200w" class="full-width"/><div class="post-card-v2-info"><div style="background-color:#ff704d" class="badge post-card-v2-category">Family Law</div><h4>What is an Emergency Protection Order? </h4><div class="post-card-v2-description">An Emergency Protection Order (“EPO”) is a court order intended to provide safety in cases of family violence in emergency situations.</div></div></a></div><div role="listitem" class="post-item-v2 w-dyn-item"><a href="/blog/coalition-of-canadian-lawyers-demand-international-criminal-court-to-investigate-discovery-of-215-dead-indigenous-children-in-kamloops-bc" class="post-card-v2 w-inline-block"><img alt="" src="https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/5b623e28a5fc3a0afad16d06/60ba86229b456428eb60a409_Residential%20School%20Discovery%20Letter.jpg" sizes="(max-width: 479px) 93vw, (max-width: 767px) 47vw, (max-width: 991px) 48vw, 29vw" srcset="https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/5b623e28a5fc3a0afad16d06/60ba86229b456428eb60a409_Residential%20School%20Discovery%20Letter-p-500.jpeg 500w, https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/5b623e28a5fc3a0afad16d06/60ba86229b456428eb60a409_Residential%20School%20Discovery%20Letter-p-800.jpeg 800w, https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/5b623e28a5fc3a0afad16d06/60ba86229b456428eb60a409_Residential%20School%20Discovery%20Letter-p-1080.jpeg 1080w, https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/5b623e28a5fc3a0afad16d06/60ba86229b456428eb60a409_Residential%20School%20Discovery%20Letter.jpg 1200w" class="full-width"/><div class="post-card-v2-info"><div style="background-color:#0083ff" class="badge post-card-v2-category">Firm News</div><h4>Coalition of Canadian Lawyers Demand International Criminal Court to Investigate Discovery of 215 Dead Indigenous Children in Kamloops, BC</h4><div class="post-card-v2-description">A coalition of Canadian lawyers has written to the International Criminal Court (the “ICC”) in the Hague, Netherlands to demand the ICC’s support investigating the discovery of 215 children’s bodies buried near a former residential school in Kamloops, BC.</div></div></a></div><div role="listitem" class="post-item-v2 w-dyn-item"><a href="/blog/foster-llp-is-growing" class="post-card-v2 w-inline-block"><img alt="" src="https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/5b623e28a5fc3a0afad16d06/5c09eede3c6ff1ecf40be9ca__Foster%20LLP%20is%20growing.jpg" sizes="(max-width: 479px) 93vw, (max-width: 767px) 47vw, (max-width: 991px) 48vw, 29vw" srcset="https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/5b623e28a5fc3a0afad16d06/5c09eede3c6ff1ecf40be9ca__Foster%20LLP%20is%20growing-p-500.jpeg 500w, https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/5b623e28a5fc3a0afad16d06/5c09eede3c6ff1ecf40be9ca__Foster%20LLP%20is%20growing-p-800.jpeg 800w, https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/5b623e28a5fc3a0afad16d06/5c09eede3c6ff1ecf40be9ca__Foster%20LLP%20is%20growing.jpg 999w" class="full-width"/><div class="post-card-v2-info"><div style="background-color:#0083ff" class="badge post-card-v2-category">Firm News</div><h4>Foster LLP is Growing!</h4><div class="post-card-v2-description">We are proud to welcome three members to our dedicated team of family lawyers.</div></div></a></div></div></div><a href="/blog" data-w-id="1419eb11-96c5-242d-470d-cafc63cccffd" style="opacity:0" class="button ghost w-button">See All Posts</a></div></div><div class="section dark no-padding-vertical dark-footer"><div class="wrapper"><div class="footer-v1"><div class="footer-v1-about"><h5 class="heading-13">Foster LLP</h5><div class="divider dark-bg"></div><p class="text-white-tranparent">Disclaimer: No lawyer-client relationship is created by your use of this Web Site. The Web Site is for convenience and informational purposes only. The Web Site is not intended to be a comprehensive or detailed statement concerning the matters addressed; legal or any other kind of advice. You should seek appropriate, qualified professional advice before acting or omitting to act based upon any information provided on or though this Web Site.<br/></p></div><div class="footer-v1-nav"><h5 class="heading-14">Site Links</h5><div class="divider dark-bg"></div><div class="footer-v1-nav-links"><a href="/components/home-v1" class="link-white">Home</a><a href="/partners-associates" class="link-white">Our Team</a><a href="/blog" class="link-white">Blog</a><a href="/contact-us" class="link-white">Contact Us</a></div></div><div class="footer-v1-blog"><h5 class="heading-15">Address</h5><div class="divider dark-bg"></div><p class="text-white-tranparent">Suite #2100 520 – 5th Avenue, SW<br/>Calgary, Alberta, T2P 3R7<br/>Canada<br/></p><h5 class="heading-17">Hours</h5><div class="divider dark-bg"></div><p class="text-white-tranparent">Monday to Friday<br/>8am to 4:30pm<br/></p></div><div class="footer-v1-subscribe"><h5 class="heading-16">Contact</h5><div class="divider dark-bg"></div><p class="text-white-tranparent"><strong>Phone: </strong><a href="tel:403-261-5333" class="link-2">403-261-5333</a><br/><strong>Email: </strong><a href="mailto:reception@fosterllp.ca" class="link-3">reception@fosterllp.ca</a><br/><strong>Fax: </strong>403-266-4741<br/></p></div></div></div></div></div><script src="https://d3e54v103j8qbb.cloudfront.net/js/jquery-3.5.1.min.dc5e7f18c8.js?site=5b623e28a5fc3a41c7d16cff" type="text/javascript" integrity="sha256-9/aliU8dGd2tb6OSsuzixeV4y/faTqgFtohetphbbj0=" crossorigin="anonymous"></script><script src="https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/5b623e28a5fc3a41c7d16cff/js/foster-2-0.9e3f03417.js" type="text/javascript"></script> <noscript><iframe src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-KDKPKKG" height="0" width="0" style="display:none;visibility:hidden"></iframe></noscript> </body></html>