Biography

Eleanor is a recognized wills and estates lawyer whose practice encompasses estate planning, administration, and litigation, including matters where estates involve private corporations or significant business assets. She brings a forward-thinking, solutions-oriented approach to work that is often both legally complex and deeply personal.

Eleanor’s litigation practice reflects the full complexity that high-conflict estates can involve. She represents clients in will validity and interpretation disputes, executor disputes, estate accounting matters, dependency and maintenance claims, and contentious capacity and undue influence challenges. Where estates include private corporations or significant business assets, Eleanor also advises on related disputes — including shareholder disagreements triggered by a death or incapacity, enforcement of shareholder agreements against an estate, and the duties of executors who step into a deceased’s role as a shareholder or director.

Eleanor’s estate planning and administration practices are informed by her experience in complex estate litigation. In estate planning, she focuses on personalized estate, succession, and incapacity documents — including wills, powers of attorney, personal directives, and guardianship and trusteeship plans. She works closely with clients navigating complex family circumstances, including planning for closely-held companies, blended families, separation, and divorce, where thoughtful estate planning is essential to protecting intended beneficiaries and reducing the risk of future disputes. Eleanor also advises clients who are concerned about diminishing capacity, helping them put plans in place proactively before capacity becomes an issue and with an eye toward minimizing the prospect of challenges after death.

In estate administration, Eleanor guides executors and beneficiaries through the probate and grant of administration process, including matters where the estate involves corporate shareholdings or business structures that must be addressed as part of the administration.

Eleanor received the Faculty of Law Silver Medallion upon graduating from law school and subsequently obtained the Trust and Estate Practitioner (TEP) designation.

Eleanor is committed to access to justice. She serves as a director of Pro Bono Law Alberta and is a founding director of the Great Bar Band Battle Society, which has donated over $260,000 since 2016 to organizations including Calgary Legal Guidance, Student Legal Assistance, and Pro Bono Law Alberta.

Education

J.D., University of Calgary, Dean’s List; Faculty of Law Silver Medallion (Campbell McLaurin Achievement Award) (2015)
BA, (Anthropology, Political Science), University of Alberta (2007)
MA, (Cultural Anthropology), University of Victoria (2010)

Professional Memberships

Law Society of Alberta (2016)
Canadian Bar Association
Calgary Bar Association
Association of Women Lawyers
STEP Canada Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners
Estate Planning Council of Calgary

Community

Boards, Sections and Committees

Executive Committee Secretary, National Canadian Bar Association, Wills, Estates & Trusts Section
Executive Committee, Legislative Review, Canadian Bar Association, Alberta Branch, Wills & Trusts South Section
Steering Committee Member, Cambridge Forums for Estate & Trusts Practitioners, 3rd Generation
Founder Director, Great Bar Band Battle Society (2016 – )
Co-Chair of the Coordinating and Content Committees, National Pro Bono Conference, Pro Bono Law Alberta (2022)

Past Board Membership

Board Member, Pro Bono Law Alberta (2016-2025)
Board Member, Accessible Housing Society (2012-2018)

Pro Bono Work

Volunteer, King’s Bench Assistance Program, Pro Bono Law Alberta
Volunteer, Civil Claims Duty Counsel, Pro Bono Law Alberta
Volunteer, Kerby Centre, Wills Clinic, Partnership between Carbert Waite LLP and the University of Calgary, Faculty of Law, PBSC Calgary Branch

Presentations

Upcoming Presentations

Third-Party Disclosure in Estate Matters: Court Orders, Privacy Legislation, and Best Practices, Eleanor Carlson, Carbert Waite LLP, Presented by the CBA, Alberta Branch, Wills, Estates, & Trusts – South section, April 14 2026
Neutral Ground: Overlapping Roles in Estate Administration & Litigation, Eleanor Carlson, Carbert Waite LLP. David Hunter, Hamilton Duncan, Surrey, BC; Presented by Cambridge Forums; Senior Estate & Truste Practitioners, Montreal, May 4, 2026
Hot Off the Judicial Presses: Estate and Trust Case Law Update, Eleanor Carlson, Carbert Waite LLP, Presented by the CBA, Alberta Branch, Wills, Estates, & Trusts – South section, May 12, 2026

Past Presentations

Why you Should Consider a Career in Wills, Estates and Trusts, Eleanor Carlson, Carbert Waite LLP (Moderator), with David Hunter, Hamilton Duncan Law Corporation, Melissa Saunders, Saunders, Collins & Loeb Law, and Andrea Charlie, Robertson Stromberg LLP, Presented by CBA National, Wills, Estates & Trusts Section, March 10, 2026
Bridging the Distance: Non-Resident Personal Representatives in Alberta Estates, Eleanor Carlson, Carbert Waite LLP, Presented by LESA, March 3, 2026
Protecting HER Wealth – When Life Turn Unexpected, Eleanor Carlson, TEP, Carbert Waite LLP, Emily Smyth, Underwood Gilholme, and Elizabeth E. Stock, K.C., Stock Family Law, Presented by RBC, November 25, 2025.
Year-End Roundup – CaseLaw Update & Legislative Review, Eleanor Carlson, TEP, and Cayley Rauw, Carbert Waite LLP, Presented by the Canadian Bar Association Alberta Wills & Trusts South Section, June 10, 2025.
Estate and Financial Planning for Families with Dependents, Eleanor Carlson, TEP, Carbert Waite LLP, and Audrey Gates, IG Wealth Management, Presented by The Prep Society for Individuals with Down Syndrome, February 25, 2025.
From Estate Planning to Estate Litigation: Part 2: Big picture estate litigation & looking to estate planning for insight, Eleanor Carlson, Carbert Waite LLP and Gregory Kaladeen, McLeod Law LLP, Presented by Estate Planning Council of Canada, January 23, 2025
From Estate Planning to Estate Litigation: Part 1: Tips for proactive estate planning and administration, and mitigating litigation risk, Eleanor Carlson, Carbert Waite LLP and Gregory Kaladeen, McLeod Law LLP, Presented by Estate Planning Council of Canada, January 9, 2025
Family Maintenance and Support Claims: Testamentary Intentions vs. Moral Obligations, Marty Birky, Hayher Lee and Eleanor Carlson, Carbert Waite LLP, Presented by LESA, October 1, 2024
Legacy Giving: Being Remembered, Eleanor Carlson, Carbert Waite LLP, Woodcliff United Church, Calgary, Alberta, June 11, 2024
Powers of Attorneys: What you need to know, Eleanor Carlson, Carbert Waite LLP, Presented by Alberta Elder Abuse Awareness Council; June 6, 2024
Partners, AIPs, and Sugar Babies – Oh My! Who qualifies as a spouse in Canada?, Eleanor Carlson, Carbert Waite LLP. Amanda Winters, Farrs LLP; Presented by Cambridge Forums; Senior Estate & Truste Practitioners, Montreal, May 7, 2024
Blended Families and Estate Planning, Presented by Cresco WealthCast, Hosted by Dimitri Korolis, Episode 20, Guest speakers Eleanor Carlson, Carbert Waite LLP, Wayne De Boer, Senior Financial Planner, Wellington-Altus Private Wealth, March 12, 2024
Planning Ahead: Estate, Funeral and Advanced Care Planning, Eleanor Carlson, Alison Josza, Woodcliff United Church, Calgary, Alberta, November 8, 2023
Estate Litigation and Challenging Wills; Guest lecturer, Eleanor Carlson, Carbert Waite LLP, for Wills and Estates, LAW 533 – University of Calgary, Faculty of Law, October 4, 2023
Year-end Roundup – Caselaw Update & Legislative Review, Peter Tomic, Field Law Eleanor Carlson, Carbert Waite LLP, Presented by the CBA, Alberta Branch, Wills, Estates, & Trusts – South section, June 11, 2023
Estate and Financial Planning for Families with Dependents, Audrey Veltri, CFP, IG Wealth Management, Eleanor Carlson, Carbert Waite LLP; Presented by PREP Society, May 11, 2023
The New Trustee Act & Estates and Trust Case Law Update, Eleanor Carlson, Carbert Waite LLP, Farha Salim, Calgary, Field Law, Presented by STEP Canada, Calgary Branch, February 23, 2023
Working together: How Financial Planners & Estate Lawyers Can Work Together to Avoid Conflict, Eleanor Carlson, Carbert Waite LLP, Cayley Rauw, Carbert Waite LLP; Presented by IG Wealth Management, January 23, 2023
When and How to Say Goodbye – The Practical and Ethical Considerations of Dealing with Difficult People, Eleanor Carlson, Carbert Waite LLP. Andrea McEwan, Aird & Berlis LLP; Presented by Cambridge Forums; Senior Estate & Truste Practitioners, Montreal, May 5, 2022
Use of Reproductive Material after Death and Estate Planning Considerations, Robynne Kazina, Taylor McCaffrey LLP, Jasmeet Wahid, Kahn Zack Ehrlich Lithwick LLP Eleanor Carlson, Carbert Waite LLP, Ellen Embury, Carbert Waite LLP, Presented by the CBA Wills, Estates and Trusts Section, Monday September 27, 2021

Recognition

Best Lawyers in Canada™ – Trusts & Estates (2025 — )
Dean’s List; Faculty of Law Silver Medallion, Campbell McLaurin Achievement Award, University of Calgary (2015)

Blog Posts

Eleanor Carlson and Christina Hassan Earn TEP Designations from STEP: Canada

February 8, 2024

Congratulations to Eleanor Carlson and Christina Hassan on the successful attainment of their TEP designations from the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP: Canada). This distinguished accomplishment marks an internationally recognized standard of professional excellence in the realms of trusts and estates. The TEP designation formally acknowledges their standing…

New Partner Announcement – Eleanor Carlson and Alex Norris

January 3, 2024

Carbert Waite LLP is pleased to announce the well-deserved promotion of Eleanor Carlson and Alex Norris to partners in our firm. Their outstanding contributions and commitment to excellence have been instrumental in shaping CW’s success. Eleanor’s practice centers on estate planning and administration and estate litigation. Her expertise in navigating the complexities of estates…

Is It Time To Update My Will?

November 10, 2023

Author: Eleanor Carlson There may come a time when your Will no longer reflects your estate planning needs or wishes. This situation may arise due to a change in your relationships, births or deaths in the family, or changes in your assets. Signs It’s Time for a Will Update The…

You Need a Will? There Is a Way!

September 9, 2021

Estate planning is important to make sure your assets will be managed in the way you want after death. This article goes over the most important documents, including your will, power of attorney, and a personal directive.

Carbert Waite LLP Lawyers Recognized as Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in Canada for 2022

August 31, 2021

Matthew Bobawasky and Eleanor Carlson have been awarded with Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch.

What is the Cost of a Probate Lawyer?

February 8, 2021

In Alberta, probate is the court processes that prove the validity of a will and provides the power and control to the executor (also known as a personal representative) to act on the instructions left in the will. To apply for probate of an estate, the individual seeking to be…

Carbert Waite January 28, 2021 Employment Law Webinar

February 3, 2021

On January 28, 2021 team members from Carbert Waite’s Employment Law group hosted a webinar on current employment law issues, focusing on: Top Employment Cases from 2020 Mandatory Vaccinations in the Workplace Bill 47: Ensuring Safety and Cutting Red Tape Act The webinar was moderated by Dylan Snowdon, who was…

What Is Probate and Do I Need a Probate Lawyer?

October 13, 2020

Author: Eleanor Carlson I have been named executor of an estate in Alberta – What is probate and do I need a probate lawyer? In Alberta, probate is the court processes that prove the validity of a will and provides the power and control to the executor (also known as…

Rule of Convenience

May 11, 2018

Agreeing to take on the role of personal representative (aka an executor) of an estate can be a big decision and in many circumstances, one that should not be taken lightly. This is particularly so as a personal representative has many legal responsibilities with respect to the estate he or…

Eleanor Carlson in Advisor.ca

May 4, 2018

Eleanor Carlson in Advisor.ca Carbert Waite LLP associate Eleanor Carlson was recently quoted about the responsibilities of an executor in an Advisor.ca article on what happens when an estate gets reopened. See the article here.

Eleanor Carlson in Dote Magazine

October 30, 2017

Eleanor Carlson in Dote Magazine Eleanor Carlson, an associate with Carbert Waite LLP, was interviewed by Dote Magazine on the matter of creating wills & estates. See the article here.

Personal Injury Law Update: Dismissals for Long Delay (“Drop Dead Rule”)

July 26, 2016

The Alberta Rules of Court require a plaintiff in a civil lawsuit to advance an action towards trial. If a plaintiff does not “significantly advance” the action for three years, the Court must dismiss the action for “long delay” on application by the defendant. This is colloquially known as the…

A Contract by Any Other Name: Hole v Hole, 2016 ABCA 34 (CanLII)