Eleanor Carlson, TEP - Calgary Lawyer

Biography

Eleanor is a recognized wills and estates lawyer who takes a forward-thinking approach to the practice of estate law. Eleanor utilizes her deep knowledge of the practice area to craft personalized legal solutions that combine creativity with strategy. From personal estate planning to navigating high-conflict estate disputes, Eleanor is committed to empowering her clients during the legal process. She wants her clients to have a comprehensive understanding of their legal issues and their rights and responsibilities as they engage with the legal process. Eleanor also understands the sensitive nature of estate law and strives to bring both empathy and pragmatism to her work. Upon graduating from law school, Eleanor received the Faculty of Law Silver Medallion and has since obtained the Trust and Estate Practitioner (TEP) designation.

Estate Planning: Eleanor develops personalized estate, succession, and incapacity documents. She prepares wills, powers of attorney, and personal directives, as well as guardianship and trusteeship applications and plans.

Estate Administration: Eleanor prepares probate and grant of administration applications and advises executors and beneficiaries through the estate administration process.

Estate Litigation and Dispute Resolution: Eleanor assists clients to resolve disputes on the validity and interpretation of wills. She advises clients with respect to estate accounting and handles issues relating to the decisions of executors and conflicts arising from the administration of estates and trusts. Eleanor represents clients in capacity and undue influence estate challenges and dependency claims for financial maintenance and support from estates. She also represents clients in contentious adult guardianship and trusteeship matters.

Access to Justice: Eleanor is an advocate for access to justice. She is a director for the board of Pro Bono Law Alberta and a founding director of the Great Bar Band Battle Society. Since 2016, the Great Bar Band Battle Society has donated over $150,000 to support local access to justice 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

Communications Officer, National Canadian Bar Association, Wills, Estates & Trusts Section
Committee Liaison, Canadian Bar Association, Alberta Branch, Wills & Trusts South Section
Committee Member, Cambridge Forums for Estate & Trusts Practitioners, 3rd Generation
Executive Board Secretary, Pro Bono Law Alberta (2016 – )
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)

Pro Bono Work

Volunteer, King’s Bench Assistance Program, Pro Bono Law Alberta
Volunteer, Civil Claims Duty Counsel, Pro Bono Law Alberta
Volunteer, “Wills Clinic,” University of Calgary

Presentations

Upcoming:

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
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

Previous Presentations

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)

July 26, 2016

It may be trite to state that contracts are essential to business relations. It is a common perception that the words in a contract are determinative in understanding the parties’ rights and obligations. However, the words in the contract are sometimes just the starting point.