How Long Does It Take to Get a Grant of Administration in Alberta?
This answer covers the law of Alberta.
There is no single answer: how long a grant of administration takes in Alberta depends on the application and on what the Court finds when it reviews it. A firm number of weeks or months cannot be given, so plan around the steps rather than a date.
Several steps must happen first. Unless the court orders otherwise, no grant is issued until the clerk has completed a search for other applications or wills. You must serve the Form GA1 application with a Form GA2 Inventory on beneficiaries on intestacy, and file an affidavit of service (GA5) within 30 days after service. Online applications through the Surrogate Digital Service receive the same Court review as paper ones, and the Court advises reviewing its Clerk Review Guidelines before submitting to avoid delays.
While you wait, gather documents and keep records of the estate's assets and debts, and do not assume you can deal with them yet, because the grant is the Court's authority to administer the estate. Disputes add time; parties can apply for a Surrogate Case Conference once a Statement of Claim or Form C1 is filed. For a realistic estimate, ask the local Surrogate Clerks' Office or a lawyer.
Key takeaways
- A fixed number of weeks or months cannot be promised, because the time depends on your file and the Court's review.
- Unless the court orders otherwise, no grant is issued until the clerk has completed a search for other applications or wills.
- The Court advises reviewing its SDS Clerk Review Guidelines before submitting an online application to avoid delays.
- A dispute adds steps, and parties can apply for a Surrogate Case Conference once a Statement of Claim or Form C1 is filed.