Legal & Financial Planning for Seniors in Calgary: A Guide

Updated August 2026 · 6 min read · ABSeniors

Quick answer

A plain-language look at elder law, estate planning, and financial planning for Calgary families choosing support for a parent.

Legal and financial planning for seniors covers wills and estates, powers of attorney, personal directives, and financial or wealth planning aimed at retirement and later-life needs. The Calgary directory lists 57 legal and financial providers, from law offices to independent financial planners. This guide explains what the category covers and how to start comparing options.

Counts reflect providers listed on ABSeniors and change as listings are added. Service details are not recorded for every listing, so the feature counts are minimums.

What legal and financial planning covers for seniors

For an aging parent, this category can mean drafting or updating a will, setting up an enduring power of attorney and a personal directive, planning an estate, or working with a financial planner on retirement income, investments, or how assets are structured. Some families need a lawyer for a specific document; others want an ongoing relationship with a financial planner as circumstances change. It helps to be clear on which of these you need before you start calling around.

Powers of attorney and personal directives

Two documents come up often in these conversations: an enduring power of attorney, which covers financial decisions if a person loses capacity, and a personal directive, which covers health and personal decisions. Both need to be signed while the person still has the capacity to understand them, so families are often encouraged not to wait. For a plain-language explanation of how these work in Alberta, see the guide on powers of attorney and personal directives in Alberta.

How to compare providers in Calgary

Because this category spans law offices and financial planning firms, it helps to ask a few direct questions before booking a consultation:

Does this provider handle wills and estates, powers of attorney, financial planning, or a combination?
Do they have experience specifically with elder law or retirement-focused financial planning, rather than general practice?
Is the initial consultation free or paid, and what does it typically cover?
Will the same person handle the file from start to finish, or is it passed between staff?
Can they explain their fee structure clearly before any work begins?

Costs vary by provider and by the complexity of the work involved. For a general sense of what senior care and related costs look like in Calgary, see the guide on the cost of senior care in Calgary.

Watching for financial scams

Older adults are frequently targeted by financial scams, sometimes through phone calls, email, or even in-person pressure to sign documents quickly. When you are choosing a legal or financial provider, ask how they verify a client's identity and capacity, and whether they flag unusual account activity or last-minute changes to a will. For more on recognizing warning signs, see the guide on protecting Alberta seniors from financial scams.

A selection of Calgary providers

Here is a selection of legal and financial providers listed in Calgary. Contact each directly to ask about services, fees, and availability: Browse every legal & financial listing in Calgary in the directory.

These are a selection only. You can browse the 57 Legal & Financial listings in the Calgary directory to see more options.

Next steps

If you are still working out what kind of care or planning your family needs, the ABSeniors quiz can help point you toward the right category. You can also return to the Calgary directory page to explore other categories of senior services in the city.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between an elder law lawyer and a general estate lawyer?

Elder law can include broader issues affecting seniors, such as capacity, personal directives, and long-term planning, while a general estate lawyer may focus mainly on drafting wills. Ask any provider directly what their practice covers before booking.

Do I need both a power of attorney and a personal directive?

They cover different things: an enduring power of attorney covers financial decisions, and a personal directive covers health and personal decisions. Many families set up both. See the guide on powers of attorney and personal directives in Alberta for more detail.

How much does estate planning or financial planning cost in Calgary?

Costs vary depending on the provider and the complexity of the work. Ask each provider for a clear fee estimate before starting, and see the cost of senior care in Calgary guide for general budgeting context.

How can I tell if a financial request involving my parent is a scam?

Be cautious of urgent requests, pressure to sign documents quickly, or unexpected changes to accounts or a will. The guide on protecting Alberta seniors from financial scams outlines common warning signs to watch for.

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This guide is general information for Alberta families, not medical, legal, or financial advice. Costs are orientation estimates from public sources and vary by provider. Always confirm details directly with providers and Alberta Health Services.

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