The answer

Do not assume access, relationship, a key, a promise, or being named in a will authorizes removal. Contents can be estate assets, jointly owned, gifted, leased, disputed, needed for tax or property evidence, or subject to administration and accounting. Preserve condition, inventory, custody and written authority before distribution or disposal.

Calgary-specific context

Unrecorded removal can also affect showings, insurance claims, disclosures and beneficiary trust.

What to do next

Create a dated room-by-room inventory and have the personal representative and lawyer approve access, storage, distribution and disposal.

Related guides

Authority, property protection, value, sale, and proceeds guideCalgary Probate and Estate Home DecisionsA private, source-linked Calgary system for executors, administrators, surviving owners, beneficiaries, and families coordinating will or intestacy, probate or administration, title and survivorship, urgent property protection, occupants and contents, estate debts, date-of-death and current value, tax, beneficiary process, preparation, listing, contracts, title transmission, closing, proceeds, accounting, and distribution.Decision playbookCalgary Probate and Estate Home-Sale PlaybookCalgary Probate and Estate Home-Sale Playbook for Calgary executors, administrators, surviving owners, beneficiaries, and families protecting, valuing, transferring, retaining, renting, or selling a deceased person's property: Choose urgent protection, evidence-only preparation, hold pending authority, transfer, retain, rent, controlled sale, court direction, or no commitment until the authority, value, tax, beneficiary, title, and proceeds file is controlled.Interactive toolCalgary Probate and Estate Home Decision PlannerOrganize a Calgary estate property from death and immediate protection through authority, title, grant, occupants, contents, debts, value, tax, beneficiary process, preparation, sale, transmission, closing, proceeds, accounting, and distribution without deciding legal or beneficial entitlement.

Verify before relying

Official sources for this topic

These sources explain the rules and records relevant to this topic. Check the current requirements for your property.

Alberta deceased persons' estatesOfficial Alberta guidance on personal representatives, probate, administration, estate assets, debts, and land transfers.Alberta surrogate applicationsOfficial Court of King's Bench information and forms for probate and estate administration applications.Alberta willsOfficial Alberta explanation of wills, intestacy, executors, administrators, personal representatives, beneficiaries, and estate administration.Alberta Court wills and estates formsOfficial Court of King's Bench pathway to current surrogate forms and estate resources.Alberta land title ownership changeOfficial Alberta requirements for removing a deceased joint tenant and transmitting land to a personal representative.Alberta land title overviewCurrent official Alberta explanation of title ownership and registered mortgages, caveats, liens, and other interests.Alberta land titles procedures manualOfficial Land Titles procedure references for powers of attorney, enduring powers of attorney, personal representatives, trustees, and document execution.CRA: doing taxes for someone who diedRead the current official guidance and confirm what applies to your property.CRA property on deathCurrent CRA guidance for deemed disposition at death, spouse or partner transfers, principal residences, rental property, CCA, final returns, and estate returns.CRA estate clearance certificateCurrent CRA requirements and personal-liability warning before a legal representative distributes estate property.CRA: representing someone who diedRead the current official guidance and confirm what applies to your property.CREB housing statisticsPublic Calgary market report hub.City of Calgary market value assessmentOfficial explanation of Calgary market-value assessment, valuation dates, mass appraisal, sales comparison, property characteristics, and the difference between a range of market value and one transaction.City of Calgary property assessment and taxAssessment and property-owner information.Law Society of Alberta lawyer directoryOfficial Alberta directory for checking lawyer status and searching by location, practice area, language, and other criteria.RECA consumer informationAlberta real estate consumer guidance.

Check the current information at the linked source. Ask the appropriate professional how it applies to your property.

Important

This is general information, not legal advice. Speak with a qualified lawyer about your specific situation.