Shelley E. Waite
TEP, KCPartner
OFFICE: Calgary South
I enjoy creating efficient solutions for client’s succession concerns, from drafting their plan to navigating a family’s contentious estate.
Shelley has a depth of knowledge in Wills, Trusts and Estates with a focus on:
- estate planning
- US/cross border planning
- estate administration
- estate dispute resolution
- elder law
- trust planning
- guardianship and trusteeship matters
She is adept at guiding clients smoothly through a process that can be stressful and complicated. She believes in educating people, creating efficient solutions that work for her client’s specific concerns, and collaborating with their trusted professionals to resolve their personal estate matters.
Clients have highly recommended Shelley on Martindale Hubbell and Lawyers.com. She is also recognized by the Canadian Legal Lexpert® Directory as a leading practitioner in Estate & Tax Planning and by The Best Lawyers in Canada for work in Trusts and Estates.
Education
- 2018 Executive Certificate in Conflict Management, University of Windsor, Faculty of Law
- 2002 University of Calgary, LLB
- 1998 Portland State University, BA (Honours)
Admissions
- 2003 Alberta
Experience
As designated mediator and lawyer, Shelley is equipped to bring families together for either preventative strategy or to mediate any known disagreements.
In a family meeting, Shelley helps clients uncover any tensions or unknown expectations, pre or post estate planning. It’s an effective exercise used to help prevent disagreements that could lead to litigation.
For clients with disputes or potential disputes in their family, Shelley offers her mediation services to guide the process for her client tactfully, and reach a resolution without having to go near a courtroom.
Resources
Publication
Cryptocurrency and death: Where’s your key?
- Recognition
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HONOURS AND AWARDS
- Appointed King’s Counsel by the Lieutenant Governor of Alberta, 2024
- Shelley is recognized by The Best Lawyers in Canada for work in Trusts and Estates (2022-2025).
- Shelley is recognized by The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory as a leading practitioner in Estate & Personal Tax Planning
- Clients highly recommend Shelley, giving her a rating of 5 out of 5 (“Platinum” rating) on Martindale-Hubbell.com.
- Volunteer of the Year, Glenlake Hockey Association
RECENT MEDIA COVERAGE
- Interviewed in, “Canadian Life Insurers Want Different Treatment for Assisted Dying,” Life Pro News, April 2016
- Interviewed on estate planning, The Rutherford Show, June 2013
- Quoted on the topic of wills and succession planning, The Rutherford Show, March 2012
- Quoted on the topic of succession planning, CTV News, March 2010
- Quoted on the topic of succession planning, CBC Wildrose Country, March 2009 and March 2010
- Quoted on the topic of succession planning, Global News, March 2010
PUBLICATIONS
- “The Gift of Giving Back”, Avenue Magazine, March - April 2023
- “Cryptocurrency and death: Where’s your key?”, Concentra Insights, August 2020
- “Planning for Dependent Children,” Legal Education Society of Alberta, January 2018
- Elder Law, Legal Education Society of Alberta, May & June 2018
- “Prudent Practice for the Elderly Client,” Legal Education Society of Alberta, March 2016
- “Guardianship & Trustee,” Canadian Bar Association Health Law subsection, February 2018
- “Errors in Drafting,” Canadian Bar Association National Conference, October 2016
- “Drafting and Practice Considerations under the Wills & Succession Act: Controlling the Matrimonial Property Claim,” Legal Education Society of Alberta (LESA), Edmonton & Calgary, November 2011
- “Getting Started - Initial Points to Consider for the Wills and Estates Practitioner,” Legal Education Society of Alberta (LESA), Boot Camp, February 2009
- Memberships
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- Estate Planning Counsel of Canada (EPCC), 2023 - present
- Surrogate Rules Advisory Committee
- Committee Member, CBA Representative, 2022 - present
- Advance Care Planning (ACP) Alberta
- Advisory Committee Member, 2021-present
- Alberta Surrogate Rule
- Advisory Sub-Committee Member, 2020 to present
- Society of Estates and Trusts Practitioners (STEP)
- Trust and Estate Planner (TEP) designation (2012-present)
- Canadian Bar Association
- Honourary member-at-large, Executive Committee, Wills, Estates & Trusts Section - National (2019-2020)
- Executive Committee, Wills, Estates & Trusts Section - National, 6-year term
- End of Life Working Group (2016-2019)
- Chair, Wills, Estates & Trusts Section - National (2016-2017)
- Chair, Wills & Trusts Section - Southern Alberta (2010-2012)
- Committee member, Southern Alberta, Wills & Succession Act (2011-2012)
- Committee member, Southern Alberta, Wills & Trusts Law Section, Adult Guardianship and Trusteeship Act (2010-2011)
- Alberta Advance Care Planning, Collaborative Research and Innovation Opportunities (ACP CRIO) Research Program (2014-present)
- Leave A Legacy Calgary
- Former Executive Member (2004-2015)
- Canadian Association of Gift Planners
- Former Executive Member, Southern Alberta Round Table (2012)
- Community
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- Glenlake Hockey League
- Board member
- House League Tournament coordinator, 2014-2019
- Glenlake Hockey League
- Teaching Roles & Speaking Engagements
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SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS
Presenter
Estate Planning Essentials for Elderly Clients
Legal Education Society of Alberta (LESA), October 2023
Presenter
Surrogate Digital Service
CBA Southern Alberta, October 2023
Presenter
Plan Ahead Alberta
Webinar “Planning for Life’s Journey: connecting health, financial and estate planning in community education” Hosted by Palliative Care Canada, Covenant Health - Palliative Institute of Alberta, and Project Echo
July 11, 2023Presenter
New Trustee Act Best Practices for Lawyers and Trustees
Legal Education Society of Alberta (LESA), March 2023
Presenter
Philanthropy and Estate Planning
Calgary Food Bank, October 2022
Presenter and Co-Chair
Best Practices and Quality Control in a Planning Practice
LESA Banff Refresher: Wills and Estates, May 2022
Facilitator
Committee Session on Legal, Financial Planning and Insurance
Covenant Health Palliative Institute, April 2022
PRESENTER
Building Compassionate Communities: Raising Awareness of Palliative Care and Advance Care Planning in Alberta Forum
Covenant Health Palliative Institute, March 2022
PRESENTER
Conflict Resolution and mediation in guardianship & trusteeship matters
Legal Education Society of Alberta - Adult Guardianship and Trusteeship Fundamentals Course, February 2019
PRESENTER/MODERATOR
Joint Ownership: Legal Developments and Best Practices
CBA National Webinar, October 2018
CHAIR & PRESENTER
Elder Law Topics
Legal Education Society of Alberta (LESA), May 2018 (Calgary), June 2018 (Edmonton)
PRESENTER
Guardianship and Trusteeship
CBA Alberta Health Law Section - South Meeting, February 2018
PRESENTER
Estate Planning for the Average Wealth Client
Legal Education Society of Alberta (LESA), November 2017, December 2017
PRESENTER
Medical Assistance in Dying
Society of Trust & Estate Planners (STEP), October 2017
PRESENTER/MODERATOR
Elder Financial Abuse
CBA National Webinar, June 2017
PRESENTER
Capacity and Influence
Legal Education Society of Alberta (LESA), March 2017 (Calgary), March 2017 (Edmonton)
PRESENTER
Medical Assistance in Dying
Calgary Estate Planning Council, March 2017
PANELIST
Advance Care Planning - How Lawyers can help their clients
The Alberta Advance Care Planning CRIO Research Program, September 2015, February 2017
PARTICIPANT
Estate Planning & Litigation Forum
Cambridge Forums, April 2016, April 2017
PRESENTER
Common Errors in Will and Trust Drafting
CBA National Will, Estate and Trust Fundamentals for Estate Practitioners, October 2016
PRESENTER
Capacity/Dementia Issues of an Aging Population
Canadian Association of Gift Planners National Conference, April 2016
PRESENTER
Elder Abuse and use of the Alter Ego Trust
Society of Trust & Estate Planners (STEP), April 2015
SPEAKER
Wills & Succession Act of Alberta and the Adult Interdependent Relationships Act
Conciliation & Arbitration Board, Social Welfare Board, and Economic Planning Board, March 2015
TEACHING ROLES
ADJUNCT PROFESSOR
Wills & Estates Class, University of Calgary, Faculty of Law, 2014
SEASONAL LECTURER
Estate Planning and Administration
Chinook Learning Services, Continuing Education, 2006-2009
SEASONAL LECTURER
Estate Planning and Administration
Calgary Catholic School Board, 2005-2008
DEVELOPED COURSE MATERIAL
Being an Executor Program
Chinook Learning Services, August 2009