Barbara Kimmitt is an experienced lawyer and mediator with over 25 years of experience in Wills, Estates and Trusts matters, including in complex disputes. As a mediator, Barbara helps her clients resolve their estate disputes outside of the courtroom. She is consistently recommended by The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory in the area of Estate & Personal Tax Planning.
Barbara assists clients with personal estate planning, including the preparation of Wills, Enduring Power of Attorneys, Personal Directives, and planning relating to business succession. Barbara advises clients in the preparation of trusts for estate and tax planning purposes. She assists trustees in applications to pass their accounts, and represents beneficiaries and/or trustees in applications for the advice and direction of the court, or for orders to vary or terminate trusts.
Barbara frequently advises clients who are personal representatives of simple or complex estates, including estates involving cross-border considerations, or contentious matters. She also represents beneficiaries of estates or trusts, and advises with respect to the rights of beneficiaries and the obligations of personal representatives and trustees. Barbara has appeared before the Alberta Court of Queen's Bench, the Alberta Court of Appeal, administrative bodies and in various alternative dispute resolution proceedings. She has participated in numerous mediations and has guided clients to solutions and settlements in a variety of disputes relating to estate litigation. Barbara has also completed the Mediation and Conflict Management course with Harvard Law School.
In addition to her practice, Barbara has participated in many experts table meetings with the Alberta government for the development of law relating to Wills, Estates, and Trusts. She is currently a member of the Surrogate Rules Committee, which is an Advisory Committee established to make recommendations regarding the rules of court and court forms relating to surrogate (estate) matters. She is past chair of the Canadian Bar Association, Alberta South, Wills & Trusts, and has held every position on the executive of that section. She has been an adjunct professor of the Wills course at the University of Calgary Law School, an instructor of the certified financial planners course and an instructor of the Bar Admission course and Canadian Centre for Professional Legal Education (CPLED). She has given numerous presentations to the Legal Education Society of Alberta, the Society for Trusts and Estate Practitioners, and the Canadian Bar Association. She is also a long-time member of the Society of Trusts and Estate Practitioners.