What to Expect from a Capacity Assessment in Alberta: A Guide for Families

A capacity assessment in Alberta is a formal evaluation of whether an adult can understand and appreciate the consequences of particular personal or financial decisions. It is usually needed before a court appoints a guardian, trustee or co-decision-maker under the Adult Guardianship and Trusteeship Act. The process starts with a doctor’s medical exam, followed by an interview with a designated capacity assessor. The assessor then completes a report that is valid for six months.

What is a capacity assessment?

Capacity means being able to understand the information relevant to a decision and appreciate the reasonably foreseeable consequences of making it, or not making it. In Alberta, capacity assessments under the Adult Guardianship and Trusteeship Act look at specific areas of decision-making, such as:

• Personal matters: health care, where to live, who to live with, social activities, legal matters that do not involve money
• Financial matters: paying bills, banking, managing property and investments

An assessment does not label a person as “competent” or “incompetent” overall. It identifies which decisions the person can make independently, which they could make with support, and where a substitute decision-maker may be needed.

When is a capacity assessment needed?

According to the Government of Alberta, capacity assessments are used for:

• Adult guardianship: someone to make personal decisions for an adult
• Trusteeship: someone to manage an adult’s finances and property
• Co-decision-making: a shared arrangement where the adult keeps decision rights with a supporter
• Personal directives (a separate process): under the Personal Directives Act, a directive takes effect through a written declaration of incapacity. It is made either by the person named in the directive after consulting a physician or psychologist, or by two service providers, one of whom must be a physician or psychologist.

Families often start the process after a dementia diagnosis, a brain injury, a stroke, or a serious mental health or developmental condition. It may also follow unpaid bills, signs of financial exploitation, or a safety concern at home.

How the process works, step by step

1. Medical exam. A physician examines the adult to rule out temporary or treatable conditions that might affect thinking, such as infections, medication side effects, dehydration or delirium.
2. Referral to a designated capacity assessor. Physicians, psychologists and designated health professionals, including social workers, nurses and occupational therapists who complete Alberta’s training, can conduct assessments.
3. Gathering background. The assessor reviews medical information and may speak with family members, caregivers or professionals who know the adult well.
4. Interview with the adult. The assessor meets the adult, usually for one to two hours, and asks practical questions about the decisions in question. The meeting can take place at home, in hospital, in a care facility or in an office.
5. Report. The assessor completes and signs the capacity assessment report. It is valid for six months and is filed with the application to the court.

What questions will the assessor ask?

Questions are practical and tied to real decisions. For example:

• “Where do you live and who helps you at home? What would happen if you lived alone?”
• “What bills do you pay each month? About how much is your income?”
• “If someone called asking for your bank information, what would you do?”
• “What do you understand about your health condition and your medications?”

The assessor is looking at reasoning and understanding, not memory tests alone, and certainly not whether the person agrees with family.

How much does a capacity assessment cost in Alberta?

Alberta sets the maximum fees an assessor may charge:

• Up to $500 for an assessment for co-decision-making, guardianship or trusteeship
• Up to $700 for a combined guardianship and trusteeship assessment

People experiencing financial hardship can contact the Office of the Public Guardian and Trustee about options. See current fees and availability on our capacity assessment in Edmonton page.

How to prepare your loved one

• Be honest and gentle. Explain that the assessment is about making sure they have the right support, not about taking everything away.
• Pick a good time of day. Many older adults think more clearly in the morning.
• Bring glasses and hearing aids, and arrange an interpreter if the adult’s first language is not English.
• Gather information: a list of medications, recent medical reports and examples of specific concerns, such as missed bills or unsafe situations.
• Let the adult speak for themselves. Family input matters, but the assessor needs to hear the adult’s own reasoning.

The adult’s rights

• An adult is presumed to have capacity until an assessment shows otherwise.
• Making a decision others disagree with, or a risky one, is not proof of incapacity.
• The adult can be supported to make decisions, and the least intrusive option should be considered first.
• Court applications include notice requirements, and the adult may object.

Capacity assessments at Disha

Mukesh Mishra, MSW, RCSW, is a designated capacity assessor in Alberta. Disha offers capacity assessments in Edmonton, including home visits, and in English, Hindi, Nepali, Punjabi and Urdu, which helps when language affects how well an adult can show their understanding. Families also sometimes ask about a broader mental health assessment or risk assessment.

Frequently asked questions

Who can do a capacity assessment in Alberta?

Physicians and psychologists, and designated health professionals such as social workers, nurses and occupational therapists who have completed Alberta’s capacity assessor training.

How long is a capacity assessment report valid?

The report is valid for six months, so it should be completed close to the time you apply to court.

Does the adult have to agree to the assessment?

The assessor will explain the purpose and ask for the adult’s cooperation. If an adult refuses, speak with the assessor or a lawyer about the options under the Adult Guardianship and Trusteeship Act.

How much does a capacity assessment cost?

Alberta caps fees at $500 for a guardianship, trusteeship or co-decision-making assessment, and $700 when guardianship and trusteeship are assessed together.

Can a capacity assessment be done at home?

Yes. Disha offers home visits in Edmonton, and assessments can also take place in hospitals and care facilities.

This article is general information, not legal advice. For questions about guardianship or trusteeship applications, speak with a lawyer or the Office of the Public Guardian and Trustee.

Reviewed by Mukesh Mishra, MSW, RCSW, Registered Clinical Social Worker and ACSW-approved RCSW supervisor at Disha Counselling & Wellness Centre. Last updated September 30, 2026. This article is general information and is not a substitute for individual professional advice.