The Public Trustee is appointed by the Alberta Government under the Public Trustee Act. Authority of the Public Trustee is found in the Public Trustee Act and other provincial statutes. The Public Trustee maintains offices in Calgary and Edmonton. The offices are staffed by trust administrators, lawyers, taxation officers, auditors and support staff.

The primary functions of the Public Trustee are to

• protect minors’ property interests;
• act as trustee for people with mental disabilities;
• act in the administration of deceased persons’ estates.

The Public Trustee’s policy is to step only in where it is necessary or appropriate to do so to protect the financial interests of vulnerable Albertans.