If you’re ready to write a Will and wondering what are the best online Wills in Canada are, then this post is for you.
A Will is an important legal document that states how you want your assets distributed and other affairs handled when you’re gone.
Determining who should get what, how much they get, and when, will eliminate a lot of confusion and reduce the stress of your passing away on your loved ones.
Before now, getting a Will requires you to set up an appointment with an estate lawyer and pay thousands of dollars over a couple of visits to their office. The whole process can be daunting and costly for the average Canadian.
But gone are those days! With the advent of online Will kits and Will writing services, anyone can create a legally binding Will for less than $100, anytime, anywhere and in less than 20 minutes.
This article covers everything you need to know about the providers of the best online Wills in Canada, how to create your Legal Will, the pros and cons of Online Wills and many more.
In addition, you’ll learn how to get some exclusive discounts through the promotions offered by the Online Wills providers.
5 Best Online Will Kits in Canada
A quick Google search for Online Wills in Canada will give you several online Will providers including free downloadable Will Kits for the DIY enthusiast.
With so much choice, it’s not surprising that picking one can be challenging and near impossible for the average Canadian with no idea of what they should be looking for.
Luckily for you, we’ve done the hard job for you by identifying the best online will kits in Canada for your easy selection. These are:
- Willful Wills
- Epilogue Wills
- LegalWills
- Formal Will
- CanadaWills
We’ll be covering each of these best online kits in Canada in detail below.
1. Willful Wills
- Price: Varies
- Areas covered: Ontario, Alberta, Nova Scotia, Manitoba, British Columbia, New Brunswick, Saskatchewan and Quebec
- Wills Update: Free Unlimited updates
Willful is arguably the best online Will provider in Canada due to its intuitive and convenient Will writing platform that is perfect for both individuals and family plans.
The company is a fast growing legal tech company that has been in operation since 2017. It has the mission of helping Canadians get access to legal Wills and powers of attorney in an affordable and easy way.
Willful has three will plans with the costs below:
| Plans | Pricing |
|---|---|
| Essential | $99 |
| Premium | $189 |
| Family | $329 |
Currently, Wallet Bliss readers enjoy a 15% discount when they subscribe to any of the above plans using this referral link and entering the coupon code: WALLETBLISS.
Learn more about Willful Wills promotion here.
The Willful essential plan is designed for a single individual legal will. The Premium plan allows three documents, including legal Will and power of attorney.
On the other hand, a Willful family plan is designed for two adults, each having three documents, including legal will and power of attorney.
That said, Willful three plans offer free registration access with Canada Will Registry. This saves you an average $40 subscription fee while making your Will easily accessible to your executor.
Learn more:
2. Epilogue Wills
- Price: Varies
- Areas covered: Ontario, Alberta, Prince Edward Island, Manitoba, British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Nova Scotia
- Wills Update: Free Unlimited updates
Next of this list of the best online Wills providers in Canada is Epilogue Wills.
If you’re looking for the best Online Will with free updates in Canada, Epilogue could be your best option. This company allows you to update your will unlimitedly at no cost.
Epilogue’s online Will services was established by two estate planning lawyers, Arin Klug and Daniel Goldgut so you’re sure your completed Will meets the very best standard.
The company also sets itself apart from the competition with unique features, such as the Social Media Will. This unique feature allows you to give instructions on how your social media accounts should be handled when you’re no more.
That said, Epilogue has two plans with varying costs. The individual plan costs $139 for only a Will and $199 for a Will and Power of Attorney (incapacity) documents.
On the other hand, the couple plan costs $269 for only a Will and $329 for a Will and incapacity documents.
Wallet Bliss readers enjoy a 15% discount on all Epilogue plans when they use the coupon code: WALLETBLISS20 or use this link.
Learn more about Epilogue Wills promotions.
Like the 2 other online Wills providers covered earlier, all Epilogue plans offer you a free registration code with Canada Will Registry. You can also update your will at any time without any charges.
Related Post:
3. LegalWills
- Price: Varies
- Areas covered: All Canadian provinces including Quebec
- Wills Update: Free for the first year; $11.95 fee applies for future updates
LegalWills is Canada’s oldest online Will service provider, with over 20 years of experience in the industry and more than 2 million customers serviced.
By covering all Canadian provinces and territories including Quebec and offering the most affordable online Wills in Canada, LegalWills is a strong contender for the best online wills in Canada.
The only major drawback is that you’ll need to pay a nominal fee of $11.95 per year for future updates to your Will. If you’re still young or expect your circumstances to change a lot in the future, the extra fee can add up.
Here are the cost of the different Will plans offered by LegalWills:
| Plans | Pricing |
| Last Will and Testament | Individual: $39.95 Couple: $59.95 |
| Premium Last Will and Testament | $69.95 |
| Complete Estate Plan | $99.95 |
| Premium Estate Plan | $129.95 |
You get some discount by buying a plan with your spouse. In addition, you can choose from one of their 4 pre-packaged plans to get some good discounts compared to buying their services separately.
And like Willful Wills, you also get free access to Canada Wills Registry when you write your Will through LegalWills.
LegalWills is also the best Online Will option for expats with assets in the US or UK.
Wallet Bliss readers can enjoy a 20% promotional discount by using this link or WALLET20 as their LegalWills coupon code.
Learn more about LegalWills Coupon Code here.
Related: LegalWills Review
4. FormalWill
| Price | Varies |
| Areas covered | All Canadian provinces and territories |
| Wills update | Need to buy “Peace of Mind Bonus” |
FormalWill is a lawyer-established company offering low-cost online Will kit service across all the provinces and territories of Canada.
The company offers legal Will, Living Will, Power of Attorney, and pet will at a competitive price as follows:
- Legal Will: $59
- Living Will: $39
- Power of Attorney:$39
- Pet Will: $59
FormalWill also provides review services by lawyers with varying fees, as shown below:
- Last Will and Testament review: $249
- Living Will review: $149
- Power of Attorney review: $149
However, FormalWill only allows you to update your legal will once per year. You can’t update your living Will and power of attorney documents.
Overall, if you’re looking for a Online Wills provider that supports Pets Will, then FormalWIll is worth considering.
5. CanadaWills
| Price | Free |
| Areas covered | All the provinces and territories of Canada except Quebec |
| Wills update | N/A |
Mindful of the limitations of free online Wills, we found CanadaWills worthy of mention in our compilation of the best online Wills in Canada.
We ranked CanadaWill the overall best among the best free Will kits in Canada because of its superior features and over 20 years of experience.
CanadaWill provides three types of Will documents: Living Will and Testament, Living Will and COVID-19 Living Will with Medical Power of Attorney and Advance Directive.
While CanadaWill offers all the above documents at no cost, you can donate a gift to them through their secure server.
However, CanadaWill doesn’t allow updates. You must start from the beginning if you want to add or remove anything from your existing Will.
Overall Best Online Will in Canada By Category
Here’s a highlight of our top pick of the best online Will kits in Canada.
| Online Will Kit | Category |
|---|---|
| Willful Wills | Overall Best Online Will Provider in Canada |
| Legal Wills | Best Value Online Will |
| Epilogue Wills | Best for Wills update |
| CanadaWills | Best free online Will kit |
What is an Online Will?
An online Will is a legal document that outlines how your property should be distributed when you’re no more and one that is drawn up through an online Will service.
Online Wills in Canada are valid as long as they comply with all the estate laws in the applicable jurisdiction. As an alternative to traditional Wills written by lawyers, online Will kits are more affordable, convenient and can save lots of time.
You don’t have to bother about the expensive fee of hiring an estate lawyer or the time-consuming process of doing it yourself using a DIY Will kit.
However, not all situations are perfect for online Wills. Hence, it’s essential to know the advantages and disadvantages of online Wills in order to know when it’s the best time to use them.
Pros and Cons of Online Wills in Canada
Here are the top pros and cons of online Will you should consider before making a decision:
Pros
- Low-cost compared to the cost of hiring an estate lawyer.
- Time-saving as there’s no paperwork involved.
- Ultimate convenience as you can create your will anytime you want and anywhere.
- Easy application, update and access.
Cons
- They are not suitable for complicated situations.
- Lack of professional view from an estate lawyer (though some online Will service include a lawyer’s review as an extra service)
How to Choose the Best Online Will in Canada
Now that you know what an online Will entails and its pros and cons, the next thing is to decide which among the above Canadian online Will providers is perfect for you.
Here are the major factors to consider when selecting the best online Wills service in Canada;
- Coverage: Some of the above online Wills services cover all Canadian provinces and territories, while others cover only selected areas. This should be your first consideration. Obviously, you want to go with a Will provider that supports your province of residence.
- Cost: Though they are cheaper than getting a Will with a lawyer, the best online Will in Canada covered have differing fees. Whether you’re looking for an individual or family package, affordability should be one of the factors to consider. But keep the extra fees/charges for updates and other extra services in mind.
- Promotion: If you’re looking to save more on your will creation, choose one of the above online wills with a discount. Currently, WalletBliss readers can enjoy a 15% discount on Willful Wills and Epilogue Wills and a 20% discount on Legal Wills.
- Wills update: Not all of the above online Will kits allow you to update your will for free whenever your situation changes. If you expect several or frequent big changes in the future, it’s better to go with an Online WIll provider that provides free updates like Willful and Epilogue.
Are Online Will Kits Legal in Canada?
Absolutely! Online Will kits are legal in Canada, just like any other Will document drawn up by a lawyer.
However, in general you must meet the following requirements for your online will to be considered legal in Canada.
- Be in sound mind
- Reach the age of majority in your province or territory
- Sign in the presence of two witnesses
- Watch your two witnesses sign the will in some provinces
But never mind, once you’re done with writing your Will using any of the Online Will services above, you’ll be given detailed instructions on how to make your Will legal and legally binding.
What Happens if You Die Without a Will?
Dying without a Will can be costly and result in lots of stress for your surviving loved ones.
First, your properties will be shared according to your provincial or territorial laws. This could mean certain people would get some of your assets against your wish or get a larger/smaller proportion than you would have wanted.
Secondly, your estate will be subjected to probate when you die without a will. This automatically attracts probate and legal fees.
Furthermore, you could subject your family members to a long period of conflict if you die without describing how your properties should be shared amongst them.
This could be a double discomfort to your family as they mourn your exit while fighting over your property at the same time.
How to Create an Online Will in Canada
After selecting your prepared Online Will service in Canada, the next step is to create your will. The following is a simple and general steps you’ll need to create an online Will in Canada.
- Determine your beneficiaries: This could be your spouse, common-law partner, natural or adopted child, beloved charity organization, pets etc.
- Outline the sharing formula of your assets: You can share assets equally or proportionally with your beneficiaries.
- Look for a guardian (optional): This option is relevant if you have a young child that you want to be cared for when you’re no more. It’s essential to choose a trusted person when looking for a guardian.
- Determine your witnesses: You need two witnesses who will watch you sign your will and vice versa.
- Find an executor: A will executor is responsible for implementing your wishes. Whether a friend, family member or lawyer, ensure you assign this responsibility to a trusted person.
- Create your will: It’s time to fill all the boxes of your chosen online will kit. Ensure you provide a clear answer to all the questionnaires to avoid confusion in the future.
- Sign your will: For your online Will to be legal, you must sign it in the presence of two witnesses and have your witnesses sign in your presence as well.
There you have it. In general, you can complete your Online Will from the complete of your home in less than 20 minutes once you have all the information you need to get started.
Once you’re done, all that remains is to store your Will in a secure place, such as Canada Will Registry, a safe deposit box at your bank and so on.
Whichever option you choose to store your Will, just ensure your Will is safe and easily accessible by your executor.
Finally, you should update your Will when you have a significant event in your life, such as marriage, divorce, child birth etc.
Alternatives to Online Wills Services in Canada
If an online Will doesn’t meet your needs, you have other options to consider. The following are two alternatives to online Wills services perfect for different situations.
1. DIY Will Kit
If you’re knowledgeable about legal documents in your province or territory, creating your Will yourself will save you some cash with a DIY Will kit.
All you need is to visit a supply store to buy the DIY Will kit and fill-in-blank. Or simply download a free Will Kit online.
Once you’re done filling the form, you must sign the Will with your two witnesses to make it legal.
While creating a Will using a DIY Will kit can be easy the first time, updating it can be daunting and time-consuming since you’ll have to start the process all over.
Also, DIY Will kits are not customized to each person’s situation, making them less suitable for people with complex estates and it increase the chance of making mistakes or adding conflicting clauses.
2. Estate Lawyers
Estate lawyers are the alternative to online Will kits and DIY Will kits for people with complex estates.
The thing is, creating a Will with an estate lawyer is more expensive than other options. However, you will have professional insight and the peace of mind that your Will has been prepared by a professional that understands the estate laws and that your wishes will be respected.
That being said, estate lawyers don’t offer the convenience of online Wills and DIY Will kits. You must fit your schedule to the office hours of your estate lawyer when creating a Will through them.
The costs of working with an estate lawyer also puts this option beyond the reach of many Canadians.
FAQs: Best Online Wills in Canada
Willful Wills is our overall best online Will in Canada due to its intuitive platform and relatively affordable plans. LegalWills is a close contender with its comprehensive coverage, lower pricing to get started and years of experience in the Canadian market.
Yes, you can. Online Will kits and DIY Will kits make it possible to create a legal Will without a lawyer in Canada.
Sure! Will kits save you from the expensive cost of hiring an estate lawyer. They also give you the flexibility of creating your Will based on your schedule, not at the convenience of a lawyer.
However, Will kits are not perfect for complex situations. It’s cost-effective to consult an estate lawyer when you have a complex estate.
A Will is illegal in Canada when a testator does not sign it in the presence of two witnesses or when the two witnesses didn’t sign the Will in the presence of the testator.
No, you don’t need to notarize a Will in Canada. However, one of your witnesses needs to confirm that your Will has been rightly signed by filing an affidavit of execution in some provinces.
Final Thoughts
By now, you have a good idea of the best online Wills in Canada, their coverage and pricing, alternatives and how to get started. Understanding your situation matters a lot in making the right decision here.
Notably, an online Will service or kit could be your best option if you have a simple estate situation. But if the opposite is the case, it’s essential to consult an estate lawyer.
If you have more questions about the best online Wills in Canada or have experience using any of their services, please leave a comment below.
Kindly read our other relevant posts to find more ways of saving costs and improving your finances in Canada.
