How much does it cost to make a will in Canada?

DIY will kits cost $30-$100. Online will services like Willful or Epilogue cost $100-$300. Lawyers charge $300-$1,500 for simple wills, $500-$3,000+ for complex estates.

Is a handwritten will legal in Canada?

Holographic (handwritten) wills are valid in most provinces if entirely handwritten and signed by you. BC and PEI don''t recognize them. However, typed wills need witnesses. Lawyer-drafted or proper forms are safest.

What happens if I die without a will in Canada?

Your estate is distributed according to provincial intestacy laws, not your wishes. Typically spouse and children inherit in specific proportions. The process is longer, more expensive, and may not reflect what you wanted.

When should I update my will?

Update your will after every major life event: marriage (which revokes wills in most provinces), divorce, birth of a child, death of a named beneficiary or executor, buying or selling a home, moving provinces, or significant changes in your financial situation. Review it at least every 3–5 years even without a life change.

Do I need powers of attorney along with my will?

Yes. A will only takes effect after death. Powers of attorney (for property/finances and for personal care/healthcare) authorize someone to make decisions on your behalf if you become incapacitated while alive. Most online will services include POAs in their packages for $100–$300 total.

How to Make a Will in Canada 2026: Costs, Options & Step-by-Step Guide

More than half of Canadian adults don’t have a will — and dying without one means your province decides who gets your assets, who manages your estate, and (most critically) who raises your minor children. A basic will through an online service like Willful or Epilogue costs $99–$250, includes powers of attorney in most packages, and takes under an hour to complete. For straightforward estates (a home, some investments, clear beneficiaries), this is genuinely good enough.

A lawyer-drafted will ($300–$1,500) becomes worth the cost when you own a business, have a blended family, hold real estate in multiple provinces, or need a special-needs trust for a disabled beneficiary. Marriage automatically revokes existing wills in most provinces, so creating a new will immediately after the wedding is essential — not updating could leave your spouse navigating intestacy rules that may allocate assets differently than you’d expect. Whatever route you choose, keep beneficiary designations on your RRSP, TFSA, and life insurance up to date, since they override your will.

Why You Need a Will

What a Will Does

Purpose	Details
Names beneficiaries	Who gets your assets
Appoints executor	Who manages your estate
Guardianship	Who cares for minor children
Specific bequests	Sentimental items, charities
Reduces conflict	Clear instructions

Without a Will (Intestate)

Problem	Consequence
Provincial rules apply	Not your wishes
Longer process	Court involvement
Higher costs	Legal fees, bonds
Family conflict	Potential disputes
No guardian choice	Court decides for kids

How to Make a Valid Will

Legal Requirements

Requirement	Details
Age	18+ (some exceptions)
Mental capacity	Sound mind
Written	Not oral (usually)
Signed	By you
Witnessed	2 witnesses (most provinces)

Witness Requirements

Rule	Details
Number	2 witnesses
Age	18+
Not beneficiaries	Can’t inherit under will
Not spouse of beneficiary	Also excluded
Present together	Watch you sign

Options for Creating a Will

DIY Will Kits

Cost	$30-$100
Pros	Cheapest option
Cons	Easy to make mistakes
Best for	Very simple estates
Providers	Staples, bookstores

Online Will Services

Service	Cost	Features
Willful	$99-$189	Guided process
Epilogue	$139-$249	Lawyer-reviewed
LegalWills	$40-$100	Simple option

Lawyer-Drafted

Complexity	Cost
Simple will	$300-$700
Mirror wills (couple)	$500-$1,000
Complex estate	$1,000-$3,000+

When to Use a Lawyer

Situation	Why Lawyer
Business ownership	Complex structures
Blended family	Multiple beneficiaries
Real estate in multiple provinces	Jurisdictional issues
Disabled beneficiary	Special needs trust
Complex assets	Investments, property
Previous divorce	Ensure valid

Key Components of a Will

Essential Elements

Component	Purpose
Declaration	States it’s your will
Revocation	Cancels previous wills
Executor appointment	Who manages estate
Beneficiaries	Who inherits what
Residue clause	Everything else
Signature	Your signature
Witness signatures	Their signatures

Executor Selection

Good Executor	Traits
Trustworthy	Honest person
Organized	Can handle paperwork
Available	Time to manage
Willing	Has agreed to serve
Financially stable	Won’t be tempted

What to Include

Asset Type	Examples
Real estate	Home, cottage
Bank accounts	Savings, chequing
Investments	RRSP, TFSA, non-registered
Personal property	Jewelry, vehicles, art
Digital assets	Accounts, crypto
Business interests	Shares, ownership

Provincial Differences

Witness Requirements

Province	Witnesses
Most provinces	2 required
Quebec (notarial)	Notary + 1 witness

Holographic (Handwritten) Wills

Recognized	Province
Yes	AB, SK, MB, ON, QC, NB, NS, NL
No	BC, PEI

Marriage and Wills

Province	Effect of Marriage
Most provinces	Revokes existing will
BC, AB	Does not revoke
Quebec	Does not revoke

Updating Your Will

When to Update

Life Event	Action Needed
Marriage	New will usually
Divorce	Update (may partially revoke)
Children born	Add as beneficiaries
Death of beneficiary	Update beneficiaries
Major asset change	Update bequests
Executor can’t serve	Name new executor
Move provinces	Review validity

How to Update

Method	When Appropriate
Codicil	Small changes
New will	Major changes
Review every 3-5 years	Best practice

Intestate Succession

What Happens Without a Will

Ontario Example

Situation	Distribution
Spouse, no children	Spouse gets all
Spouse + children	Spouse: first $350K + share
Children, no spouse	Children equally
No spouse or children	Parents, then siblings

BC Example

Situation	Distribution
Spouse, no children	Spouse gets all
Spouse + children (from both)	Spouse gets first $300K + 50%
Spouse + children (other)	Spouse gets first $150K + 50%

Problems with Intestacy

Issue	Impact
Common-law spouse	May get nothing (varies)
Stepchildren	Not recognized
Charities	Won’t receive anything
Friends	Won’t inherit
Assets to minors	Court-managed

Beyond the Will

Also Consider

Document	Purpose
Power of Attorney (financial)	Manage finances if incapacitated
Power of Attorney (medical)	Healthcare decisions
Beneficiary designations	RRSP, TFSA, insurance

Beneficiary Designations

Override Will
RRSP/RRIF	Yes
TFSA	Yes
Life insurance	Yes
Joint accounts	Yes (survivorship)

Important: Keep beneficiary designations updated and consistent with your will.

Storage and Access

Where to Keep Your Will

Location	Pros/Cons
Safe deposit box	Secure but may be sealed on death
Home safe	Accessible but less secure
Lawyer’s office	Professional storage
Courts registry	Some provinces offer
Executor’s copy	Ensure they have one

Tell Your Executor

They Should Know
Will location	Where to find it
Lawyer contact	If applicable
List of assets	Makes job easier
Passwords	Digital access

The Bottom Line

Get a will done this month — even a $99 online will is infinitely better than dying intestate. Name a guardian for minor children, appoint an executor who knows where to find the document, and set up powers of attorney for finances and healthcare while you’re at it. Review after every major life event (marriage, divorce, new child, home purchase, province move) and make sure your beneficiary designations on registered accounts match your will’s intentions.

How to Make a Will in Canada 2026: Costs, Options & Step-by-Step Guide

Why You Need a Will

What a Will Does

Without a Will (Intestate)

How to Make a Valid Will

Legal Requirements

Witness Requirements

Options for Creating a Will

DIY Will Kits

Online Will Services

Lawyer-Drafted

When to Use a Lawyer

Key Components of a Will

Essential Elements

Executor Selection

What to Include

Provincial Differences

Witness Requirements

Holographic (Handwritten) Wills

Marriage and Wills

Updating Your Will

When to Update

How to Update

Intestate Succession

What Happens Without a Will

Ontario Example

BC Example

Problems with Intestacy

Beyond the Will

Also Consider

Beneficiary Designations

Storage and Access

Where to Keep Your Will

Tell Your Executor

The Bottom Line

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