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Best Online Will Services in Canada 2026: Compared & Reviewed

Updated

More than half of Canadian adults don’t have a will, and the most common reason is cost. A lawyer-drafted will runs $500–$1,500 + for a straightforward estate, while online services like Willful and Epilogue produce legally valid documents for $99–$250 in about 20 minutes. For most Canadians with standard family structures and Canadian-only assets, online wills are perfectly adequate — they just need to be printed, signed, and witnessed like any other will. Where you need a lawyer is when complexity enters the picture: blended families, business ownership, cross-border assets, or estates above $2 million where tax planning matters. Regardless of which route you choose, a will without a power of attorney is an incomplete plan.

Best Online Will Services Compared

Service Price (Individual) Price (Couple) Provinces Power of Attorney Included Estate Plan
Willful $99–$249 $178–$448 All except QC Yes (Premium+) Yes (Premium)
Epilogue $139 $199 All except QC Yes (included) Partial
LegalWills.ca $40–$200 $70–$350 All provinces Yes (separate purchase) Yes (with bundle)
FormalWill.ca $34.95 $59.95 All provinces Yes (separate) Partial
NoticeConnect (Willfora) $119 $199 ON, BC, AB Yes (included) Partial
CLO (Canadian Legal Online) $149 $249 All except QC Yes (included) Yes

Detailed Service Reviews

Willful — Best Overall

Feature Details
Price Essentials $99, Premium $189, Premium Couples $338
Provinces All except Quebec
Will creation time 20–30 minutes
Power of attorney ✅ (Premium plan)
Guardianship for children
Asset distribution ✅ Specific gifts + residual estate
Charitable giving
Digital assets
Storage Digital vault for documents
Updates Unlimited updates (while subscription active)
Lawyer review option ✅ Available as add-on ($150–$300)
Best for Most Canadians with straightforward estates

Epilogue — Best Value for Couples

Feature Details
Price Individual $139, Couples $199
Provinces All except Quebec
Will creation time 20 minutes
Power of attorney ✅ Included in all plans
Guardianship
Mirror wills (couples)
Asset distribution
Legal support Chat support with legal team
Updates Unlimited
Partnership Partnered with Canadian law associations
Best for Couples wanting both wills + POA at one price

LegalWills.ca — Most Affordable

Feature Details
Price Will only $40, Will + POA $100, Complete estate plan $200
Provinces All provinces including Quebec
Will creation time 15–30 minutes
Power of attorney ✅ (separate purchase or bundle)
Living will ✅ (in bundle)
Updates Free for 1 year, then $20/year
Legal review Not included (DIY platform)
Best for Budget-conscious users, simple estates
Note Oldest online will platform in Canada (since 2000)

Online Will vs Lawyer Comparison

Factor Online Will Service Lawyer-Drafted Will
Cost $99–$400 $500–$1,500+ (simple), $2,000–$5,000+ (complex)
Time 20–30 minutes online 2–4 weeks (including meeting, drafting, review)
Convenience Complete from home, anytime Office appointments required
Customization Template-based, common scenarios Fully customized to your situation
Legal advice Limited (FAQ, chat support) Personalized legal advice included
Complex estates Not recommended ✅ Essential
Tax planning Basic ✅ Advanced strategies (trusts, corporate structures)
Business owners Not recommended ✅ Essential
Cross-border assets Not recommended ✅ Essential
Henson trust (disabled beneficiary) Not available ✅ Specialized drafting
Updates DIY, usually free $200–$500 per update
Witnessing You arrange your own witnesses Often arranged at law office

When to Use an Online Will

Situation Online Will OK? Why
Single or married, no children Simple estate
Married with children, basic assets Guardianship + standard distribution
Common-law partnership Especially important — no automatic inheritance in most provinces
Simple asset distribution (everything to spouse) Straightforward
Rental property in same province Most platforms handle this
RRSP/TFSA/insurance with named beneficiaries These pass outside the will anyway
Want power of attorney documents Most platforms include POA options

When to Hire a Lawyer

Situation Why a Lawyer Is Needed
Blended family (children from different relationships) Complex distribution, potential challenges
Business ownership (corporation, partnership) Shareholder agreements, succession planning
Assets in multiple countries Different legal systems, double taxation
Estate over $2 million Tax planning (trusts, estate freeze, corporate reorganization)
Disabled beneficiary Henson trust to protect disability benefits
Family conflict expected Lawyer-drafted will is harder to challenge
Quebec (civil law) Different rules; notarial will recommended
Cottage/vacation property in different province Multi-jurisdictional will considerations
Want to disinherit a spouse or child Complex legal requirements vary by province

What You Need Before Creating an Online Will

Document/Info Why
Full legal names and birthdates of beneficiaries Accurate identification
Executor name(s) and alternate Who manages your estate
Guardian for minor children (and alternate) Who raises your children
List of major assets (home, investments, insurance) Ensure nothing is missed
RRSP/TFSA/insurance beneficiary designations These pass outside the will
Power of attorney for property (who) Manages finances if incapacitated
Power of attorney for personal care (who) Makes health decisions if incapacitated
Specific gifts (jewelry, sentimental items) Optional but important to some
Funeral wishes Optional but helpful for family

Provincial Differences

Province Witness Requirements Holographic Will Valid? Special Notes
Ontario 2 witnesses, not beneficiaries Most common for online wills
British Columbia 2 witnesses Wills, Estates and Succession Act (WESA)
Alberta 2 witnesses
Manitoba 2 witnesses
Saskatchewan 2 witnesses
Nova Scotia 2 witnesses Must be formal, typed will
New Brunswick 2 witnesses Must be formal will
PEI 2 witnesses Must be formal will
Quebec 2 witnesses (or notarized) Notarized will preferred (no probate); civil law system
Newfoundland 2 witnesses

Power of Attorney: Essential Companion to a Will

Document What It Does When It Applies
Will Distributes assets after death After death only
POA for Property (Continuing) Appoints someone to manage finances If incapacitated (or anytime if specified)
POA for Personal Care Appoints someone for health decisions If incapacitated
Living Will/Advance Directive Documents your health care wishes If unable to communicate

A will without a power of attorney is an incomplete estate plan. Most online will platforms offer POA documents as part of a premium package.

Bottom Line

For most Canadians, Willful or Epilogue produces a legally valid will and power of attorney for under $200 — far less than a lawyer charges for the same outcome. Get the premium package that includes POA documents, print and sign with two witnesses, and revisit every few years or after any major life event. If your estate has complexity — blended family, business, foreign assets, or a disabled beneficiary — spend the money on a lawyer. The worst option is having no will at all, which leaves your estate to provincial intestacy rules that may not match your wishes.