An online will service walks you through a questionnaire and produces a will (and, in most packages, powers of attorney) that you then print, sign and have witnessed at home. For straightforward estates, that costs a fraction of a lawyer-drafted will. This page compares the main Canadian services, explains whether online wills are legal, and sets out when people choose a lawyer instead. It is part of our estate planning guide; how wills work generally is in how to make a will in Canada, and what every route costs, including a lawyer, in how much a will costs.
Are online wills legal in Canada?
Yes. A will made with an online service is valid if it meets your province’s formal requirements, the same as any other will: in most provinces that means it is in writing, signed at the end by you in front of two witnesses who are present at the same time, and signed by those witnesses. The online part is only how the document is drafted. British Columbia’s Wills, Estates and Succession Act goes further and treats a will in electronic form as meeting the writing requirement, so an electronic will is valid there. The witness rules (and who can’t be a witness) are in how to make a will.
The main services compared
| Service | Will only | Will and powers of attorney | Two people (couples) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Willful | $129 (Legal Essentials) | $199 (Premium Coverage) | $349 (Premium x 2) |
| Epilogue | $139 (Will Only) | $199 (Will + Incapacity Documents) | $269 (Wills Only) or $329 (Wills + Incapacity Documents) |
| LegalWills.ca | Prices on the provider’s site | Separate documents or a bundle | Prices on the provider’s site |
Prices from each provider’s pricing page; providers change prices and run promotions, so the current price is on their sites.
Willful
Willful’s Premium Coverage package includes a will, a power of attorney for health and a power of attorney for property, plus an estate inventory and free unlimited updates; Legal Essentials is a will only. Willful says it serves every province except Quebec through its main site, with a separate site for Quebec residents, and notes that additional fees may apply in Manitoba and New Brunswick when executing powers of attorney.
Epilogue
Epilogue’s Will + Incapacity Documents package adds the documents that cover incapacity (powers of attorney) to the will, and includes a code to register the will with the Canada Will Registry and free updates. It offers individual and couple versions of each package.
LegalWills.ca
LegalWills.ca is a do-it-yourself platform that sells wills, powers of attorney and living wills separately or as a bundle. It doesn’t include a legal review.
Online will vs a lawyer
| Factor | Online service | Lawyer |
|---|---|---|
| Time | Usually under an hour online | Meetings, drafting and review over a few weeks |
| Customization | Built from templates for common situations | Drafted for your situation |
| Advice | Help articles and support chat | Legal advice on your circumstances |
| Signing | You arrange your own witnesses | Usually done at the office |
| Updates | Usually free or low cost | Billed as new work |
When an online will is usually enough
- A single person, or a couple leaving everything to each other and then to their children
- Parents who need to name a guardian
- Common-law partners, who may inherit nothing without a will in some provinces (see what happens if you die without a will)
- Estates where the main assets already pass by beneficiary designation or joint ownership
When people usually use a lawyer
| Situation | Why |
|---|---|
| A blended family | Competing claims from a spouse and children of earlier relationships |
| A business or a private corporation | Shareholder agreements, succession and tax planning |
| Assets in more than one country | Different legal systems and tax rules |
| A beneficiary with a disability | A Henson trust protects provincial disability benefits |
| A dispute is likely | A lawyer’s record of your capacity and instructions helps defend the will |
| Quebec | Civil law rules; many residents use a notarial will |
| Property in another province | More than one jurisdiction’s rules |
| Leaving out a spouse or child | Family support claims can override the will |
What to have ready
| Information | Why |
|---|---|
| Full names of beneficiaries | Accurate identification |
| An executor and an alternate | Who settles the estate |
| A guardian for minor children, and an alternate | Who raises your children |
| A list of major assets and debts | So nothing is missed |
| Existing beneficiary designations | RRSPs, TFSAs and insurance pass outside the will |
| Who will act under your powers of attorney | Property, and personal care |
| Specific gifts and funeral wishes | Optional, but helpful to the family |
Powers of attorney alongside the will
A will only takes effect at death. Powers of attorney for property and for personal care cover the years when you might be alive but unable to manage your affairs, and most online services sell them in their premium packages. The power of attorney guide explains each document.