Will Costs Overview
| Option |
Cost Range |
Best For |
| Holographic (handwritten) |
$0 |
Emergencies only |
| Online DIY templates |
$20-$50 |
Very simple estates |
| Online legal services |
$150-$500 |
Simple to moderate |
| Lawyer (simple will) |
$300-$800 |
General needs |
| Lawyer (complex) |
$1,000-$3,000+ |
Complex estates |
| Full estate plan |
$2,000-$10,000+ |
Comprehensive |
Option 1: Free/DIY
Holographic Wills
| Feature |
Details |
| Cost |
$0 |
| Requirements |
Entirely handwritten, signed |
| Valid in |
Most provinces (not BC) |
| Pros |
Free, immediate |
| Cons |
High error risk, often contested |
When Acceptable
| Situation |
DIY OK? |
| Emergency/travel |
✅ Better than nothing |
| Very simple estate |
⚠️ Risky |
| Minor children |
❌ Use lawyer |
| Business ownership |
❌ Use lawyer |
| Blended family |
❌ Use lawyer |
Option 2: Online Services
Popular Options
| Service |
Price |
Features |
| LegalWills.ca |
$40-$80 |
Will + POAs |
| Willful |
$99-$189 |
Will package |
| Epilogue |
$139-$299 |
Will + executor guide |
| LawDepot |
$40-$60 |
Template-based |
| NoticeConnect |
$149+ |
Full estate docs |
What’s Included (Typical Package)
| Document |
Basic |
Premium |
| Last will |
✅ |
✅ |
| POA property |
❌ |
✅ |
| POA health |
❌ |
✅ |
| Digital assets |
❌ |
✅ |
| Updates |
Limited |
1 year |
Online Service Pros/Cons
| Pros |
Cons |
| Affordable |
Limited customization |
| Quick |
No legal advice |
| Accessible |
May miss issues |
| Guided process |
Not for complex estates |
Option 3: Lawyer-Drafted
Lawyer Costs by Province
| Province |
Simple Will |
Full Package |
| Ontario |
$400-$800 |
$800-$2,000 |
| BC |
$350-$700 |
$700-$1,500 |
| Alberta |
$300-$600 |
$600-$1,200 |
| Quebec |
$400-$1,000 |
$800-$2,000 |
Notaries in BC and Quebec can also draft wills at lower cost.
What Lawyers Charge For
| Component |
Typical Cost |
| Simple will |
$300-$600 |
| Mirror wills (couple) |
$500-$1,000 |
| POA (property) |
$100-$200 |
| POA (health) |
$100-$200 |
| Trusts |
$500-$1,500+ each |
| Corporate structures |
$1,000+ |
Full Estate Planning Package
| Documents |
Cost Range |
| 2 wills (primary + secondary) |
Included |
| 2 POAs (property + health) |
Included |
| Consultation |
Included |
| Updates (1 year) |
Sometimes |
| Package total |
$800-$2,500 |
Complexity Factors
What Increases Cost
| Factor |
Impact |
| Multiple beneficiaries |
+$100-$300 |
| Trusts for children |
+$500-$1,500 |
| Blended family |
+$300-$1,000 |
| Business ownership |
+$500-$2,000 |
| US/international assets |
+$500-$2,000 |
| Cottage/real estate |
+$200-$500 |
| Tax planning |
+$500-$2,000 |
Complex Estate Package
| Situation |
Typical Cost |
| Business owner |
$2,000-$5,000 |
| Blended family with trusts |
$2,500-$5,000 |
| Cross-border assets |
$3,000-$10,000 |
| High net worth |
$5,000-$15,000+ |
Ontario Two-Will Strategy
What It Is
| Will Type |
Purpose |
| Primary will |
Assets requiring probate |
| Secondary will |
Private company shares, etc. |
Cost Savings
| Single Will |
Two Wills |
| All assets probated |
Secondary avoids probate |
| Probate fee: ~1.5% |
Saves probate on some assets |
| Asset Value |
Probate Saved |
| $500,000 (secondary) |
~$7,500 |
| $1,000,000 |
~$15,000 |
| $2,000,000 |
~$30,000 |
Two-will strategy costs ~$1,500-$3,000 but can save thousands.
Powers of Attorney
POA Costs
| Document |
Online |
Lawyer |
| POA Property |
$30-$50 |
$100-$200 |
| POA Personal Care |
$30-$50 |
$100-$200 |
| Both |
$50-$80 |
$150-$350 |
Why You Need Both
| POA Type |
Purpose |
| Property |
Financial decisions if incapacitated |
| Personal Care |
Health/medical decisions |
When to Use Each Option
Use Online Services If
| Situation |
OK for Online |
| Single, no kids |
✅ Yes |
| Married, simple estate |
✅ Yes |
| Clear beneficiaries |
✅ Yes |
| No business |
✅ Yes |
| Under $500K assets |
✅ Yes |
Use a Lawyer If
| Situation |
Need Lawyer |
| Minor children |
✅ Yes |
| Blended family |
✅ Yes |
| Own a business |
✅ Yes |
| Real estate in multiple provinces |
✅ Yes |
| US assets |
✅ Yes |
| Want to disinherit someone |
✅ Yes |
| Tax planning needed |
✅ Yes |
| Complex family dynamics |
✅ Yes |
Keeping Wills Updated
When to Update
| Life Event |
Update Needed |
| Marriage |
✅ (may void old will) |
| Divorce |
✅ (update beneficiaries) |
| New child |
✅ (add, name guardian) |
| Death of beneficiary |
✅ (name alternate) |
| Major asset change |
✅ (update distribution) |
| Move provinces |
✅ (check validity) |
Update Costs
| Method |
Cost |
| Codicil (amendment) |
$100-$300 |
| New will (online) |
$40-$150 |
| New will (lawyer) |
$300-$600 |
Cost Comparison Example
Family: Married, 2 Kids, $800K Estate
| Option |
Cost |
Risk Level |
| DIY template |
$40 |
High |
| Online service |
$189 |
Medium |
| Lawyer (simple) |
$1,200 |
Low |
| Lawyer (with trusts) |
$2,500 |
Very low |