WillKit Blog Posts

Yes, a beneficiary can be an executor of a will in Canada. There is no legal rule that prevents someone who receives something under your will from also being the...

There is no Government of Canada will kit. The federal government does not provide a will kit, a will template, or a guided will-creation tool — and understanding why helps...

Alberta probate fees are capped at $525 regardless of estate size, making them the lowest in Canada by a significant margin. An Ontario estate worth $1,000,000 pays approximately $14,250 in...

Wanting a complete checklist before you start making your will is exactly the right approach. Knowing what decisions you need to make ahead of time means you can sit down...

Ontario probate fees are calculated using the Estate Administration Tax, which runs at approximately $15 per $1,000 of estate value above $50,000. On a $500,000 estate, that works out to...

You have decided you want a will kit. Now you want to know where to get one. Canadian will kits are available in several places, online and in store, and...

Free will templates for British Columbia residents do exist, and it is reasonable to want to understand your options before spending money on something you might be able to get...

Many Ontario residents search for a free will kit assuming the provincial government provides one. It is a reasonable assumption. The government offers free resources for many legal matters, and...

Most Canadians who ask about living trusts have encountered the concept through American financial content. YouTube channels, podcasts, and personal finance websites based in the United States discuss living trusts...

British Columbia residents searching for will-writing guidance want answers that reflect BC's actual legal requirements, not a generic Canadian overview. Writing a will in BC is governed by the Wills,...

For many parents, choosing a guardian for their children in their will is the one decision that stalls an otherwise finished document. Everything else, the assets, the executor, the specific...

No, a will does not need to be notarized in Canada. In every province except Quebec, notarization is not a legal requirement for a will to be valid. The confusion...

Yes, online wills are legal in Canada. In every province except Quebec, a will created using an online will kit is just as legally valid and binding as one prepared...

Alberta residents who search for will-writing guidance want answers that apply to their province, not a generic Canadian overview that glosses over the details that matter here. Writing a will...

How much does a will cost in Canada? The honest answer is anywhere from nothing to over $1,500 — depending on how you create it and how complex your estate...

You have written your will and you are ready to sign. But before you do, you need two witnesses in the room — and not just anyone qualifies. Who can...

Ontario residents who search for will-writing guidance are usually looking for one thing: answers that actually apply to them. Will laws vary across Canada, and a general Canadian guide does...

More than half of Canadians do not have a will. For most of them, it is not a matter of not caring — it is a matter of assuming the...

Most Canadians assume their TFSA will automatically pass to their spouse or family when they die. It's a reasonable assumption, after all, you named them on the account years ago,...

A holographic will is a will written entirely by hand and signed by the person making it. No witnesses, no notary, no lawyer. In most Canadian provinces, that document is...

Special words are used by lawyers and judges to describe the estate-planning process and the way it is supervised by judges. To see how estate planning works you need to...

When someone dies without a will, or a will cannot be located, or is located but is deemed invalid, the person is said to have died intestate. Provincial laws deal...

Whether you are young, old, healthy, or sick, leaving a will is an important task that should be done by all individuals. Granted, it can be stressful to think about...

You should read your will at least once a year to make sure it is current. It is easier to add a codicil than to write a new will, but...

Writing a New Will There may come a time when it is necessary to write a new will. When writing a new will, you must revoke the previous will.

Most people can safely prepare their own wills without the cost of retaining a lawyer. However, there are some situations when it is recommended you do retain a lawyer. This...

If your will was prepared by a lawyer, finding a place to store it isn't a problem because lawyers are happy to do that for their clients. But when you...

I recently read articles in North American and European publications about companies offering a service of storing your passwords and other information relating to your online life, together with your...

There is no law saying that you cannot appoint a foreign executor in your will but there are two good reasons that make it a bad idea in most cases.

Writing your will starts with choosing the right executor. After all, it's your executor's job to find all your assets, pay all your debts, and distribute what's left to your...

If you are the executor or administrator of an estate, taking account of the assets of a recently deceased loved one can get very complicated. Moving residences prior to death...

As our world becomes increasingly digital, it is worth taking a fresh look at the possible consequences of the changes we are witnessing and participating in. As I grow older,...

Imagine for a moment you have been appointed executor of someone’s estate, and he or she passes away. Do you know what to do? Where will the deceased's things go?...

When you are retired, but still have your physical and mental health, you should take a fresh look at your financial plans, your estate plan and will, and how you...