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 is. Most Canadians are surprised by that range. They assume a will automatically means a lawyer and a large bill, which is part of why so many people put it off. The reality is that there are three main options, each with a different cost, a different level of guidance, and a different level of risk. This post breaks down what each one actually costs so you can make the right choice for your situation.
How Much Does a Lawyer Charge to Write a Will in Canada?
A basic will prepared by a Canadian lawyer typically costs between $500 and $1,500. That range reflects a wide variety of factors — the complexity of your estate, your location, whether the lawyer charges a flat fee or an hourly rate, and how much time the process takes.
What drives the cost up. A simple will for a single person with a straightforward estate sits at the lower end of that range. The cost increases with complexity: blended families, multiple properties, business interests, trusts for minor children, or cross-provincial assets all add time and therefore cost. Some lawyers charge $200–$400 per hour and bill for every phone call, email, and revision.
Flat fees vs hourly billing. Many lawyers offer a flat fee for a basic will, which gives you cost certainty upfront. If your situation is more complex, hourly billing is common. Always ask how a lawyer intends to bill before you engage them.
Geographic variation. Lawyer fees are not regulated in most Canadian provinces. A will that costs $600 with a lawyer in a smaller city may cost $1,200 with a firm in downtown Toronto or Vancouver.
When a lawyer is worth the cost. For most Canadians with a straightforward estate, a lawyer is not required to create a valid will. But there are situations where professional legal advice genuinely earns its fee: blended families with competing interests, significant business assets, dependents with special needs, large estates with complex tax implications, or cross-border assets. If your situation involves any of these, a lawyer is worth the investment.
How Much Does an Online Will Kit Cost in Canada?
Online will kits range from approximately $30 to $300 depending on the provider and what is included. The price difference between providers reflects the level of guidance offered, the quality of the legal review behind the product, and what is included in the package.
What to look for. A good online will kit should be province-specific, prepared or reviewed by qualified Canadian legal professionals, written in plain language, and include the ability to update your will after major life events. Some providers charge for updates — others include them.
WillKit pricing. WillKit offers a complete, legally valid Canadian will for $59. The Will and Power of Attorney package — which includes your will, a Power of Attorney for property, and a Power of Attorney for personal care — is available for $129. Both are one-time fees with no revision charges and no long-term subscription. You can update your will at any time at no extra cost.
WillKit is built on more than 50 years of Canadian legal publishing expertise from Self-Counsel Press, and covers all provinces except Quebec. For a full breakdown of what is included, visit the WillKit pricing page.
Comparing providers. Willful charges $99–$249 depending on the package. LegalWills.ca starts at around $40 but charges for updates. Epilogue starts at $139. Price alone is not the best way to choose — what matters is whether the product is legally sound, province-specific, and backed by credible legal expertise.
What About Free Will Templates?
Free will templates are widely available online. They are downloadable PDF or Word documents that you fill in yourself, at no cost. For some people in very specific circumstances, a free template is a reasonable starting point. For most Canadians, it carries more risk than it appears to.
What free templates lack. A free template does not adapt to your province’s specific legal requirements. It does not flag common mistakes. It does not prompt you to name alternate beneficiaries or think through what happens if a beneficiary dies before you do. It gives you a form, not guidance.
The real cost of getting it wrong. A will that is incorrectly completed — vague language, missing clauses, improperly witnessed — may not hold up after your death. The cost of resolving a contested or invalid will can run into thousands of dollars in legal fees, paid from your estate. That is the hidden cost of free.
When a free template is appropriate. If your estate is extremely simple — very few assets, no dependents, no property — and you understand what goes into a valid will in your province, a free template used carefully is better than no will at all. For most Canadians, it is not the right tool.
If you are considering a free handwritten will, read our guide on holographic wills in Canada before proceeding.
What Does the Total Cost of a Will Really Include?
The upfront cost of creating a will is only part of the picture. Here are the costs people often overlook when comparing options.
Witness costs. A standard will requires two adult witnesses. In most cases witnesses are friends, neighbours, or colleagues and there is no fee involved. If you use a notary or commissioner of oaths as a witness, there may be a small fee. For a full breakdown of witness rules, read our guide on who can witness a will in Canada.
Affidavit of execution. Having your witnesses sign a sworn affidavit before a notary or commissioner of oaths is not required but strongly recommended. It simplifies the probate process considerably. A notary or commissioner of oaths typically charges $25–$75 for this service.
Update costs. Life changes. Marriage, divorce, the birth of a child, a significant change in assets — any of these may require you to update your will. A lawyer typically charges $150–$500 for a codicil or will update. An online will kit that includes free updates eliminates this cost entirely.
Storage and registration. Storing your will at home costs nothing. Registering it with the Canada Will Registry costs approximately $40 and makes it easier for your executor to locate after your death. Some lawyers offer to store your original will, sometimes at no charge and sometimes for an annual fee.
Probate fees. Probate is not a cost of creating a will — it is a cost of administering your estate after your death. But a poorly structured will can increase what your estate pays in probate fees by failing to direct assets outside the estate efficiently. In Ontario, for example, the Estate Administration Tax runs approximately $15 per $1,000 of estate value above $50,000. A well-structured will minimizes what flows through probate.
How to Decide Which Option Is Right for You
The right choice depends on the complexity of your estate and the level of guidance you need.
A lawyer makes sense if your estate involves significant complexity — a blended family, business assets, trusts, dependents with special needs, or cross-border property. The cost is higher but so is the value of getting it exactly right.
An online will kit makes sense if your estate is straightforward — a home, savings, a spouse or partner, and perhaps children. You need a legally valid will that covers your assets and your wishes, and you want to do it efficiently without paying lawyer rates for a situation that does not require them. This describes the majority of Canadians.
A free template makes sense if your estate is very simple, you understand provincial will requirements, and you are treating it as a temporary measure while you arrange something more thorough. It is better than nothing but it is not a complete solution for most people.
For most Canadians, the decision is straightforward: a will kit for everything typical, a lawyer for everything complex.
How Much Does It Cost to Update a Will in Canada?
A will is not a document you create once and never touch. Marriage, divorce, the birth of a child, the death of a named beneficiary, a significant change in assets — any of these is a reason to review and potentially update your will.
Lawyer update costs. If your will was prepared by a lawyer, updates typically cost $150–$500 depending on the scope of the changes. A simple codicil — a formal amendment to an existing will — is at the lower end of that range. A full rewrite costs more.
Online will kit update costs. This is one of the clearest advantages of an online will kit over a lawyer-prepared document. WillKit allows you to update your will at any time at no additional cost. Over the course of a lifetime, that difference adds up significantly.
How often should you review your will? At a minimum, once a year and after any major life change. A will that reflected your wishes five years ago may not reflect them today.
The Bottom Line on Will Costs in Canada
For most Canadians, how much a will costs comes down to a simple decision: do you need a lawyer or not?
If your estate is straightforward, the answer is no. An online will kit gives you a legally valid, province-specific will with plain-language guidance for a fraction of the cost of a lawyer. WillKit costs $59 for a complete will and $129 for a will plus Power of Attorney. No hidden fees, no revision charges, no appointment required. The process takes about 20 minutes.
If your estate is complex, a lawyer is worth the investment. The cost is higher, but so is the value of professional advice tailored to your specific situation.
Either way, the most expensive option of all is having no will. The cost of dying intestate — the legal fees, court costs, family disputes, and probate complications — falls entirely on the people you leave behind.
See WillKit pricing and packages at will-kit.ca
This article provides general information only and does not constitute legal advice. Will costs vary by province, lawyer, and individual circumstances. For advice specific to your situation, consult a qualified estate lawyer in your province.
Sources:
Law Society of Ontario (lso.ca) – Context on lawyer fee structures in Ontario
Canada.ca — Wills and estate planning – General framework, authoritative citation
Provincial probate fee schedules – Probate cost context in hidden costs section
