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 the right option depends on what you are looking for in terms of guidance, cost, and convenience. This post covers every place you can buy a will kit in Canada, what each option costs and includes, and what to look for before you commit. For most Canadians, the answer is straightforward — but it helps to understand the full picture first.
Where to Buy a Will Kit in Canada: Your Main Options
Canadian will kits are available through three main channels.
Online will kit software. A guided web-based tool that walks you through every section of your will and builds the document as you go. This is the most popular option for most Canadians and the one that provides the most guidance.
Downloadable will kit templates. A PDF or Word document you fill in yourself, available from various legal publishers and legal aid organizations. Lower cost or free, but you are largely on your own once you download it.
In-store physical will kits. Printed will kit books available at major Canadian bookstores and some office supply retailers. Useful if you prefer to work through the process on paper, but limited in scope compared to online options.
Each option has a different cost, a different level of guidance, and a different level of risk. Here is what you need to know about each one.
Online Will Kit Software: The Best Option for Most Canadians
An online will kit is a guided web-based tool that takes you through every section of your will in plain language, builds your document as you go, and ensures nothing is missed. You answer questions about your assets, your executor, and your beneficiaries, and the software structures your will correctly based on your answers and your province.
This is the best option for most Canadians for three reasons.
It provides real guidance. Unlike a blank template, a good online will kit explains what each section means, flags common mistakes, and prompts you to consider decisions you might not have thought of, such as naming alternate beneficiaries or appointing a guardian for minor children.
It is province-specific. Will requirements vary across Canada, and a well-designed online will kit accounts for those differences automatically. The witness age threshold in British Columbia is different from Ontario’s. Common law partner rights under BC’s WESA differ from those in Alberta. A good online tool knows your province and reflects it in your document.
It is affordable and updatable. WillKit offers a complete, legally valid Canadian will for $59 and a will plus Power of Attorney package for $129. Both are one-time fees with no revision charges. You can update your will at any time at no extra cost, which matters because your life will change and your will should change with it.
WillKit is built on more than 50 years of Canadian legal publishing expertise from Self-Counsel Press, Canada’s leading self-help legal publisher since 1971. It is available entirely online, takes about 20 minutes to complete, and covers all Canadian provinces except Quebec. For more on what makes an online will legally valid in Canada, read our guide on whether online wills are legal in Canada.
Downloadable Will Kit Templates: Lower Cost, Higher Risk
Downloadable will kit templates are available from a variety of sources, including legal publishers, non-profit legal aid organizations, and general legal information websites. Some are free. Others cost between $20 and $40.
The appeal is obvious. A template costs little or nothing and gives you a document to work with immediately. The risk is equally real.
Templates provide a form, not guidance. Once you download a template, you are responsible for filling it in correctly. There are no prompts to name alternate beneficiaries, no explanations of what a residual clause does, and no flags if you accidentally name a beneficiary as a witness.
Generic templates may miss province-specific requirements. A template designed for general Canadian use may not reflect the specific requirements of your province. In British Columbia, witnesses must be at least 19 years old, not 18. A generic template may not mention this at all.
The real cost of getting it wrong. A will that does not hold up after your death may result in your estate being distributed under provincial intestacy laws rather than your wishes. Legal costs to resolve a contested or unclear will can run into thousands of dollars, paid from your estate. That is the hidden cost of a free or cheap template used incorrectly.
Downloadable templates are best suited to people with very simple estates who understand their province’s will requirements well enough to complete the form correctly without any assistance.
In-Store Will Kits: Available but Limited
Physical will kits are available in Canada at major bookstores including Chapters Indigo, and at some office supply retailers. Self-Counsel Press, the publisher behind WillKit, has been producing printed Canadian will resources since 1971 and their titles are available through major Canadian retailers.
Printed will kits typically cost between $20 and $40 and include a guide explaining the will-making process alongside printed forms to complete by hand.
There are a few limitations worth knowing before you head to the store.
Selection varies significantly by location. Not every Chapters carries legal self-help titles, and smaller locations may have limited stock. Calling ahead before making the trip is worth doing.
Printed kits cannot update automatically. When provincial legislation changes, a printed kit stays as it was when it was published. An online will kit can be updated to reflect current law. A book on your shelf cannot.
The process is more manual. Working through a printed kit requires more effort than an online guided tool. You are reading, interpreting, and filling in forms rather than answering guided questions that build your document automatically.
For Canadians who prefer working through a physical document on paper, a printed Self-Counsel Press will kit is a credible option backed by decades of Canadian legal publishing experience. For most people, the online version of the same expertise is faster, more current, and easier to update.
What to Look for When Buying a Canadian Will Kit
Not all will kits are created equal. Here is what to look for before you commit to any option.
Province-specific documents. Your will needs to meet the legal requirements of your specific province. Confirm the kit is designed for your province, not just for Canada generally.
Prepared or reviewed by qualified legal professionals. The will documents should be drafted or reviewed by Canadian lawyers or legal professionals with estate planning experience. Look for this information before you buy.
Plain-language guidance. A will kit is only useful if you can understand what it is asking you to do. If the instructions require a law degree to follow, it is not well designed.
The ability to update your will. Marriage, divorce, the birth of a child, a significant change in assets — all of these may require you to update your will. Look for a provider that allows updates without charging a revision fee every time. WillKit allows free updates for the life of your account.
Transparent pricing. Some providers advertise a low entry price and then charge for updates, additional documents, or features that should be standard. Look for clear, upfront pricing with no surprises. For a full breakdown of what a will costs in Canada across all options, read our guide on the cost of a will in Canada.
Where to Buy a Will Kit in Canada: The Bottom Line
For most Canadians with a straightforward estate, an online will kit is the most convenient, most affordable, and most legally reliable option. It provides guided support that a blank template cannot, costs a fraction of what a lawyer charges, and can be completed from home in about 20 minutes.
If you prefer to work through the process on paper, a printed Self-Counsel Press will kit from a major Canadian bookstore is a credible option backed by the same legal publishing heritage as WillKit.
If your estate is complex, blended families, significant business assets, trusts, or cross-border property, a lawyer is the right choice regardless of cost.
For everyone else, WillKit is where to buy a will kit in Canada. A complete, legally valid will for $59. No lawyer required, no appointment needed, and you can update it any time your circumstances change.
See WillKit pricing and packages at will-kit.ca
This article provides general information only and does not constitute legal advice. Will requirements vary by province and may change over time. If your estate is complex or you have specific legal questions, consult a qualified estate lawyer in your province.
Sources:
Self-Counsel Press (self-counsel.com) – Physical and printed will kit availability, publisher credibility
Chapters Indigo (chapters.indigo.ca) – In-store will kit availability at major Canadian retailers
