Where is the best place for Canadians to create a will online?  While it may not be the conversation you most want to have, planning for your death and what comes after it, is a critical step that all Canadian adults need to take. According to RBC Wealth Management, less than half of us have a last will and testament, so don't be a statistic. You may not have your will at the forefront of your mind, but leaving the courts and legislation to decide the fate of your estate isn't something you really want either.
Trusted by 400,000 Canadians and featured on "Dragons' Den," Willful offers online will-making services across Canada to present the most comprehensive online estate planning service available. Started in 2017, Willful provides a simple and affordable way for families to create wills and powers of attorney.
A little confusing at first who can get their wills here
While the main webpage for Willful boasts that they're available in all Canadian provinces, their FAQs differ slightly. Instead it notes that they're "working" to expand across Canada, specifically mentioning Ontario, Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, and Saskatchewan. Quebec is mentioned with a link to their separate Willful website due to differing codes in the province. When we went to create a will for Yukon Territory, Northwest Territories, or Nunavut, we were told they're not in those areas "just yet." Finally, on another page it specifically mentions that they're not available in the territories mentioned. They could quickly fix this confusion so as not to waste anyone's time searching for the answer. If you have questions about whether or not you are able to make your will here, we recommend contacting their support team. We're pleased they have expanded since the last time we reviewed them, but we wish they were available throughout Canada.
Guided process makes will creation simple
Boasting "the easiest way to create your legal will in Canada," Willful asks you simple questions, guiding you through each step. Just answer and you'll have a completed will in no time. They avoid using legal jargon and include province-specific instructions throughout the process, which they say takes 20 minutes or less. After confirming your basic details, including province and date of birth, they ask you to accept their terms, which are easy to read and understand. Overall, they make it clear that they're not lawyers preparing your documents and certain situations aren't appropriate for using their service. The platform is designed to help all Canadian adults, though those with complex estates may be unable to use it to create their wills. Early in the process, you are offered the package that Willful recommends and asked for payment information. You're able to skip and pay later, which enables you to take advantage of their pledge to allow you to review the directives you've made prior to paying (not the actual document of the will or any other estate planning materials).
Look for a coupon to apply to their packages
With three package levels, Willful has what you need to quickly make your will online. The legal essentials package ($129) provides a last will and testament, access to multiple will registries, and free unlimited updates. Next, the premium coverage package adds on powers of attorney for health and property, as well as an asset list for a total of $199. If you are creating your will with someone else, their premium x 2 package offers two of everything for $349, a discount from purchasing separately. We love that Willful doesn't ask for payment before you try their process. Additionally, they allow free, unlimited changes to your will as needed, which is a nice bonus. Look for a pop-up coupon to offer a discount if you checkout in a certain amount of time.
Quick process makes it easy to get peace of mind
In just 20 minutes, Willful says you'll have a customized, legal will done in the comfort of your own home. The process truly is simple and easy to understand for a simple last will and testament. Getting this peace of mind in less than an hour is something you can check off your to-do list between appointments.
Secure data storage included
Willful uses AES-256, block-level storage encryption to secure data on their website. Though no other details are given, we like knowing a bit about how they are preventing our details from being spread on the internet.
Satisfaction guarantee or your money back
A 30-day money-back guarantee helps to provide peace of mind regarding creating your will with Willful. If you're not completely satisfied, contact them within 30 days to request a refund.
Learn more with their website bonuses, planning tools, and more
The Willful Learn Centre is a great resource for those who want to know more about the process or have more in-depth questions about wills. For more assistance, you can request a call, start a live chat, or email their team of estate planning experts. A bonus anyone is able to request from Willful is a free estate planning checklist. Just enter your email and they'll send it to you. Also, they have a featured resources page which offers free planning tools, guides and checklists, and educational articles. Included are free PDFs such as a financial checklist for new parents, a funeral planning checklist, a guide to end of life questions, and a checklist for those planning for a divorce. If you need it, there's even a pet trust calculator. We appreciate these free resources to help anyone who wants to use them.
Reputation is solid for those with simple will needs
Accredited by the BBB, Willful has earned an impressive "A+" rating and has had no complaints in their nine years of business. On Trustpilot, they have an excellent 4.4 stars out of 5 from over 1,700 customers. Pleased reviewers note the process was easy to follow and the price was reasonable. One person said, "It made a difficult task simpler and easier to do." A negative reviewer said she was unable to revise her will, found the website glitchy, and couldn't reach support. Another complained it wasn't a good product for his needs since it could not be customized as he desired.
Another great choice at a reasonable price
Willful costs a little more than our other top service, but their platform is easy to use and offers lots of helpful resources to educate consumers who aren't legal professionals. As a result, we can place Willful as one of our recommended online will-making platforms.
Continued from above...
While it may not be the conversation you most want to have, planning for your death and what comes after it, is a critical step that all Canadian adults need to take. According to RBC Wealth Management, less than half of us have a last will and testament, so don't be a statistic. You may not have your will at the forefront of your mind, but leaving the courts and legislation to decide the fate of your estate isn't something you really want either.
Even those who are single without children should consider making a will so their hard-earned assets don't end up with the government instead of a friend or relative. Though it seems like this is a difficult process and only for those with significant assets, wills are important for all adults, providing peace of mind so that your final wishes are heard.
A common misconception is that you need a lawyer to create a will, or at least a notary public. However, it truly just needs to be a written document signed in the presence of witnesses who aren't beneficiaries. This makes things much easier - and potentially much more affordable - for people to create their last will and testament. While lawyers are helpful in preparing such documents, their services are not a legal requirement to crafting a will. The rise of online will services has made obtaining a legal will even easier for those without legal knowledge. If your wishes are straightforward, this process is significantly cheaper - even free, perhaps - and faster than using a law firm.
To create your online will, it's recommended that you gather details about family members and be prepared to make decisions about who you trust to appoint as executor of your estate (manage your affairs) or guardian to your minor children or pets. Then think about how you want to distribute your assets (who gets what after you pass). That's the basics. These online services will guide you through the questions, most allowing you to pause and save your work so you can return as you gather what you need or make decisions. If you're afraid of missing something, don't worry - these platforms are designed to ask all of the questions so you don't have to be an expert. Some of them will even offer explanations along the way so you're not lost in a sea of legal jargon.
Online wills can be made for a fraction of the cost of seeing an estate lawyer, an unnecessary step for most simple wills anyway. The convenience of creating the will at home, at work, or on the go cannot be overlooked since you don't have to waste time making an appointment, dealing with traffic, waiting for the professional to see you, and other time-consuming details. The time involved in the online will-making process is significantly shorter as well, just taking minutes to complete the questionnaire and be ready to download and sign. You could even do it on your lunch break. The simplicity involved in the online will process means no adult has a valid excuse for being without a will.
There are many factors to consider when comparing online will creation services in Canada. Here are the top ones on our list:
Creating a will doesn't have to be a burden any longer. At Top Consumer Reviews, we have done the work for you, looking at the best Canadian will creation services to assist you in making a choice for directing your final wishes so you can get on with the business of living.
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