Online wills are legally recognized across Canada, although not all companies offer services in every province. For instance, Willful is available in Ontario, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Nova Scotia, Manitoba, and British Columbia. If you live outside of these provinces, an online will is not an option for you. The answer to the question of whether online wills are legally valid is yes, as long as they are completed correctly. In fact, a handwritten will (known as a holographic will) can be signed without witnesses and still be valid in court.
You can create a legally binding will approved by an attorney from the comfort of your own home. This document, often referred to as a last will and testament, outlines your wishes in the event of death. This means that provincial laws will be used to determine how to distribute assets, appoint an executor, and select guardians for minor children. If you make a purchase through our site, DobberNationLoves will earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. An online will is an affordable and legally valid option if your estate planning needs are simple.
Will kits are usually inexpensive but are only suitable for those with very basic assets. I have provided information specific to the online wills process for residents of British Columbia, as my sister is from Vancouver. Currently it is not legal to sign or store your will online in Canada, which seems strange since almost any other process can be done online. Your affidavit of execution confirms the validity of your will and is necessary if it needs to go through probate. A lawyer-drafted will may take several weeks or even a month before it is finished. If you choose not to keep an account with us after the first year, your down payment is all you'll pay.
Finally, an online will must be printed on paper and signed in front of two witnesses to be valid. In Ontario, the Inheritance Law Reform Act dictates how your estate will be distributed if you die without a will. In this post I discuss some of the online legal will kits available in Canada, their cost and the pros and cons of using them. Having a legal will is an important part of estate planning; however, many Canadians do not have one. One reason for this may be the perceived cost involved and another may be people's reluctance to talk about their own mortality with others.
If you have dependents or assets that you would like to pass on to beneficiaries, it is essential that you create a will.
