Why Writing a Will Now Beats the Cost of Delay

Most Canadians know they should have a will. Most do not. The gap is not about cost or complexity. It is about the absence of a deadline.

A will does not need a lawyer. It does not need a notary. In most provinces, a handwritten will signed by the writer and two witnesses is legally valid. Online services like Willful and LegalWills.ca charge between $39 and $99 for a basic document. That is less than a single hour of a lawyer's time.

The real cost of delay shows up after death. Without a will, provincial intestacy laws decide who gets what. The spouse may not inherit everything. The children may not get the family home. The estate goes through probate, which adds months and fees. The government appoints an administrator, often a relative who must navigate the process without clear instructions.

Canadians who own a home, have children, run a business, or hold investments outside a registered account face the biggest exposure. A will lets them name an executor, appoint guardians for minor children, and direct how assets are split. It also lets them choose who does not inherit, which intestacy law does not allow.

The common objection is that life changes and the will will need updating. That is true. A will is a living document. Updating it takes the same few steps as writing the original. The alternative is leaving a mess for the people left behind.

Several provinces have moved to electronic wills during the pandemic, and the trend is toward simpler recognition. British Columbia now allows electronic signatures on wills. Ontario is considering similar changes. The legal barrier is lower than most people assume.

The decision point is not about dying. It is about who gets to decide. Without a will, the provincial government writes the plan. With one, the writer does.