LegalWills.ca Review

Do you have a will in place? If you don’t, you may want to consider making one sooner rather than later.

A will is a legal document that determines how your estate is divided upon your death. While they are not a legal requirement in Canada, if you pass away without one, it falls on the province in which you reside to divide your estate, and you may be surprised at the formula for distribution.

For example, only two provinces have everything going to your spouse if you also have children. For this reason, it’s definitely in your, and your family’s, best interest that you have a will in place before you pass.

So, how do you make a will? Well, there is more than one way of doing it but in this LegalWills.ca review, I’m going to share how you can make a valid will quickly and easily online. Plus, if you like what you read, I have a code to save you 20%.

Are online wills legal?

Before I get into discussing LegalWills.ca and their product, let’s quickly discuss online wills. After all, when it comes to writing wills most of us think about going to a lawyer’s office for a formal document that often comes with a hefty price tag.

You can do it that way, but it is also perfectly legal to use an online will as well. In fact, doing your will online is often easier, faster, and cheaper than taking the traditional lawyer’s office route. That said, there are a couple of rules you need to be aware of before completing your will online.

You are not creating an “online Will”, you are simply using an online tool to prepare your Will.

In Canadian law, an online signature on a will is not legally binding. So, once you have completed your will, you need to print it and sign it with two witnesses in order for it to be legally binding. Then, as you would with any other will, store it in a safe place. If you make any adjustments or changes, you will need to repeat the physical signing process.

About Legalwills.ca

LegalWills was founded in 2000 and has since become Canada’s leading online estate planning service. The idea came up when a group of friends met up for afternoon drinks and realized that none of them had a will in place, despite having good jobs families, and children. Two of these friends, Tim Hewson and Henry Raud, took it upon themselves to create an affordable, easy, online will service. And so Legalwills.ca was born.

Today, LegalWills provide their Will writing services across Canada, the USA, and the UK. They work with local attorneys and consistently update and refresh their services to make sure that they are of the highest quality and in accordance with local laws.

How much does a will with LegalWills cost?

Cost is one of the main concerns when it comes to creating a will, but when it comes down to LegalWills costs, you may be surprised at the affordability. What you’ll pay depends on what your needs are.

• $39.95 for a single will
• $89.95 for a complete estate plan including a Will, financial Power of Attorney and Living Will (Healthcare Directive)
• For couples, the spouse gets a 40 percent discount off everything, so a Mirror Will for a spouse is $23.97

Compare these prices to spending about $1,000 or more with a lawyer and, as you can see, an online will maker can save you quite a bit of money. 

LegalWills markets themselves as the most cost-effective option on the market. While I do not know the pricing for every business that offers similar products, I can attest to the fact that LegalWills is cheaper than Willful.

Even better? If you use my referral link, you’ll get 20% off any service with LegalWills.ca.

Writing a will with LegalWills

Creating a will with LegalWills.ca is fast and easy and can be done from the comfort of your home.

It’s a step-by-step process that allows you to save your information along the way. According to the LegalWills website, the process should only take you about 20 minutes.

As per a typical legal document, you will be asked for your personal information. You will then be asked questions about how you want to allocate your estate, family heirlooms or important possessions, and even pets.

Some individuals may need to think a bit about these questions, but if you are someone who already has a plan in mind then you can probably fly through this process in about 10-15 minutes. They make it very clear and simple.

LegalWills standout features

So, what makes LegalWills.ca stand out from other online will makers? A few things.

To start with, as mentioned above, LegalWills has incredibly competitive pricing that makes them one of the most (if not the most) affordable option on the market.

Secondly, LegalWills prides themselves in making the entire process easy in terms of plain language for the instructions and the ability to create your will from the comfort of your home.

Thirdly, LegalWills allows you to make unlimited updates, for free as long as you are a member. Just remember, the updated wills need to be printed and signed to be valid!

It’s when you get into the service, you realize how flexible it is. For example, allowing joint Executor appointments, and unrestricted distribution plans for your estate. So, your plans aren’t constrained by limitations in the software, which is certainly the case for other online Will writing services

Another great feature is The Keyholder Advantage, a unique messaging service that allows you, the maker of the will, to share the exact location of your will and leave a detailed list of assets for your executor. When you do pass away, LegalWills will pass on this information to the specified contact.

Finally, if you are worried, there is the option to have your will reviewed by a lawyer. This is not necessary but, for some, it’s an added peace of mind.

Final thoughts on LegalWills.ca

A will, while not mandatory, is something I think most individuals should take the time to create. The fact that LegalWills makes it so easy to do from your home at a very reasonable price makes them a great choice in my opinion. Their extra features are pretty impressive and show that they have put a lot of work and effort into creating a safe, legitimate document to better help Canadians.

You also have the peace of mind working with a company that has been offering the service for 20 years. Many of their documents have gone through the probate process, and LegalWills has never once heard of there being an issue with one of their documents.

My LegalWills.ca review is positive. If you find yourself in need of a will, check them out now. Click below to get 20% off your will.