If there is one touchy subject that many people do not like to think about, much less discuss, it is making a Will.
A recent survey showed that 50% of Canadians do not have a Last Will and Testament, with 15% saying that getting a Will written is too expensive.
With the advent of online Will kits, such as LegalWills and Willful, creating a Will is now fast, streamlined, and much more affordable than going through a lawyer.
This article will discuss Legal Wills vs Willful Wills, two of the most popular online Will kit service providers in Canada.
Key Takeaways
- Legal Wills and Willful are two of the most popular and reliable online Will kits service providers in Canada.
- LegalWills offers online Will kits for as low as $49.95 for individuals and $59.95 for couples. Willful charges $99 for its Legal Essentials package.
- LegalWills is available throughout Canada, but Willful only offers its services in 8 provinces.
LegalWills vs Willful: Compared
| Feature | LegalWills | Willful |
| Basic Will cost | $49.95 for 1 person; $63.96 for 2 people | $99 |
| Types/Packages | Last Will and Testament: $49.95 – $99.95; Estate Plan: $99.95 – $199.95; Power of Attorney: $29.95 – $49.95; Living Will (Power of Attorney for Health Care): $19.95 – $29.95; Life Locker: $29.95 – $49.95 | Legal Essentials (includes 1 Last Will and Testament for 1 adult): $99; Premium plan (for 1 person, 1 Last Will and Testament, 2 Powers of Attorney): $189; Premium Plan x 2 (for 2 adults): $329 |
| Will update fees | Free for the first year; $11.95 thereafter | Free lifetime updates |
| Promotions | 20% discount through the SAVVY20 promo code; Additional 40% off for spouses who sign up | 15% savings through this referral link; Up to $50 off when signing up for a premium plan for the whole family |
| Locations | All Canadian provinces and territories | Ontario, Alberta, British Columbia, Quebec, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, PEI, Nova Scotia, and Saskatchewan |
What is LegalWills?
LegalWills
Operating since 2000
Offer various types of Wills
Create a legal Will from $49.95
20% discount with SAVVY20
LegalWills, also called Canadian Legal Wills, is a leading online provider of legal documents like online wills, living wills, expatriate wills and Power of Attorney.
For over 23 years, LegalWills has been offering a range of legal documents that users can create at competitive prices. LegalWills website offers its members the choice to document their Last Will and Testament, Living Will, and Power of Attorney.
The Ontario-based online Will kit service provider uses the same software that lawyers use to prepare legally binding documents. This is why the services they offer in this area are far cheaper than a lawyer’s.
LegalWills is available across Canadian provinces and territories, except Quebec.
LegalWills Plans and Pricing
LegalWills offers two package types for various client needs. The following are some of its popular products:
- Last Will and Testament – A legal document that states a person’s final wishes and intentions on how he wishes to distribute his assets and wealth after he passes away
- Estate Plan – A detailed plan on how a person’s assets should be distributed in the event of his death while minimizing tax liabilities
- Power of Attorney – A legal document that an individual signs to give another person (or other people) the authority to manage his money on his behalf
- Living Will – A written legal document, also called an “advance directive” or “personal directive,” that conveys an individual’s wishes regarding his medical treatment during situations in which he is unable to communicate informed consent
- MyLifeLocker – A secure, encrypted online inventory of your assets and contacts that you can update throughout your lifetime and accessed by your Executor or representative at the appropriate time
LegalWills Popular Packages
| Package | Price (Individual) | Price (for 2 people) |
| Standard: Last Will and Testament | $49.95 | $63.96 |
| Advanced: Premium Last Will and Testament | $69.95 | $99.95 |
| Most Popular: Complete Estate Plan | $99.95 | $149.95 |
| Best Value: Premium Estate Plan | $129.95 | $199.95 |
LegalWills Build Your Own Packages
| Package | Price (Individual) | Price (for 2 people) |
| Last Will and Testament | $49.95 | $63.96 |
| Power of Attorney | $29.95 | $49.95 |
| Living Will (Power of Attorney for Health Care) | $19.95 | $29.95 |
| Life Locker | $29.95 | $49.95 |
LegalWills Promo Code
Getting a lawyer to create your Will entails paying hundreds of dollars. LegalWills provides a less expensive option with its product called Last Will and Testament, priced at $49.95.
But with a LegalWills promo code, you can get the same service at LegalWills.ca for a lower price.
When you apply the SAVVY20 promo code upon placing an order for an online Will, you get a 20% discount. Rather than paying the regular price of $49.95, you only pay $39.96.
If your spouse chooses to create a Will at LegalWills.ca and uses the SAVVY20 promo code as well, you get a 40% discount.
Furthermore, you have up to 1 year to complete your Will. There is no rush to itemize your details and assets for your Executor, and name guardians for your children, among other crucial Will-related tasks.
Related: Best Online Will Templates in Canada.
What is Willful?
Willful
Operating since 2017
Offer various Will packages
Create a legal Will from $99
15% exclusive discount
Willful is one of Canada’s foremost do-it-yourself online legal Will platforms, where you can create a Will for as low as $99 and in as fast as 20 minutes.
Since its launch in 2017, Willful has helped people create legal documents through technology, which Willful founders say, provides simplified end-of-life planning.
The online Will service provider offers an intuitive and straightforward platform for both individuals and families looking to create Willful wills in Canada.
Willful wills are available to residents of all Canadian provinces, including Ontario, Alberta, British Columbia, Quebec, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, PEI, Nova Scotia, and Saskatchewan.
Willful Plans and Pricing
Willful offers three plans with different pricing and features.
1. Legal Essentials
- Offers a single customized legal document at $99
- Ideal for individuals
- Includes a legally valid Will
2. Premium Coverage
- Includes features from the Legal Essentials package, plus up to three documents
- Ideal for families and for people with young children who need to be cared for upon the demise of parents/guardians
- Includes a Will, Power of Attorney documents, and planning of assets
3. Premium Coverage x 2
- Has all the features of the premium package for individuals, including four documents per adult
- Ideal coverage for families/couples
- Includes the benefits of Premium Coverage, such as Wills and Power of Attorney documents, list of assets, etc.
The prices of various Willful packages are as follows:
| Product | Price | Average Savings Compared to Visiting a Lawyer |
| Legal Essentials | $99 | Minimum of $200 |
| Premium Coverage (for individuals) | $189 | Minimum of $350 |
| Premium Coverage x 2 | $329 | Minimum of $850 |
Willful Discount Code
To take advantage of a significant discount at Willful, use a discount code when signing up for their online Will services.
Register at Willful using a discount link and get a 15% discount, which lets you create a legal Will online for less than $85. The discount is automatically applied upon checkout.
If you use the discount code to sign your family up for the Premium Coverage x 2 plan, you get savings of nearly $50. So, you get a premium plan for your whole family for less than $280.
Pros and Cons of LegalWills
Pros
- Competitive, per-item pricing
- Wills can be done in 20 minutes
- Spouses/partners get 40% off of their Will
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Supports all Canadian provinces and territories in English and French
- Option to print and mail the final Will to your residence
Cons
- Charges $11.95 for updates after the first year
- Not ideal for individuals involved in complex legal circumstances
Pros and Cons of Willful
Pros
- Transparent pricing
- Free unlimited updates
- Offers a carry-on business clause that allows an Executor to act on the owner’s behalf for their business interests
- Up to $850 savings compared to visiting a lawyer
- 30-day money-back guarantee
Cons
- Not the cheapest online Will kit available
Is LegalWills Safe?
LegalWills is safe as it has been in business for more than 21 years, is accredited by the Better Business Bureau with an A+ rating, and has numerous Legal Wills reviews from satisfied clients.
The company is operated by PartingWishes Inc., an independent Ottawa, ON-based privately held business that works with lawyers to offer legal document creation services to Canadians.
LegalWills.ca uses sophisticated digital encryption and security technologies to provide privacy and security. Data from your computer to the website undergoes authentication and encryption through 256-bit “SSL encryption,” which provides a highly-advanced level of encryption.
Is Willful Safe?
Willful is safe to use as it works with an external third party to conduct security audits at regular intervals, in addition to building security practices into its various aspects.
Willful uses a hosted software platform, Heroku, for its web application and associated database.
The website exclusively uses HTTPS (SSL) to ensure that data travelling between your browser and their server is encrypted using trusted standard mechanisms.
How Online Will Kits Work
An Online Will Kit is a convenient and affordable fill-in-the-blank type of document wherein you fill in vital information about you, your estate, your Executor, any beneficiaries, and other pertinent details.
Online Will kits guide you through the process of creating a Last Will and Testament and provide a streamlined method of doing it. They are a fast and affordable option for visiting a lawyer’s office to draw up a Will, which is typically more expensive.
LegalWills and Willful are among the many online Will kits offering services to people who need to create a Last Will and Testament, Living Wills, Power of Attorney and other legal documents but find lawyer services costly.
FAQs
A Will created using Willful and other online Wills kit and Will creation services are legally-binding if they meet the criteria for a legal will in Canada. For a Will to be legally binding, it has to be written or printed on paper, signed and dated by the testator (the deceased) and two attending witnesses who are not beneficiaries in the Will.
A Will written in Canada is valid if it is written following the laws of the province you reside in. It will also be good in most other provinces, provided it does not contradict the laws of the province where it is applied.
A will becomes invalid for several reasons. These include the following: if it is not written in physical form; if it is not signed by the testator; or if it is not properly witnessed and signed off by two people who are not named in the Will.
Yes. It is legal to write your own Will as there is no requirement to use the services of a lawyer to create your will. It then becomes a legally-binding document once you print it, sign it, and have it witnessed by two people unrelated to you.
While online wills are not designed to manage complex estates and complicated situations, they are considered in many cases as adequate and are legally-recognized in Canada. This is as long as the will is in paper format, has your original signature, and is signed by two witnesses.
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Great article, thanks Enoch!