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Blog - March 22, 2026

Canadian Legal Wills Blog

Articles related to estate planning documents in Canada

Probate in Canada – What it is, what it costs, how to reduce fees.

Must my Will go through probate? To understand whether or not your Will needs to go through the probate process, you have to understand what happens after you have died. Hopefully you have written a Last Will and Testament. In your Will you name an Executor. This is the person that you entrust to gather […]

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Most Common Will-Writing Mistakes

Writing your Will is important. At LegalWills we make it as easy as possible, but here are 14 mistakes to be avoided.

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Creating Your Will – What Not to Include

Many people have a pretty good understanding of why having an estate plan is so valuable – with a Will, they are in control of what happens to their estate on their passing. But whilst most are clear on what they want to include in the Will, many are unaware of what they should not […]

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Living Will and Last Will: What’s the Difference?

Planning for the later years of your life requires the right legal documents. A common area of confusion is understanding the differences between a last will and a living will. Although a living will and a last will may sound like they cover the same territory, these documents serve entirely different purposes; knowing how they […]

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Moving to Another Province: Do You Need to Rewrite Your Will?

Moving is a big process, with a lot of moving parts. Here’s why rewriting your will shouldn’t be missed on your to-do list when you move to a different province in Canada. It is easy to think that since Canada has a federal legal system, your will would be valid everywhere. However, this is not […]

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Estate Planning When Expecting: A Guide for New Parents

Adding a child to the family—whether that be from having a baby, adopting a child, or gaining a stepchild—is an incredibly exciting time in your life. There’s so much to think about. Scheduling birthing classes, planning the new nursery, picking out the right car seat, baby-proofing the house, and choosing your baby’s health care provider are […]

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A young person’s guide to writing a Will

Any time is the right time to create a Will. In fact, it is best to create a Will when you are younger and update it over time. Preparing a Last Will and Testament is a process that is often considered long, expensive, and daunting for many people. It doesn’t have to be that way, […]

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All about Trusts – how to include a Trust in your Will

How does a Trust work with a Will? In Canada, you can set up different types of trusts within the Will, we give a complete overview here.

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The Holographic Will – what is it and when should you use one?

At LegalWills.ca we allow you to prepare your own Will. This occasionally creates confusion because people think that the end result is a handwritten Will. This further confuses people because they have read that some provinces (notably BC) do not accept a holographic Will as a legal document. But there are a number of errors […]

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A Government of Canada Will Kit – Does it exist?

Every Canadian adult should have a Will in place. It is a document that should be written as you turn 18 or 19, and should be updated throughout your life as your circumstances change. If we know that everybody should have a Will, it’s a reasonable question: is there a Government of Canada Will Kit […]

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U.S. Legal Wills Blog

Articles related to estate planning documents in the United States

Testamentary Trusts – what are they and how are they created?

Originally published: May 9, 2024 | Last updated: March 16, 2026 TL;DR: A testamentary trust is a trust created through your Will that only takes effect after your death. Three key types exist: trusts for minor beneficiaries (protecting inheritance until a specified age), pet trusts (funding care for your animals), and lifetime interest trusts (protecting […]

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Every document you need for a complete estate plan.

Originally published: October 29, 2020 | Last updated: March 9, 2026 TL;DR: A complete estate plan requires five documents: (1) a Last Will and Testament, (2) a Financial Power of Attorney, (3) a Living Will with Healthcare Proxy and Advance Directives, (4) documented funeral wishes, and (5) an inventory of assets. You do not typically […]

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What Will Happen To Your Reward Points And Miles After Your Death?

Originally published: September 4, 2020 | Last updated: March 2, 2026 TL;DR: What happens to your reward points and airline miles after death depends entirely on each program’s policy. American Express allows a one-time redemption by beneficiaries. Chase and Wells Fargo forfeit points. American Airlines and United may transfer miles with documentation and fees. Delta […]

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Estate Planning in troubled times

Originally published: April 3, 2020 | Last updated: February 23, 2026 TL;DR: During the COVID-19 crisis, USLegalWills.com offered free Wills and Power of Attorney documents to frontline healthcare workers who were risking their lives to keep communities safe. The crisis underscored why every adult needs a Will, Power of Attorney, and Living Will in place […]

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Updating your Will. When? How? and How much?

Originally published: January 10, 2020 | Last updated: February 16, 2026 TL;DR: Always update your Will by preparing a completely new document — never use handwritten changes or codicils. Update after any major life change: marriage, divorce, birth of a child, or changes to people named in your Will. Attorney updates cost $600–$1,000. At USLegalWills.com, […]

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Write your own Will – 10 reasons why it just makes sense.

Originally published: September 26, 2019 | Last updated: February 9, 2026 TL;DR: You do not need a lawyer to write a Will. Every US state allows you to prepare your own. Online services like USLegalWills.com ($39.95) produce a document word-for-word identical to a lawyer-prepared Will ($500–$1,000+). The 10 key advantages: it is affordable, convenient, educational, […]

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Last Will and Testament – What it is, When you need it, How to write it.

Originally published: September 11, 2019 | Last updated: February 2, 2026 TL;DR: A Last Will and Testament is a legal document that distributes your estate and makes key appointments (Executor, Guardians for children). Every adult needs one — dying without a Will means state intestacy laws decide everything. You do not need a lawyer for […]

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How much does a Will cost? And why?

Originally published: April 2, 2019 | Last updated: January 26, 2026 TL;DR: A Will costs between $0 and $2,000+, but price does not always equal quality. Free blank-form kits are legally inadequate. Free online services often sell your personal data. Estate planning attorneys charge $300–$1,000+ but most use the same software as online services. Online […]

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Estate Planning: Best Advice for New Parents

Originally published: February 19, 2019 | Last updated: January 19, 2026 TL;DR: New parents should prioritize estate planning immediately. The three most critical steps are: (1) name a guardian for your children in your Will, (2) set up a children’s trust to manage their inheritance until a suitable age, and (3) purchase term life insurance. […]

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Named Executor of a Will: Now What?

Originally published: February 15, 2019 | Last updated: January 12, 2026 TL;DR: An Executor (personal representative) is legally responsible for gathering the deceased’s assets, paying debts and taxes, filing returns, and distributing the estate according to the Will. You can refuse the role or resign at any time. Executors are entitled to compensation — either […]

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U.K. Legal Wills Blog

Articles related to estate planning documents in England and Wales

Can I include my pet in my will? | Providing for your pets by leaving money in a pet trust in your estate plan

Originally published: 23 January 2023 | Last updated: 16 March 2026 TL;DR – Including Your Pet in Your Will Yes, you can include your pet in your Will, but pets cannot inherit directly because UK law classifies them as property. Instead, you name a pet caregiver and leave a conditional sum of money for your […]

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My parents didn’t have a Will. This is what I did.

Originally published: 6 December 2021 | Last updated: 9 March 2026 TL;DR – Helping Parents Write Their Will As the co-founder of LegalWills, even my own parents did not have an up-to-date Will. This article describes the step-by-step process I used to help them create their Wills online in under 30 minutes each, at a […]

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The duties of an Executor of a Will

Originally published: 22 November 2021 | Last updated: 2 March 2026 TL;DR – Duties of an Executor An Executor is the person named in a Will to administer the deceased’s estate. Key duties include: locating and securing the Will, applying for a Grant of Probate, valuing all assets, paying debts and Inheritance Tax, and distributing […]

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Are you sure you know how a Will works?

Originally published: 12 November 2021 | Last updated: 23 February 2026 TL;DR — How a Will Works A Will is a written legal document that directs how your estate is distributed after death. It must be written while you are mentally competent, signed in the presence of two independent witnesses, and it only takes effect […]

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Who will take care of your pets?

Originally published: 15 October 2021 | Last updated: 16 February 2026 TL;DR — Pets and Your Will You cannot leave money directly to a pet — UK law treats pets as possessions. Instead, you name a pet caregiver in your Will and leave a sum of money to that person, conditional on them caring for […]

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How much does it cost to change a Will?

Originally published: 8 October 2021 | Last updated: 9 February 2026 TL;DR — Cost of Changing a Will The cost of changing a Will ranges from £0 (address corrections that do not require a change) to £300+ if you use a solicitor. A codicil costs £50–£150 through a solicitor. The most cost-effective approach is an […]

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How to write a Will without leaving your home – is it possible?

Originally published: 19 February 2021 | Last updated: 2 February 2026 TL;DR — Writing a Will From Home Yes, you can write a legally valid Will without leaving your home. Use an online interactive Will service like LegalWills.co.uk to create your Will in about 20 minutes for £49.95. The only in-person requirement is having two […]

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Signing your Will – how the recent law change can help you finally write your Will.

Originally published: 26 July 2020 | Last updated: 26 January 2026 TL;DR: The Wills Act 1837 requires that a Will be signed by the testator in the presence of two witnesses, who must also sign. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the law was temporarily updated to allow video witnessing (witnesses observe via video call). While that […]

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Will writing in troubled times

Originally published: 3 April 2020 | Last updated: 19 January 2026 TL;DR: Times of crisis — whether a pandemic, economic uncertainty, or personal health concerns — remind us that estate planning should not be delayed. Writing a Will is one of the most important things you can do to protect your family, and it can […]

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How to make a Will – for somebody else…today

Originally published: 15 March 2020 | Last updated: 12 January 2026 TL;DR: You can help someone else write their Will using LegalWills.co.uk in three ways: (1) sit together and work through the online service, (2) create an account on their behalf using information they provide, then print the document for them to review, sign, and […]

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