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Blog - May 9, 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.

TL;DR Probate is the legal process of validating a Will and granting the Executor authority to administer the estate. The Canadian provinces each establish different probate fees which range from zero charges for notarial Wills in Québec to 1.695% of estate value in Nova Scotia. Probate is required in most cases where the deceased owned […]

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Creating Your Will: What Not to Include

TL;DR Your Will should focus on distributing your assets, naming an Executor, and appointing a guardian for minor children. You should not include funeral instructions because your Will might not reach people before the funeral takes place. Your Will should not contain any illegal or public policy-violating conditions. Your Will should exclude all jointly owned […]

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

TL;DR A Last Will and Testament distributes your assets after you die. A Living Will (also called an advance directive or healthcare directive) documents your medical treatment preferences in case you become incapacitated and cannot communicate. These documents operate as separate legal instruments which fulfill distinct functions during their designated time periods. All Canadian residents […]

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

TL;DR Your existing Will in Canada will continue to hold legal validity when you move to another province but the new provincial laws will prevent it from working as you intended. The provinces maintain separate legal systems which determine how to handle Will execution and estate management and Powers of Attorney and the distribution of […]

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Estate Planning When Expecting: A Guide for New Parents

TL;DR The time when you expect a child requires you to build a new estate plan or make changes to your existing plan. New parents need three essential documents: a Will (naming a guardian for your child and an Executor for your estate), a Power of Attorney for finances, and a Power of Attorney for […]

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A young person’s guide to writing a Will

TL;DR You can create a Will at any age no matter how young you are. All people who own assets after they reach 18 years old (or 19 in some provinces) must create a Will if they want to protect their belongings and their surviving dependents and their death wishes. Young adults need special estate […]

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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?

TL;DR A holographic Will functions as a handwritten document which eliminates the need for witness signatures. The provinces of Ontario, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, New Brunswick, and Québec recognize this legal document. A holographic Will serves as a better option than no Will at all but it creates major legal problems because its unclear content makes […]

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A Government of Canada Will Kit: Does it exist?

TL;DR The Canadian government has not created an official Will Kit which serves as their standard government-issued document. The Canadian federal government does not offer citizens any resources which include Will templates and complete Will kits. The market offers several cost-effective options which produce valid legal documents through LegalWills.ca and other online Will services that […]

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How can you set Executor fees?

TL;DR Executors in Canada are entitled to compensation for their work. If the Will does not specify a fee, most provinces allow executors to claim up to 5% of the estate value as compensation, though the exact amount is subject to court approval. You can set executor fees directly in your Will, either a fixed […]

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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: April 2, 2026 TL;DR: A testamentary trust forms through your Will to start functioning after you pass away. The three main types of trusts consist of trusts which safeguard minor beneficiaries’ assets until they become adults and pet trusts which provide ongoing financial support for animal care […]

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Every document you need for a complete estate plan.

Originally published: October 29, 2020 | Last updated: March 26, 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 19, 2026 TL;DR: The destiny of your reward points together with airline miles after you pass away depends on the specific rules which each loyalty program has established. The beneficiaries of American Express can request their one-time redemption. Chase and Wells Fargo forfeit points. American Airlines […]

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Estate Planning in troubled times

Originally published: April 3, 2020 | Last updated: March 12, 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 pandemic emergency demonstrated every person needs to establish a Will and Power of Attorney and Living […]

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

Originally published: January 10, 2020 | Last updated: March 5, 2026 TL;DR: You must create a brand new Will whenever you want to update your document because you should avoid using handwritten changes or codicils. You need to update your will after any major life event which includes getting married or divorced or having a […]

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

Originally published: September 26, 2019 | Last updated: February 26, 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 ($49.95) 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 19, 2026 TL;DR: A Last Will and Testament functions as a legal document which directs how your estate will be distributed while allowing you to choose your Executor and child Guardians. All adults need to have one because state intestacy laws take control of their entire […]

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How much does a Will cost? And why?

Originally published: April 2, 2019 | Last updated: February 12, 2026 TL;DR: The total price of a Will varies from free to more than two thousand dollars but the cost does not guarantee superior document quality. Free blank-form kits do not fulfill legal requirements which makes them insufficient. Users of free online services have their […]

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Estate Planning: Best Advice for New Parents

Originally published: February 19, 2019 | Last updated: February 5, 2026 TL;DR: New parents must start their estate planning work without delay because they need to give it their full attention right away. The three most critical steps are: (1) name a guardian for your children in your Will, (2) set up a children’s trust […]

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Named Executor of a Will: Now What?

Originally published: February 15, 2019 | Last updated: January 29, 2026 TL;DR: The legal duties of an Executor require them to find all property left by the deceased person while they must handle debt and tax payments and return submissions and estate distribution according to the Will. The organization allows you to reject your assigned […]

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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: 2 April 2026 TL;DR: Including Your Pet in Your Will You can add your pet to your Will but UK law treats animals as property which prevents them from receiving direct inheritances. You should select a pet caregiver who will get a protected money amount which you […]

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

Originally published: 6 December 2021 | Last updated: 26 March 2026 TL;DR: Helping Parents Write Their Will LegalWills exists because I co-founded the company yet my parents never updated their original Will from their lifetime. I show the exact procedure which helped them complete their Wills online within 30 minutes for each document while spending […]

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The duties of an Executor of a Will

Originally published: 22 November 2021 | Last updated: 19 March 2026 TL;DR: Duties of an Executor An Executor is the person named in a Will to administer the deceased’s estate. The executor must perform three main tasks which involve finding the Will, obtaining probate authorization, and assessing all estate properties before they can settle debts […]

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Are you sure you know how a Will works?

Originally published: 12 November 2021 | Last updated: 12 March 2026 TL;DR. How a Will Works A written legal document called a Will establishes how your property will distribute after you pass away. The document requires you to create it during your mental fitness period while two independent witnesses must observe your signature and the […]

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Who will take care of your pets?

Originally published: 15 October 2021 | Last updated: 5 March 2026 TL;DR. Pets and Your Will The law forbids people from giving money directly to their animals. 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 […]

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How much does it cost to change a Will?

Originally published: 8 October 2021 | Last updated: 26 February 2026 TL;DR. Cost of Changing a Will The process of changing a Will will cost you nothing for address updates that need no official modification but it will cost more than £300 if you choose to work with a solicitor. A solicitor will charge between […]

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

Originally published: 19 February 2021 | Last updated: 19 February 2026 TL;DR. Writing a Will From Home You have the ability to create a legal Will document which lets you stay in your house. The LegalWills.co.uk interactive website lets you build your Will through an online system which completes the process within 20 minutes at […]

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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: 12 February 2026 TL;DR: The Wills Act 1837 requires testators to sign their wills while two witnesses observe the process and then sign the document themselves. The COVID-19 pandemic brought a temporary legal change which allowed people to witness documents through video conferencing. The basic signing rules […]

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Will writing in troubled times

Originally published: 3 April 2020 | Last updated: 5 February 2026 TL;DR: People need to start their estate planning work immediately because emergencies such as pandemics and economic instability and personal health issues always happen. You need to write a Will for family protection which LegalWills.co.uk allows you to complete from your home within twenty […]

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How to make a Will – for somebody else…today

Originally published: 15 March 2020 | Last updated: 29 January 2026 TL;DR: You can assist someone in creating their Will through LegalWills.co.uk by following three methods: (1) work together to use their online platform, (2) establish an account for them with their given details and then produce the document for their verification and signature and […]

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