A will is perhaps one of the most important documents you will ever create in your lifetime, and if you don’t already have one, perhaps Willful can be the platform you use to create one. The goal of Willful is to help Canadians with simple estates obtain a will easily, quickly, and affordably without having to make a costly visit to a lawyer.
The online platform has streamlined the will-making process and was designed with the help of real-life estate attorneys. Simply enter a few important pieces of information, print and sign your documents, and you’ve got a binding will that will help ensure that your estate and loved ones are properly taken care of according to your wishes.
Let’s check out Willful in a little more detail to see if this is something that you should consider to create your will.
Willful offers a platform where Canadians can create their wills completely online without the need to visit a lawyer. There are three price plans to choose from, with the more expensive plans offering more comprehensive features. You’ll have access to educational resources and tutorials as well as customer service to help you navigate through the process of creating a will.
The exact features that Willful provides will depend on the package that you purchase, which we’ll get into more detail below.
Willful offers three payment levels:
You can speak with a customer support representative in a few ways:
Currently, Willful is available for residents
See below for options available for residents of Quebec.
| The Essentials | Premium | Family Plan | |
| Cost | $99 | $189 | $329 |
| Potential Savings | $200 | $450 | $850 |
| Documents Included | 1 document included: – Last Will and Testament | 3 documents included: – Last Will and Testament – Power of Attorney for Property – Power of Attorney for Personal Care | 3 documents included per adult: – Last Will and Testament – Power of Attorney for Property – Power of Attorney for Personal Care |
| Best For | Simple will needs | When beneficiaries are different from your spouse | When you want separate wills and power of attorney documents for both yourself and your spouse in one account |
| Features | – Unlimited changes – Choose how your estate is to be distributed – Make your final wishes known – Appoint representative and beneficiaries – Select guardians for your children and plan their inheritance | – Unlimited changes – Choose how your estate is to be distributed – Make your final wishes known – Appoint representative and beneficiaries – Select guardians for your children and plan their inheritance – Establish an emergency property and financial plan – Plan for urgent medical needs | – Unlimited changes – Choose how your estate is to be distributed – Make your final wishes known – Appoint representative and beneficiaries – Select guardians for your children and plan their inheritance – Establish an emergency property and financial plan – Plan for urgent medical needsMirrors wishes for your spouse |
| Will | Notarial Will | |
| Cost | $99 | $349 |
| Documents Included | One personalized legal will | One personalized legal will |
| Features | – Appoint executor, guardians, and beneficiaries – Choose how your estate is to be distributed – Plan charitable donations – Select guardians for your children and plan their inheritance – Select guardians for pets and plan for their care | – Appoint executor, guardians, and beneficiaries – Choose how your estate is to be distributed – Plan charitable donations – Select guardians for your children and plan their inheritance – Select guardians for pets and plan for their care – One virtual execution by a notary – One will registration with the Chambres des Notaires – No probate required after you pass away |
Considering how sensitive the information is that wills tend to have, you want to make sure that it is kept safe and secure, especially when it’s submitted online. Thankfully, Willful uses encryption to protect your information, and all information provided is used according to the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA).
Want to compare Willful to Epilogue Wills? Check out our in-depth comparison.
Creating a will with Willful is simple and can be completed in as little as 20 minutes. To start, you’ll need to provide your full name and location to make sure the service is available where you reside.
You can then create an account and choose the plan that best suits your needs. The website’s technology will customize the legal documents that best represent your requirements. Detailed instructions will accompany the form so that you follow legal requirements and avoid any errors.
Throughout the creation of your will, you can establish an executor and trustee, divide your estate among your beneficiaries, assign a power of attorney, and detail your healthcare wishes.
Once your will is complete and you’ve paid for the particular plan you’ve chosen, you’ll get access to the documents to print and sign. If any changes need to be made at any time, you can go back and edit the will as required.
A lawyer is not required to create or notarize your last will and testament or power of attorney, but there are a few things that be required to make your documents legally binding:
A tool like Willful can be great for those who have a simple estate, which is the case for most Canadians. If you own property in Canada, have investments, and want to make the choice on who to assign as a guardian to your children or pets, then Willful could be a great option.
You can also use it to leave behind special gifts and cash to specific individuals and may find it useful if you are married or are in a common-law relationship. However, Willful may not be ideal if you have a complex estate, a high net worth, or reside outside of where Willful provides its services.
Willful is a great tool for anyone with a simple estate. If that’s you, there’s no need to visit a lawyer, which could save you hundreds of dollars. But, if your estate is a bit complex, you may want to have an attorney draft up a personalized will for you and your family.
Lisa has been working as a personal finance writer for more than a decade, creating unique content that helps to educate Canadian consumers in the realms of real estate, mortgages, investing and financial health. For years, she held her real estate license in Toronto, Ontario before giving it up to pursue writing within this realm and related niches. Lisa is very serious about smart money management and helping others do the same.
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