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.
What Products/Services Does Willful Offer?
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.
How Much Does It Cost To Make A Will With Willful?
Willful offers three payment levels:
- $99 for one will.
- $189 for one will plus a power of attorney and healthcare emergency representative.
- $329 for two wills for you and your spouse, plus a power of attorney and healthcare emergency representative and wishes for you both.
Pros And Cons Of Using Willful vs. Using A Lawyer
Pros
- Cost-effective. The cost to have a will drafted up by a lawyer can cost you hundreds of dollars. But Willful online service can get you a comprehensive will for less than $100.
- Transparent pricing. There are no hidden fees with Willful. Instead, you’ll have the option to choose from three simple price plans that best suits your needs.
- Quick and easy. You can get a will created in as little as a few minutes from the comfort of your home.
- Free unlimited changes. If anything changes in your life, you can quickly and easily alter your will to reflect such changes.
- Resource centre. You’ll have access to many articles and tutorials that will walk you through the process and teach you everything you need to know about creating a comprehensive will.
Cons
- Mitigating estate taxes can be tricky without the help of a lawyer.
- Not ideal for people of high net worth.
- More complex arrangements are harder to make online.
Additional Reading
What Support Does Willful Offer?
You can speak with a customer support representative in a few ways:
- By phone: 1-(888)-213-0516
- By email: hello@willful.co
- By contact form on the website
- By mail:
- 488 Wellington St W #204, Toronto, ON M5V 1E9
Which Provinces Is Willful Available In?
Currently, Willful is available for residents
- British Columbia
- Alberta
- Saskatchewan
- Manitoba
- Ontario
- Quebec
- New Brunswick
- Nova Scotia
Options Available
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 |
Options Available To Residents Of Quebec
| 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 |
Is Willful Safe?
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.
How Do You Create A Will With Willful?
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:
- Three signatures, including yours and those of two other competent adults who sign at the same time.
- The original copy of your signed documents must be stored in a safe place where the executor or a family member is able to access them.
Is Willful Right For You?
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.
Final Thoughts
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.
