Estate planning in troubled times

Originally published: April 3, 2020 | Last updated: July 30, 2025

Crisis situations, whether a pandemic, natural disaster, or personal health emergency, have a way of reminding us about the importance of having our affairs in order. When the future feels uncertain, the documents you put in place today protect your family regardless of what happens tomorrow.

Why Is Estate Planning Urgent During a Crisis?

Most people put off estate planning because they assume they have plenty of time. A crisis changes that calculation. People at any stage of life face the possibility of experiencing unforeseen accidents together with sudden medical illnesses and unexpected occurrences. Your essential documents protect your family from any situation that may arise:

• A Last Will and Testament allows you to direct your assets to specific individuals instead of following the standard rules which provincial intestacy laws apply.
• A Financial Power of Attorney allows someone to handle your financial matters when you become unable to do so because of incapacitation.
• A Living Will allows you to specify your medical treatment choices while your healthcare proxy gains authority to make decisions for you.

These legal documents require about 30 minutes to generate through LegalWills.ca while providing you with permanent protection which you can maintain through regular updates when your situation evolves. For the full list of documents you need, see our guide to every estate planning document.

What Was the FreeWill4Docs Campaign?

The COVID-19 pandemic forced healthcare workers who worked on the front lines to choose between their personal safety and their duty to protect others. Medical personnel including doctors and nurses and caregivers and hospital staff members dedicated themselves to patient care through continuous shifts while they faced insufficient protective gear which endangered their health in order to safeguard others.

LegalWills.ca launched the FreeWill4Docs campaign, offering free Wills to all frontline healthcare workers across Canada. Healthcare professionals who supported the campaign used their professional contacts to promote the initiative while thousands of healthcare workers used the opportunity to organize their personal matters.

What Should You Do Right Now?

You do not need to wait for a crisis to prepare your estate plan. The best time to create your Will is now; while you are healthy, thinking clearly, and able to make considered decisions about your family’s future. Key steps:

1. Create your Will; name an executor, guardian for your children, and describe your asset distribution
2. Create your Power of Attorney, name someone to manage your finances if you lose capacity
3. Create your Living Will, document your medical treatment preferences and name a healthcare proxy
4. Sign all documents with two witnesses and store them safely
5. Register your Will with the Canada Will Registry

At LegalWills.ca, customers can create their complete estate plan through a 30-minute process which costs $99.95 and includes a Will with Power of Attorney and Living Will. The action stands as one of the most vital steps which you should take to protect your family.