Originally published: November 16, 2016 | Last updated: February 26, 2025
Most Canadian adults understand the importance of having a Will yet they fail to create one. The actual number of people without current Wills exceeds official statistics because outdated Wills continue to exist. People who do not create Wills give four standard reasons which all have direct solutions.
Despite knowing they should have a Will, most Canadian adults do not have one. Survey data shows the number is even higher than commonly reported when outdated Wills are factored in. The reasons people give for not having a Will fall into four predictable categories, and every one of them has a straightforward answer.
“I’ll Do It Tomorrow”, The Procrastination Problem
Procrastination is the number one reason Canadians do not have a Will. Writing a Will has no external deadline; unlike taxes, there is no penalty date forcing action. The consequences of not having a Will only materialize when you die, and most people do not expect that to happen soon. This creates a perpetual “tomorrow” mentality. The fix is simple: recognize that a Will takes about 20 minutes to complete online. That is less time than an episode of television. The hardest part is starting; once you do, the guided process at LegalWills.ca makes the rest straightforward.
Procrastination stands as the main reason why most Canadians fail to create a Will. People need to complete their Wills at any time because the process lacks a specific deadline which differs from tax deadlines that require immediate action. The absence of a Will becomes apparent to people who pass away although most individuals do not think about their death when they are alive. People continue to delay their actions because they believe everything will start “tomorrow.” The solution requires users to understand that an online Will creation process needs approximately 20 minutes to finish. The process takes less time than watching a standard television show. LegalWills.ca provides a guided process which helps users through every stage after they complete their initial step.
Writing a Will forces you to confront your own mortality, and many people find this uncomfortable. But a Will is not about death, it is about protecting the people you love while you are alive. It is about ensuring your children have a designated guardian, your spouse inherits your home, your executor can manage your affairs efficiently, and your wishes are respected. Reframing a Will as an act of love and responsibility rather than a death document makes the process feel very different. The 20 minutes you spend writing your Will gives your family years of protection and peace of mind.
“I Don’t Want to Think About Dying”
Many Canadians assume that writing a Will requires a lawyer and costs hundreds or thousands of dollars. While lawyer-drafted Wills do cost $500 to $1,500+, online Will services like LegalWills.ca offer legally valid, province-specific Wills for $49.95. The legal validity is identical. Canadian law does not require a lawyer to prepare your Will. Compare the $49.95 cost to the thousands of dollars your family could spend on court applications, legal disputes, and estate administration if you die without a Will. Not having a Will is far more expensive than having one.
People must face their death when they create a Will which creates an uncomfortable situation for most individuals. But a Will is not about death, it is about protecting the people you love while you are alive. The system protects your children through guardian assignment while your spouse receives your home and your executor gains complete authority to manage your affairs according to your instructions. People view the process differently when they understand Wills serve as loving family protection tools instead of death-related documents. The twenty minutes which you spend on Will writing will provide your family with enduring protection together with complete peace of mind.
Some people believe their estate is too small, they are too young, or their family will “figure it out.” All of these assumptions are wrong. Estate size is irrelevant, even a modest estate creates legal complications without a Will. Age is irrelevant, accidents happen at any age. And families frequently do not figure it out; estate disputes are among the leading causes of permanent family breakdowns. Every adult in Canada with any assets, any dependants, or any preferences about what happens to their belongings needs a Will. For a complete debunking, see Do I Need a Will? and ten myths about Canadian Wills.
“It Costs Too Much Money”
The single most effective strategy is to remove friction. Traditional Will-writing involves booking appointments, travelling to offices, and paying high fees, all of which create excuses to delay. An online service eliminates every barrier. You can write your Will tonight, from your couch, for less than the cost of a meal out. The barriers to writing a Will are psychological, not practical, and the solution is to simply start. Visit LegalWills.ca and begin the guided process. In 20 minutes, you will have the most important document your family will ever need.
Tim Hewson is one of the founders of LegalWills.ca.
He has over 20 years of experience helping people to write their Will and other estate planning documents. He has been interviewed by many of the major news media outlets including CTV, Global News, The Toronto Star, and other leading Canadian publications. He has also contributed to a number of financial planning books.
Throughout his career, Tim has written extensively on the subject of Will writing and estate planning.
