TL;DR
LegalWills.ca offers free Wills for education workers across Canada, including teachers, educational assistants, school administrators, and support staff. This initiative recognizes the essential role educators play in Canadian communities and their historically low rates of estate planning.
Originally published: August 5, 2020 | Last updated: September 3, 2025
LegalWills.ca provides free Will preparation for education workers throughout Canada. Teachers, educational assistants, school administrators, and support staff can access our complete online Will service at no cost. This is not a limited-time promotion, it is an ongoing commitment to the people who dedicate their careers to educating Canada’s next generation.
Why Did LegalWills.ca Decide to Offer Free Wills for Education Workers?
The decision was driven by three key factors:
- Education workers are essential but underserved. Teachers and school staff are among the most important professionals in any community. They shape the future by educating children, yet they are often stretched financially, particularly early-career educators and support staff who earn modest salaries.
- Estate planning rates among educators are low. Surveys consistently show that roughly 50% of Canadian adults do not have a Will. Among younger professionals, including many teachers, the rate is even lower. The cost of a traditional lawyer-drafted Will ($500–$1,500 or more) is a significant barrier.
- The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the urgency. When schools were asked to reopen during the pandemic, education workers faced real health risks. Many were confronting their own mortality for the first time and realizing they had no estate plan in place. LegalWills.ca wanted to remove every barrier to getting this essential document prepared.
Who Qualifies as an Education Worker?
The free Will offer applies broadly to anyone working in the Canadian education system, including:
- Teachers (elementary, secondary, post-secondary)
- Educational assistants and teaching aides
- School administrators (principals, vice-principals)
- School board employees
- Guidance counsellors
- Librarians working in schools
- School support staff (custodians, administrative assistants, IT support)
- Early childhood educators
- Substitute teachers and occasional teachers
Both active and retired education workers qualify. There is no requirement to be a member of a specific union or association.
What Is Included in the Free Will for Education Workers?
Education workers receive the same comprehensive Will service available to all LegalWills.ca customers. The Will covers:
- Appointment of an executor (or liquidator in Québec)
- Distribution of assets to named beneficiaries
- Appointment of a guardian for minor children
- Digital asset instructions
- Pet care provisions
- Funeral and burial wishes
- Charitable bequests
- Specific gifts and residual estate distribution
The document is legally valid in all Canadian provinces and territories when properly signed and witnessed. Education workers can also access our Power of Attorney and Living Will services.
How Do Education Workers Access the Free Will?
The process is simple:
- Visit LegalWills.ca and begin creating your Will
- When prompted, identify yourself as an education worker
- Complete the guided questionnaire (approximately 20 minutes)
- Print, sign, and have two witnesses sign your Will
No coupon code is required. No proof of employment is needed at signup. LegalWills.ca trusts education workers to self-identify honestly.
Why Is Estate Planning Important for Teachers and School Staff?
Education workers face the same estate planning needs as everyone else, but several factors make it particularly important:
- Pension benefits: Most education workers have pension plans (such as the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan or similar provincial plans). A Will ensures pension survivor benefits are directed correctly and that any lump-sum death benefits go to the intended recipients.
- Young families: Many teachers are parents of young children. A Will is the only way to legally name a guardian for minor children.
- Group life insurance: Most school boards provide group life insurance. A Will coordinates this benefit with the overall estate plan.
- Property and savings: Even modest estates benefit from a Will. Without one, provincial intestacy laws determine asset distribution, which may not reflect the individual’s wishes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this offer available in all provinces?
Yes. The free Will for education workers is available in every Canadian province and territory, including Québec (where the document follows Civil Code requirements).
Can retired teachers use this service?
Yes. Both active and retired education workers qualify for a free Will through LegalWills.ca.
Does the free Will include unlimited updates?
Yes. Education workers can update their Will at any time at no additional cost. Life changes, such as marriage, divorce, the birth of a child, or a change in assets, should trigger a Will review.
What if I already have a Will?
You can still use LegalWills.ca to create a new, updated Will. The new Will automatically revokes any previous Will when properly executed.
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.
