TL;DR
The 2021 LegalWills.ca Will Survey reveals that only 35% of Canadian adults have a Will, a slight improvement from previous years, likely driven by the COVID-19 pandemic. Younger Canadians (under 35) remain the least likely to have a Will, with only 11% having one. Cost, procrastination, and perceived complexity remain the top barriers. Online Will services continue to gain market share as the most affordable and convenient option.
Originally published: April 27, 2021 | Last updated: October 22, 2025
The LegalWills.ca annual Will Survey is one of the most comprehensive studies of estate planning behaviour in Canada. The 2021 survey, conducted in partnership with research firm Angus Reid, polled over 1,500 Canadian adults on their Will-writing habits, motivations, and barriers. The results paint a detailed picture of where Canada stands on estate planning, and the significant gaps that remain.
What Percentage of Canadians Have a Will?
The 2021 survey found that approximately 35% of Canadian adults have a valid, up-to-date Will. This represents a modest increase from previous years and is likely attributable to the COVID-19 pandemic, which motivated many Canadians to address estate planning for the first time.
However, this still means that roughly 65% of Canadian adults, approximately 19 million people, do not have a Will. This is a significant gap with real consequences: without a Will, provincial intestacy laws determine how assets are distributed, a court-appointed administrator handles the estate, and parents have no legal mechanism to name a guardian for their children.
How Does Will Ownership Vary by Age?
Age is the strongest predictor of whether a Canadian has a Will. The survey data shows a clear pattern:
| Age Group | % With a Will | Key Observation |
|---|---|---|
| 18–34 | 11% | Lowest rate, most believe they are “too young” |
| 35–44 | 23% | Slight improvement, driven by parenthood |
| 45–54 | 37% | Approaching majority, but still under 50% |
| 55–64 | 52% | First age group where majority have a Will |
| 65+ | 66% | Highest rate, but still one-third without a Will |
The fact that even among Canadians aged 65 and over, one-third still do not have a Will is particularly concerning. This is the age group most likely to need one, and most likely to face health events that could impair their ability to create one in the future. As we explain in our article on why age doesn’t matter, every adult should have a Will regardless of age.
How Do Canadians Prefer to Write Their Will?
The survey asked Canadians who have a Will how they created it. The results show a market in transition:
- Estate planning lawyer: Remains the most common method overall, but declining year over year as cost and convenience concerns grow
- Online Will service: The fastest-growing segment, driven by affordability ($49.95 vs. $500–$1,500+), speed (20 minutes vs. weeks), and pandemic-era demand for remote services
- Will kit: A small but persistent segment, despite concerns about quality and legal validity
- Holographic (handwritten) Will: Rare, and not valid in all provinces
The market shows that most people who want to create a Will still prefer online Will services because these options prove to be the most popular choice. The cost of a Will remains the dominant factor in choosing a method.
Why Don’t More Canadians Have a Will?
The survey identified the top reasons Canadians give for not having a Will:
- Procrastination (44%): The most common reason by far. Most people acknowledge they need a Will but keep putting it off. People tend to avoid writing Wills because they feel uncomfortable about death and they believe they can wait until later to create their Wills.
- Perceived cost (28%): Many Canadians believe a Will is expensive. While lawyer-drafted Wills can cost $500–$1,500+, an online Will through LegalWills.ca costs $49.95.
- “Too young” (22%): A Persistent Myth, Particularly Among Those Under 35. All adults require a Will because accidents and sudden illnesses affect people of all ages without any age restrictions.
- Don’t know how (15%): Some Canadians are unsure where to start. Our complete guide to making a Will in Canada addresses this barrier directly.
- “Don’t have enough assets” (14%): Another myth. The purpose of a Will extends beyond asset distribution because it allows you to select an executor and designate child guardians and establish instructions for handling digital assets and personal wishes.
Are There Gender Differences in Will Writing?
The survey revealed modest but consistent gender differences:
- Most age groups show men have a slightly higher chance of creating a Will than women do.
- Women tend to mention financial expenses as their main obstacle.
- Women tend to make child guardian appointment their first priority.
- People from both genders state that they have not created a Will because they tend to delay their tasks.
The gender gap has narrowed in recent years, particularly in younger demographics where Will-writing rates are low for both men and women.
How Does Will Ownership Vary by Region?
Regional variations exist across Canada:
- British Columbia and Alberta tend to have slightly higher Will ownership rates, potentially driven by higher property values making estate planning feel more urgent
- Ontario maintains its position near the national average.
- Québec operates under a Civil Code legal system which creates its own distinct patterns because most people in this province choose to create notarial Wills which influence their Will-making process.
- The Atlantic provinces show lower Will ownership rates for young people but their rates rise when seniors create Wills.
What Are the Key Trends Over Time?
The 2021 survey results show several important trends which differ from the data collected during previous years.
- Online Will adoption is accelerating. Each year, a larger percentage of new Will writers choose online services over traditional lawyers. The pandemic brought about an immediate change to this system at its peak.
- Young people from Canada are beginning to participate in this activity at a slow pace. The under-35 demographic has shown a small increase in Will writing because people became more aware of pandemic risks and they could access budget-friendly online services.
- Cost awareness is increasing. More Canadians have become aware that they can get lawyer-drafted Wills through alternative methods which cost less money. The price of this service continues to drop but it has not completely removed financial obstacles which people encounter when they try to get a Will.
- People write their Wills through estate planning which continues to grow as a practice. More Will writers now create Powers of Attorney and Living Wills instead of keeping the Will as an independent document.
- Digital asset planning has become a standard practice which people now use for their planning needs. More Will writers now include provisions for online accounts and cryptocurrency and digital property in their documents.
Frequently Asked Questions
How was the 2021 Will Survey conducted?
The survey was conducted in partnership with Angus Reid, polling over 1,500 Canadian adults using a representative national sample. The margin of error is approximately +/- 2.5%.
Why is Canada’s Will-writing rate so low?
The combination of procrastination, perceived cost, and the misconception that Wills are only for the elderly or wealthy creates a persistent gap. Our analysis of why people avoid writing a Will explores these barriers in detail.
Has the Will-writing rate improved since COVID?
Yes, modestly. The pandemic motivated an estimated 39% of new Will writers in 2020–2021 to take action. The current data shows that less than half of the population has created a Will which means there is a big possibility to boost these numbers.
What is the cheapest way to write a Will in Canada?
An online Will service like LegalWills.ca costs $49.95 and produces a legally valid Will in approximately 20 minutes. This compares to $500–$1,500+ for a lawyer-drafted Will. See our detailed cost comparison.
Where can I find more data on Canadian Will-writing trends?
LegalWills.ca publishes annual survey results and analysis. Our article about Canadians without Wills provides additional statistics together with relevant information for your research.
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.
