Do You Need a Lawyer to Make a Will in British Columbia?

Let's clear this up first: in British Columbia, hiring a lawyer is a choice, not a legal requirement. A will is valid because it follows the rules in the Wills, Estates and Succession Act (WESA), not because a lawyer prepared it. Write it yourself, build it through an online service, or sit down with a lawyer — each route can produce a will the courts will honour.

What WESA actually demands

For a will to stand up in B.C., it must be:

• in writing;
• signed by you at the end;
• signed in the presence of two witnesses together, who then sign in front of you; and
• made when you are at least 16 — notably younger than most provinces — and mentally capable.

Unlike Ontario or Alberta, B.C. does not recognize unwitnessed handwritten (holograph) wills, so the two-witness step is not optional here. Your witnesses also shouldn't be beneficiaries; a gift to a witness can be presumed void unless a court is persuaded otherwise.

When doing it yourself is reasonable

If your estate is simple — a partner, a couple of kids, one home, no company — a well-built online will or a careful template can serve you. B.C. is actually the most modern province for this: since December 2021 it even allows fully electronic wills. Just make sure the platform is built for B.C. law.

When a lawyer earns their fee

Bring in an estate lawyer when life is layered: a blended family, stepchildren you want to provide for, a business or rental portfolio, a beneficiary with a disability, significant assets where probate planning matters, or any whiff of a future dispute. WESA also gives B.C. courts an unusually strong power to vary a will that fails to adequately provide for a spouse or child — a reason complex families especially benefit from professional drafting.

The cost picture

Expect a few hundred dollars for a straightforward lawyer-drafted will, more for couples or trusts. Online wills are the budget option; a do-it-yourself will costs nothing but your time and the risk of getting it wrong.

Bottom line

No lawyer is required in B.C. — a compliant, properly witnessed will is. Use an online tool for a simple estate, and pay for advice when blended families, businesses, or larger estates raise the stakes.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a lawyer charge to write a will in British Columbia? Often a few hundred dollars for a simple will; complex plans and couples' packages cost more. Are online wills legal in British Columbia? Yes. B.C. even allows fully electronic wills, and printed online wills signed with two witnesses are valid. Can I write my own will in British Columbia? Yes, but it must be typed or written and signed in front of two witnesses — B.C. does not accept unwitnessed handwritten wills. Does a will need to be notarized in British Columbia? No. Notaries can prepare wills in B.C., but notarization is not a validity requirement.

Not legal advice. General information about British Columbia law as of 2026. Confirm specifics with a B.C. estate lawyer or notary before acting.