Do You Need a Lawyer to Make a Will in Ontario?
Last updated 2026-06 · Ontario
Short answer: no. Ontario law does not require you to use a lawyer to create a valid will. What matters is that your will meets the formal requirements of Ontario's Succession Law Reform Act (SLRA) — not who typed it. You can write your own will, use an online will platform, or hire a lawyer, and all three can produce a legally binding document.
What Ontario actually requires
For a standard (non-handwritten) will to be valid in Ontario, it must be:
- in writing;
- signed by you (the "testator") at the end of the document;
- signed in front of two witnesses at the same time, who then sign while you watch; and
- made while you are at least 18 and of sound mind.
Critically, your witnesses cannot be people who inherit under the will (or their spouses). If a beneficiary witnesses your will, their gift can be void even though the will itself stands. This is the single most common mistake in DIY and online wills.
When DIY or an online will is perfectly fine
If your situation is straightforward — everything to your spouse and kids, one property, no business — a carefully completed online or template will can do the job. Ontarians increasingly use reputable Canadian online services that ask about your life and generate a province-compliant document you then print and sign with two witnesses.
When a lawyer is worth the money
Consider hiring an estate lawyer if you have a blended family or children from a previous relationship; a business, private-company shares, or rental properties; a larger estate where probate-fee planning (such as multiple wills) saves real money; beneficiaries with disabilities (where a Henson trust may matter); or any expectation that someone might contest the will. A lawyer's value is judgment and drafting that survives challenges — not the paperwork itself.
What does it cost?
A simple lawyer-drafted will in Ontario typically runs a few hundred dollars; couples' packages and complex plans cost more. Online wills are usually cheapest, and a handwritten (holograph) will costs nothing — though it carries the highest risk of being contested.
Bottom line
You don't need a lawyer to make a valid will in Ontario — you need a will that meets the SLRA's signing and witnessing rules. Match the tool to your complexity: online for simple estates, a lawyer for blended families, businesses, or larger estates.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a lawyer charge to write a will in Ontario? A simple will is usually a few hundred dollars; complex plans or couples' packages cost more. Are online wills legal in Ontario? Yes, as long as you print the document and sign it with two qualifying witnesses. Ontario does not yet clearly allow fully electronic signing. Can I write my own will in Ontario? Yes. A fully handwritten, signed will (a holograph will) is valid with no witnesses, and a typed will is valid if witnessed correctly. Does a will need to be notarized in Ontario? No. Notarization isn't required for validity, though a notarized affidavit of execution makes probate smoother.
Not legal advice. General information about Ontario law as of 2026. Confirm specifics with an Ontario estate lawyer before acting.
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