Making a Will in Aurora, Ontario
Last updated 2026-06 · Ontario
Aurora, about 62,000 residents, is an affluent York Region town with high home values and many established and professional families. For estates of this size, the 1.5% probate tax is worth planning around.
What a valid will requires in Aurora
Ontario's Succession Law Reform Act requires a will in writing, signed at the end, and witnessed by two non-beneficiary adults present together. You must be 18 and capable. A fully handwritten holograph will is valid without witnesses; fully electronic wills aren't clearly recognized — sign on paper.
Probate and cost in Aurora
Aurora estates are probated through the Ontario Superior Court of Justice for York Region (Newmarket). The Estate Administration Tax is about 1.5% above $50,000 — roughly $14,250 on a $1,000,000 estate. Beneficiary designations, joint tenancy where appropriate, and (for business owners) multiple wills reduce the probated estate.
If you die without a will in Aurora
A married spouse takes the first $350,000 plus a share; a common-law partner inherits nothing. Higher-value, blended-family estates especially need a will to match intentions.
Getting started
Given typical Aurora estate values, many residents benefit from a lawyer's advice; simpler estates can use a reputable Ontario online will signed with two witnesses. Add Powers of Attorney for Property and Personal Care.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a will cost in Aurora? A simple lawyer-drafted will is usually a few hundred dollars; complex plans cost more. How much is probate in Aurora? About 1.5% above $50,000 — roughly $14,250 on a $1M estate. How can I reduce probate on a large estate? Beneficiary designations, joint tenancy, and multiple wills.
Not legal advice. General information about Ontario law as of 2026. Confirm specifics with an Aurora estate lawyer.
More from Ontario
- Making a Will in Toronto, Ontario
How to make a valid will in Toronto: Ontario's signing and witnessing rules, the 1.5% Estate Administration Tax, intestacy, and where Toronto probate is filed.
- Making a Will in Ottawa, Ontario
How to make a valid will in Ottawa: Ontario's witnessing rules, the 1.5% Estate Administration Tax, intestacy, and where Ottawa probate is filed.
- Making a Will in Hamilton, Ontario
How to make a valid will in Hamilton: Ontario's witnessing rules, the 1.5% Estate Administration Tax, intestacy, and where Hamilton probate is filed.
- Making a Will in Brampton, Ontario
How to make a valid will in Brampton: Ontario's witnessing rules, the 1.5% Estate Administration Tax, intestacy, and where Peel Region probate is filed.