Making a Will in Windsor, Ontario
Last updated 2026-06 · Ontario
Windsor, about 229,000 residents and Canada's southernmost city, sits across the river from Detroit and is home to many cross-border families and auto-sector workers. Cross-border assets add a wrinkle that makes planning worthwhile.
What a valid will requires in Windsor
Ontario's Succession Law Reform Act requires a will in writing, signed at the end, and witnessed by two adults present together who don't benefit. 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 Windsor
Windsor estates are probated at the Ontario Superior Court of Justice estates office in Windsor (Essex County). Ontario's Estate Administration Tax is about 1.5% above $50,000 — roughly $14,250 on a $1,000,000 estate. If you own U.S. property or accounts, get advice — cross-border estates can face extra steps and taxes that planning can ease.
If you die without a will in Windsor
Intestacy gives a married spouse the first $350,000 plus a share, and a common-law partner nothing. Cross-border and blended families especially benefit from a will that coordinates assets in both countries.
Getting started
Simple, Ontario-only estates can use a reputable online will signed with two witnesses; cross-border or complex estates should see a Windsor estate lawyer. Add Powers of Attorney for Property and Personal Care.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a will cost in Windsor? A simple lawyer-drafted will is usually a few hundred dollars; online wills cost less. How much is probate in Windsor? About 1.5% above $50,000 — roughly $14,250 on a $1M estate. What if I own property in the U.S.? Get cross-border advice — a single will may not be enough.
Not legal advice. General information about Ontario law as of 2026. Confirm specifics with a Windsor estate lawyer.
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