Canadian Legal Wills

September 20, 2024

Today's Wills and Probate

Wills in North America vs England & Wales

Tim Hewson joins the Today's Wills and Probate podcast to discuss LegalWills – his Canadian-based technology company providing will writing and estate planning services in Canada and North America. On the general trends over the past 20+ years in the sector Tim bemoans the speed of innovation and change, identifying it often needs legislative intervention and lobbying to enact. But greater acceptance of digital in our daily lives has made online wills more accessible and acceptable, which, says Tim, can only be a good thing.

August 19, 2024

The Business Line Podcast

Are Digital Wills the Future? The SHOCKING TRUTH About Wills... and Why You Need One NOW!

Today on the show we sit down with the Owner & Founder of LegalWills, Tim Hewson! In this episode, we explore the inception of LegalWills, the hurdles of disrupting the legal industry, and the journey from bootstrapping to success. Tim shares insightful stories about entering different markets, the evolution of digital will creation, and the importance of having a will for financial planning. A must-watch for aspiring entrepreneurs and those intrigued by the intersection of law and technology!

July 23, 2024

Christopher Liew, CTV News

Do you need a lawyer when making a will in Canada?

Today, anybody can easily create their own will without legal counsel by using affordable online tools like Willful, LegalWills, or other will templates. These DIY will kits make it easy to list your assets, itemize your belongings, and name the beneficiaries who will receive them. One of the main advantages of creating your own will is the cost savings. Lawyers don't come cheap, and DIY options allow you to allocate those funds elsewhere.

June 17, 2024

Erica Alini, The Globe and Mail

Need a will? Why banks may give you a discount to get it done

While reputable online will-making software has been available for years, these partnerships are likely one sign of the financial industry's effort to get ready for what has come to be known as “the great wealth transfer,” as the affluent generation entering retirement begins to pass on assets to their younger heirs. "I think potentially there's more at stake because of this wealth transfer for two reasons. Firstly, more wealth in the baby boomers and a more pressing need in the next generation – the millennials and Gen Z – needing that," said Tim Hewson, chief executive officer of LegalWills, a web-based will-drafting service.

June 9, 2024

Christopher Liew, CTV News

You need an estate plan, but do you need a lawyer to do it properly?

Estate planning can seem daunting, especially if you think it requires hiring a lawyer. After all, good lawyers don't come cheap, and it's hard to trust a cheap lawyer. Thankfully, you can create a will without a lawyer using DIY will kits or online templates from services like Willful or LegalWills.ca.

June 9, 2024

Lesley-Anne Scorgie, Toronto Star

Your adult children are asking about your estate plans. Why you shouldn't be offended, and embrace the talk

You need a will and if you don't have one yet, or if it's out of date, get one set up as soon as you're done reading this article. You don't need to go through a lawyer anymore if your situation is straightforward. These days, you can make a digital will with companies like Willful, LegalWills and Epilogue Wills, and the cost starts around $100.

January 23, 2024

Jason Pereira, Fintech Impact Podcast

Legal Wills with Tim Hewson

Jason Pereira interviews Tim Hewson, CEO of LegalWills, an online platform providing millions of users with a simple and accessible solution for creating legal and compliant wills. Tim discusses the importance of having a will, the challenges of estate planning, and how Legal Wills aims to demystify the process.

August 21, 2023

Tim Hewson, Fintech

Should You Get AI to Write Your Will?

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its potential have captivated the world. It is a powerful tool, but should you entrust the creation of your last Will and testament to AI?

May 18, 2023

Fintech Newsdesk

Canada's First End-to-End Digital Solution for Creating and Notarizing Wills

Two leading online platforms, LegalWills and NotaryPro, have an extended partnership to make it even easier and more convenient for Canadians to create and virtually commission or notarize their Wills in the first fully digital process.

May 17, 2023

Jean Dondo, Wealth Professional Canada

Clients can now prepare a will without leaving their home

LegalWills and NotaryPro unveil ground-breaking partnership.

March 13, 2023

David Edey, Executor Help Podcast

Confident and Prepared: The Emotional Impact of Planning Your Legacy with a Will (Part 2)

David concludes his conversation with Tim Hewson, CEO of LegalWills. Learn how creating a Will can reduce stress and anxiety.

March 6, 2023

David Edey, Executor Help Podcast

Why You Shouldn't Wait: The Benefits of Creating or updating a Will now (Part 1)

Over 55% of Canadian and American adults do not have an estate plan which includes a Will. David has a conversation with Tim Hewson, CEO of LegalWills, on the importance of planning for the future and why getting a Will is critical.

January 13, 2023

Patty Handysides, The Shift

The Importance of a Will

Meridian, Ontario's largest credit union and second largest in Canada announced new partnerships with both LegalWills.ca and Willful, two of Canada's leading online estate planning companies. An Angus Reid survey found that 57% of Ontarians don't have a will, and of those who do, 1 in 10 are out of date.

November 18, 2022

Derick Fage, ROGERS TV, Daytime Ottawa

Daytime Ottawa TV: Making a Will Just Got Easier!

Tim Hewson from LegalWills shares details on the importance of Wills, and their online service which makes it simple to prepare a Will.

November 17, 2022

Ellen Roseman, The Canadian MoneySaver Podcast

Urgent! You Really Need a Will

Ellen Roseman speaks with Tim Hewson from LegalWills.ca about why everyone needs a Will and the problems that are created when there isn't one upon death! They also talk about reasons that people give why they haven't yet gotten one and tips and tricks when you do decide to get a Will.

November 16, 2022

Reshmi Nair & Scott MacArthur, The Rush, NewsTalk 1010

LegalWills.ca on NewsTalk 1010

What happens if you die without a Will? We find out with Tim Hewson, co-founder and CEO of LegalWills.ca.

November 1, 2022

Tim Bolen, CHCH TV, Morning Live

CHCH TV - Morning Live: When there's a Will, there's a way to know where your estate goes

Did you know that over half of Canadians don't have a Will? To help change that during Make a Will month, we welcomed the co-founder and CEO of legalwills.ca, Tim Hewson.

August 25, 2022

Noelle Boughton, Wealth Professional Canada

How clients can take care of loved ones when they die

With 80% of people having no wills or an outdated one, there is a cheaper, convenient option on the market that might help you persuade your clients that they should finally get their wills done. LegalWills.ca began 20 years ago to give people the opportunity to write their own will. While it's not the only online option, it is one of the cheapest at $49.95.

July 14, 2022

David Cooper, iHeart Radio

LegalWills.ca on iHeart Radio

What happens to your social media account after you die? We find out with Tim Hewson, co-founder and CEO of LegalWills.ca.

July 11, 2022

The Startup Coach, founder of TorontoStarts

LegalWills.ca on The Startup Talk Podcast

Tim Hewson, founder of LegalWills.ca, joins the Startup Coach on this episode of The Startup Talk Podcast to discuss the need and reluctance to do Wills, the changing regulatory environment, expanding globally, and more.

June 28, 2022

Jeff Sammut, Canada Now

Canada Now: What happens to your social media accounts after you die?

What happens to your social media accounts after you die? Half of Canadians haven't got a Will. We'll show you the fastest, simplest option out there with Tim Hewson from LegalWills.ca. Listen to Jeff Sammut interview LegalWills.ca CEO, Tim Hewson, on the Sirius Satellite Radio, Canada Now program.

February 15, 2022

Rob Carrick, Globe and Mail

Have you answered the 'what happens to my family if I die suddenly' question?

What would happen to your family if you died suddenly? If you have an up to date will and term life insurance, you can be confident you've done your best to provide an answer.

January 12, 2022

Canadian Association of Gift Planners

How Do Online Wills Fit Into the New Gift Planning Landscape?

Online Will writing is exploding in Canada, fueled by entrepreneurs who see a need in the market, better technology, changing demographics, and of course, COVID-19 making us all more aware of our mortality.

January 5, 2022

Best Startup Canada

Tim Hewson: Removing the Barriers To Preparing Estate Planning Documents

Most Canadians don't have a Will, but everybody needs one. We are addressing the barriers to preparing a Will by making the process affordable and convenient.

December 31, 2021

Chad Pawson, CBC News

Why you should make a will in 2022 and why it's never been easier in B.C.

Legalwills.ca is an online platform that was prepared for B.C.'s Dec. 1 changes by partnering with e-signature company Syngrafii. "The ability to sign online is a great idea in our modern age," said Royce Burningham, who executed his will with the company on Dec. 1.

December 28, 2021

Sigrid Forberg, MoneyWise

Canadians 'freaked out' by COVID rush to make plans for their money after death

Online estate planning company LegalWills.ca noted its sales spiked 300 per cent in March 2020. In response, the business ran a survey in February 2021 in which two-thirds of participants said writing a will was something they'd been meaning to do for a while, with about half indicating that the pandemic influenced them to draw up or update the document.

December 22, 2021

Jennifer Ferreira, CTV News

Why fewer wills are being stored in lawyer vaults

A survey conducted by LegalWills.ca earlier this year shows that more than half of participants decided to write or update their wills within the past 12 months because of the pandemic.

December 20, 2021

Lesley-Anne Scorgie, Toronto Star

Start your family on the path to financial wellness

If you've got an old will, it's possible it's invalid now. Let this be your cue for a refresh. You can do your will through a lawyer (typically when your situation is a bit more complicated) or through an online platform like... Legalwills.ca.

December 14, 2021

Elizabeth Raymer, Canadian Lawyer Magazine

Choosing the kind of last will and testament to make

LegalWills is one of a few companies to offer online will-making services across Canada, including in the province of Quebec, and is the first (and to date only) such service to offer the forms in French as well as English.

April 5, 2021

Lisa Risom, CTV News

Estate planning sees a boom during the COVID-19 pandemic

Canadian Legal Wills surveyed 10,000 clients who used their service in the last year and 53 per cent of people said COVID-19 was a factor in making them write their will, (Tim) Hewson said. "You don't write a will for your own benefit, you write it for the people you are leaving behind and if you don't write a will you are leaving chaos behind for your family".

August 17, 2020

Kaitie Fraser, CBC News

People are eager to have their wills made amid COVID-19 concerns

"We've certainly seen this year that trigger for writing a will has never been higher," said Tim Hewson, CEO and co-founder of LegalWills. About one will is completed every minute on LegalWills, said Hewson, who also saw a record number of people using the service in April.

August 5, 2020

Travis Dhanraj, Global News

Estate planning company offers Canadian education workers free wills ahead of September

LegalWills is offering Canadian education workers free wills and Health Care Power of Attorney documents in August as debate continues over how to reopen schools safely in the fall amid the coronavirus pandemic. "We wanted to do our part to support the education workers who are returning to school and risking their own health and safety during these uncertain times," said Tim Hewson, the estate planning company's chief executive officer and co-founder.

July 31, 2020

Dragan Sutevski, Entrepreneurship in a Box

Top 3 Online Will Makers in 2020

LegalWills is one of the biggest online will makers in the world. It offers legal (and licensed) estate planning services in the US, Canada, and the UK. But LegalWills offers one of the most cost-friendly services of this caliber. It also offers you free updates for a year and discounts for your other family members.

April 23, 2020

Ross McLaughlin, CTV News

COVID-19 prompts more people to make wills

"April has been our busiest month in our 20 years of offering our services, by some margin," Tim Hewson, President of LegalWills.ca, said in an email to CTV News.

April 1, 2020

Maham Abedi, Global News

Coronavirus has 'unprecedented' number of Canadians making a will

A similar uptick in usage is occurring at another online legal document creation company called Canadian Legal Wills. Tim Hewson, the co-founder and president of the company, said the rise in demand has been "unprecedented" across the company's operations in Canada, United States and the United Kingdom.

January 31, 2020

Truc Nguyen, CBC

Finally going to make a will? Here's what the experts say you should consider

For instance, for less than one hundred dollars, LegalWills.ca does offer a lawyer-review service for your documents to offer what Hewson describes as "reassurances, suggestions, recommendations," but that report is provided via email. "We do have [this service] as a safeguard because we do have options that allow people to become quite creative with what they want to put in," says Hewson.

January 4, 2020

Erica Alini, Global News

4 financial resolutions to really get a handle on your money in 2020

Thankfully, crossing off both a will and life insurance from your to-do list is getting easier and easier if you have a simple financial situation. Solutions like Willful and Legal Wills allow Canadians to make wills and set up a power of attorney online and for a fraction of the cost of seeing a lawyer.

December 4, 2019

Ian Hull, The Globe and Mail

Technology tools to make estate planning easier

LegalWills.ca provides users access to wills and powers of attorney templates so that they can create their own estate-planning documents and store copies of them online securely after they have been executed. Although these services might lack personal connection and personalized legal advice, they may be a suitable alternative to formal lawyer-assisted estate planning for individuals who favour convenience and expediency.

October 21, 2019

How to Save Money

How To Write A Will: A Guide For Canadians

You can either write it on a blank piece of paper in your own handwriting or use an online interactive will service (LegalWills.ca). If anything, remember that your will must be signed and dated by yourself, and two attending witnesses that are not beneficiaries or your spouse, for good measure.

September 27, 2019

The Chronicle Journal

Golden arches and a sick singer; In-The-News is a little squirrely for Sept. 27

Among the big errors is assuming that all assets will go to the surviving spouse if there are children. Failing to have someone in charge of the estate can also tear families apart, says Tim Hewson, president of LegalWills.ca.

September 26, 2019

Ross Marowits, The Canadian Press

Dying without a will can expose families to financial hardships, say experts

"If you care about any people while you're alive to leave them without a will you're leaving people with such a mess," says Tim Hewson, president of LegalWills.ca, an online service available in Canada outside Quebec. Failing to have someone in charge of the estate can tear families apart, he said in an interview. "Families who have previously got along just fine, if there's no process, there's nobody in charge, then that can cause a lot of animosity and acrimony in families."

June 11, 2019

Tom Drake, Maple Money

Are Canadian Will Kits or Online Wills Worth It?

LegalWills.caa has been providing Canadians with online estate planning products for almost 20 years, a fact which lends to their credibility in the industry. That said, their top selling point is affordability. With Legalwills.ca, you can receive a last will and testament for as little as $49.95, while a couple's package that includes a will, and power of attorney for you and your spouse, is only $144.

May 29, 2019

Sam Juric, The Walrus

Will Millennials Be the First Generation to Stop Fearing Death?

Tim Hewson was thirty-two when he co-founded Legal Wills, in 2000, after he realized how ill prepared he and his friends were: one night while out for after-work drinks, his group realized not one person at the table had a will. He soon left his job at a tech company and cofounded his web service, where clients can pay to have their wills prepared online.

October 27, 2018

Erica Alini, Global News

Money 123: Importance of having a Will

Like saving for retirement, writing a legal will is a financial must-do. In this edition of our Money 123 series, online journalist Erica Alini looks at what can happen when someone dies without a will. LegalWills.ca has been online since 2003. It operates all over English-speaking Canada and is planning to launch with an English-language website in Québec next year. (But the company is also working on a French-language service to be rolled out throughout the country, co-founder Tim Hewson told Global News.)

October 20, 2018

Erica Alini, Global News

7 bad things that can happen if you don't have a will — and how to get one for cheap

But perhaps most importantly, LegalWills allows for unlimited free updates to your will, which means you don't have to pay a lawyer if, say, you have another child or get divorced. Still, if you'd like to get a legal opinion on your online draft, the site will connect you to a lawyer who'll review what you have.

July 31, 2018

Robb Engen, The Toronto Star

Canadians' legal will options, made easy

LegalWills.ca is the most affordable and comprehensive online will service. Its longevity is an advantage, as many of its will have gone through the probate process without any reported issues.

November 6, 2017

Jean Ko Din, The Catholic Register

From age to age, a guide for your Will

Hewson, who is also CEO of LegalWills.ca, has 17 years of experience under his belt providing Canadians step-by-step support for creating Wills. Having a Will is only the first task, he said. Maintaining the document throughout your lifetime ensures that your estate plan goals will be carried out in your best interest and in the best interest of your heirs.

May 3, 2017

Bruce Sellery, Moolala, Money Made Simple

Fast and Simple Way To Make a Will

Half of Canadians haven't got a Will. We'll show you the fastest, simplest option out there with Tim Hewson from LegalWills.ca.

June 21, 2016

Ross McLaughlin & Carly Yoshida, CTV News

Is an online will right for you?

LegalWills.ca creates custom will documents online for about $40. To create an online will, users set up an account, answer a series of questions, and then print the documents. The site promises the entire process will only take about 20 minutes. Since hiring a lawyer to draft a will can potentially cost more than $1,000, the price is attractive for many people looking for a cheaper alternative.

June 15, 2016

Lynne Butler, Estate Law Canada

New survey shows 74% of Canadians don't have an up-to-date will

This company is an online will-writing service that uses software to create an interactive experience that results in the customer having a new will. Here is one of the statements made in their report: "The service at LegalWills.ca uses the exact same software used by estate planning lawyers across Canada. So the final product is usually word-for-word identical to a Will produced by a law office."

June 23, 2015

Jason Heath, Financial Post

When a do-it-yourself will is better than no will at all

Staples has long offered fill-in-the-blank will kits for $19.95. Companies like LegalWills.ca offer interactive online wills for $49.95. And Walmart jumped into the will market last year, offering $99 wills through Axess Law Offices in some of their Ontario stores.

July 8, 2010

Angela Self, The Globe and Mail, Personal Finance

Baby steps to financial preparation

With a little homework and prep on your part, you can minimize the cost of working with a lawyer. Will preparation checklists will help. Or, you could draft your own will with help from such websites as LegalWills.ca

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In The Media

In Partnership with

In Partnership with

Today's Wills and Probate

The Business Line Podcast

Christopher Liew, CTV News

Erica Alini, The Globe and Mail

Christopher Liew, CTV News

Lesley-Anne Scorgie, Toronto Star

Jason Pereira, Fintech Impact Podcast

Tim Hewson, Fintech

Fintech Newsdesk

Jean Dondo, Wealth Professional Canada

David Edey, Executor Help Podcast

David Edey, Executor Help Podcast

Patty Handysides, The Shift

Derick Fage, ROGERS TV, Daytime Ottawa

Ellen Roseman, The Canadian MoneySaver Podcast

Reshmi Nair & Scott MacArthur, The Rush, NewsTalk 1010

Tim Bolen, CHCH TV, Morning Live

Noelle Boughton, Wealth Professional Canada

David Cooper, iHeart Radio

The Startup Coach, founder of TorontoStarts

Jeff Sammut, Canada Now

Rob Carrick, Globe and Mail

Canadian Association of Gift Planners

Best Startup Canada

Chad Pawson, CBC News

Sigrid Forberg, MoneyWise

Jennifer Ferreira, CTV News

Lesley-Anne Scorgie, Toronto Star

Elizabeth Raymer, Canadian Lawyer Magazine

Lisa Risom, CTV News

Kaitie Fraser, CBC News

Travis Dhanraj, Global News

Dragan Sutevski, Entrepreneurship in a Box

Ross McLaughlin, CTV News

Maham Abedi, Global News

Truc Nguyen, CBC

Erica Alini, Global News

Ian Hull, The Globe and Mail

How to Save Money

The Chronicle Journal

Ross Marowits, The Canadian Press

Tom Drake, Maple Money

Sam Juric, The Walrus

Erica Alini, Global News

Erica Alini, Global News

Robb Engen, The Toronto Star

Jean Ko Din, The Catholic Register

Bruce Sellery, Moolala, Money Made Simple

Ross McLaughlin & Carly Yoshida, CTV News

Lynne Butler, Estate Law Canada

Jason Heath, Financial Post

Angela Self, The Globe and Mail, Personal Finance

Get The Latest News

Interested in Learning More?