⚠️ This guide was researched and updated in May 2026. Laws and regulations change frequently. For specific legal advice regarding your jurisdiction, please consult with local legal counsel.
The cost of a will in Canada runs from very little for a kit you complete yourself to several thousand dollars for a lawyer handling a complex estate. This guide sets out the typical range for each route and what tends to push the price up.
There is no single price. What you pay depends mostly on the route you choose and how involved your estate is, and professional fees also differ from province to province.
Price does not decide validity. A will is generally valid if it meets the formalities of the province or territory where it is made, whichever route produced it. In Quebec a notary, rather than a lawyer, commonly prepares a notarial will. See do I need a lawyer to write a will for what those formalities involve.
Cost tends to follow complexity and the amount of tailored advice, not the length of the document.
An estate left to a spouse or adult children sits at the lower end; trusts, a business or several properties push the price up.
Assets in more than one province or outside Canada usually need more careful drafting, which tends to cost more.
A guided service is cheapest; a lawyer or notary advising on your own family and tax position is where most of the extra cost, and value, lies.
Simple wills are often offered for a flat fee, while complex estates are more commonly billed by the hour.
The table below sets out typical Canadian market ranges for each route, what each usually includes and where the figures come from. They are a national overview for information only; always check a provider’s current price before deciding.
Typical Canadian market ranges for informational purposes only. Wills are governed province by province and territory by territory, so these are a national overview rather than the rule in any one of them. Prices vary by firm, province and estate complexity, and may change over time. Always check the source and consult a professional before deciding.
C$0 to C$60
A blank template or stationery-shop kit you complete yourself. No review of your circumstances, and a kit written for one province may not satisfy the formalities of another.
Source: savvynewcanadians.com (opens in a new tab) · as of 8 Sept 2026
C$70 to C$250
A guided questionnaire that produces a will, typically with province-specific signing instructions and, depending on the provider, powers of attorney or lifetime updates.
Source: savvynewcanadians.com (opens in a new tab) · as of 8 Sept 2026
C$500 to C$1,500
A lawyer drafts the will and advises on your own situation, usually for a flat fee. In Quebec a notary performs this work and may hold the will in the notarial register.
Source: ontario.ca (opens in a new tab) · as of 8 Sept 2026
C$2,000 to C$10,000+
Bespoke drafting for larger or more involved estates (trusts, a business, a blended family or property in more than one province), commonly billed hourly.
Source: wealthnorth.ca (opens in a new tab) · as of 8 Sept 2026
It depends on the route. A DIY kit costs little, an online will service usually sits in the low hundreds of dollars, and a lawyer or notary typically charges more, rising with the complexity of the estate. The dated ranges and their sources are in the table above; always check a provider’s current price.
Yes, if it meets the formalities of your province or territory. The trade-off with cheaper routes is usually less guidance, and a kit written for one province may not suit another.
There can be. Some providers charge for storage or updates, and you may pay again to revise a will after a marriage, separation, a new child or a move to another province.
Often, because a notary prepares it and it is recorded with the notarial registry. Whether that route suits you is a question for a notary or lawyer in Quebec.
Whichever route suits you, a valid, up-to-date will is what decides who inherits. Start yours with structured prompts, or find a legal professional for advice on your own position.
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