Make a legal will in British Columbia
A legally-valid BC will, drafted online in about 20 minutes — built on the Wills, Estates and Succession Act, with a step-by-step signing guide so it's witnessed correctly.
What makes a will valid in British Columbia.
Grounded in the Wills, Estates and Succession Act (WESA). The wizard surfaces these rules in plain language as you go — no need to memorise them up front.
- Who can make a will
- Anyone 16 or older who is mentally capable of doing so.
- WESA, s. 36
- Witnesses required
- Two. Both must be present together when you sign, and both must sign the will in your presence.
- WESA, s. 37(1)
- Who should witness
- Use two disinterested adults. A gift to a person who witnesses your will (or their spouse) is presumptively void, so beneficiaries should not witness.
- WESA, ss. 40, 43
- Notarization
- Not required for a will to be valid in BC — your signature plus two qualifying witnesses is the standard.
- WESA, s. 37
- Handwritten (holographic) wills
- BC does not recognize unwitnessed handwritten wills as a separate valid form. A non-compliant document can only be saved at a court's discretion, after death — so a properly witnessed will is the reliable path.
- WESA, s. 58 (curative power)
- Wills variation
- A spouse or child who is not adequately provided for may apply to court to vary the will. We surface this in the wizard so you can plan around it.
- WESA, s. 60
From Vancouver to Victoria to the Okanagan, every BC will follows the same Wills, Estates and Succession Act framework — and the wizard handles it end to end.
How to make your British Columbia will online.
- 1Answer plain questions
About 20 minutes of plain-language questions. Your answers save as you go, so you can pause and resume anytime.
- 2Review your documents
Preview your British Columbia will and the rest of your estate plan in full before you pay anything.
- 3Pay only when ready
From $79 to download — one time, no subscription, with lifetime free updates and a 30-day refund.
- 4Print and sign
Print your will and sign it with two witnesses, following the included WESA signing guide.
Your BC will-readiness checklist.
Tick what's true. If most of these fit, you can finish your British Columbia will in one sitting — and you can save and come back anytime if not.
0 of 5 ready — you don't need every box ticked to begin. The wizard walks you through the rest.
Start my will — freeQuick answers for British Columbia.
Do I need a lawyer to make a will in BC?
Not for most household estates. BC's Wills, Estates and Succession Act (WESA) lets any mentally-capable person aged 16 or older make their own will, signed in front of two witnesses who are present together. Legalify produces a BC-specific will plus a step-by-step signing guide. Complex situations — blended families, dependants who need support, business interests, or assets outside Canada — still deserve a lawyer's or notary's review, and we'll point you there when they come up.
Who can witness my will in British Columbia?
Two adults who are present at the same time when you sign, and who then sign the will while you watch. A beneficiary (or a beneficiary's spouse) can technically witness, but any gift to a witness is presumptively void under WESA s. 43 — so choose two people who don't inherit anything under the will. The wizard generates a witnessing guide with the exact steps.
Is my online BC will valid without notarization?
Yes. BC wills do not need to be notarized to be valid. They require your signature plus two qualifying witnesses present together, each signing in your presence (WESA s. 37). Storing the signed original safely — and registering its location with the BC Wills Registry at Vital Statistics — is recommended, and the included instructions cover both.
Are handwritten (holographic) wills legal in BC?
No — British Columbia does not recognize unwitnessed handwritten wills as a separate valid form, unlike some other provinces. If a document doesn't meet the formal requirements, a court may still recognize it under its curative power (WESA s. 58), but that is discretionary, happens only after death, and can be slow and costly. A typed, properly witnessed will avoids that risk.
What is BC's wills variation law?
Under WESA s. 60, a spouse or child who feels they were not adequately, justly, and equitably provided for can apply to court to vary the will. BC's rule is broader than most provinces, so it's worth planning around — the wizard flags it where relevant. If you intend to leave a spouse or child out, that is a situation where a lawyer's advice is especially valuable.
Honest, one-time pricing.
Free to draft your British Columbia will. Pay only when you're ready to download — from $79, with no subscription, lifetime free updates, and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
- Built on the Wills, Estates and Succession Act (WESA) and official forms
- A complete plan: will, both Powers of Attorney, asset lists, and an executor's guide
- Your answers encrypted in transit and at rest — never sold
- Lifetime free updates, so your will keeps up with life changes
Please note
Legalify provides self-help document software, not legal advice, and is not a law firm or a substitute for a lawyer or notary. The information on this page is general and factual — it is not advice about your situation. For complex estates — blended families, dependants who need support, business interests, trusts, or assets outside Canada — we recommend advice from a licensed lawyer or notary in British Columbia. The wizard will also flag, mid-flow, when professional advice is the right call.
Making a will elsewhere in Canada?
Start your BC will today.
Free to draft. Lifetime free updates. Pay only when you're ready to download — and only if it's right for you. 30-day money-back guarantee on all plans.