Make a legal will in Ontario
An Ontario will built around the Succession Law Reform Act — drafted online in about 20 minutes, with a step-by-step signing guide so it's witnessed correctly.
What makes a will valid in Ontario.
Grounded in the Succession Law Reform Act (SLRA). The wizard surfaces these rules in plain language as you go — no need to memorise them up front.
- Who can make a will
- Anyone 18 or older who is of sound mind (limited exceptions for married minors and members of the armed forces).
- SLRA, s. 8
- Witnesses required
- Two. Both must be present together when you sign, and both must sign the will in your presence.
- SLRA, s. 4
- Who should witness
- Use two disinterested adults. A gift to a person who witnesses your will (or their spouse) is void, so beneficiaries should not witness.
- SLRA, s. 12
- Notarization
- Not required for a will to be valid in Ontario — your signature plus two qualifying witnesses is the standard.
- SLRA, s. 4
- Handwritten (holograph) wills
- Permitted if the will is wholly in your own handwriting and signed by you — no witnesses needed. A typed, witnessed will is still easier to administer.
- SLRA, s. 6
- Dependant support
- A spouse, child, parent, or sibling who depended on you can apply to court for support from your estate, so provide for dependants.
- SLRA, Part V
From Toronto to Ottawa to Thunder Bay, every Ontario will follows the same Succession Law Reform Act framework — including the estate-trustee and guardianship wording Ontario practice expects.
How to make your Ontario 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 Ontario 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 SLRA signing guide.
Your ON will-readiness checklist.
Tick what's true. If most of these fit, you can finish your Ontario 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 Ontario.
Do I need a lawyer to make a will in Ontario?
Not for most household estates. Ontario's Succession Law Reform Act lets any adult of sound mind make their own will, signed in front of two witnesses present at the same time. Legalify produces an Ontario-specific will — including estate-trustee appointments and temporary guardianship wording for minor children — plus a step-by-step signing guide. Complex situations such as blended families, dependants needing support, or business and foreign assets still deserve a lawyer's review, and we'll point you there when they come up.
Do Ontario wills need to be notarized?
No. Ontario wills do not require notarization to be valid (SLRA s. 4). They require your signature plus two qualifying witnesses present at the same time, each signing in your presence and in the presence of the other witness.
Who can witness my will in Ontario?
Two adults present together when you sign, who then sign while you watch. A beneficiary (or their spouse) should never witness: under SLRA s. 12, any gift to a witness is void. The wizard generates a witnessing guide with the exact steps.
Are handwritten (holograph) wills legal in Ontario?
Yes — Ontario recognizes holograph wills if they are entirely in your handwriting and signed by you, with no witnesses required (SLRA s. 6). That said, a typed, witnessed will is more likely to survive a challenge and is easier for your estate trustee to administer.
What happens if my will isn't signed perfectly?
Since January 1, 2022, Ontario courts have a 'substantial compliance' power (SLRA s. 21.1) to validate a document that sets out a person's true testamentary intentions even if it wasn't executed perfectly. It's a court application, though — slow and not guaranteed — so the reliable path is to sign correctly the first time using the included guide.
Honest, one-time pricing.
Free to draft your Ontario 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 Succession Law Reform Act (SLRA) 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 Ontario. The wizard will also flag, mid-flow, when professional advice is the right call.
Making a will elsewhere in Canada?
Start your ON 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.