Program · Federal

Canadian will

Legally binding document distributing your estate, naming guardians for minor children, and appointing an executor. Must meet provincial formal requirements: written, signed, witnessed (except holograph in some provinces).

Reviewed by Ben Stevenson, Managing Editor, Canadian Money Help Updated April 21, 2026 Methodology

Eligibility

Any Canadian adult of sound mind
Formal requirements vary by province
Not required by law, but intestacy rules rarely match personal wishes

Limits and rules

Must be in writing and signed at the end
Requires 2 witnesses in most provinces (1 in some)
Witnesses cannot be beneficiaries or spouses of beneficiaries

Source

Law Society of Ontario: Wills and Estates →