Will costs in BC range from free (DIY) to several thousand dollars (complex estate planning). Here's a clear breakdown of what you're actually paying for — and where it's worth spending more.
One of the first questions people ask when thinking about making a will is: what will it cost? The answer depends on how complex your situation is and how you choose to get it done. Here is a plain breakdown of the options in BC.
Option 1: DIY Wills (Free to ~$50)
BC law allows you to write your own will — called a holograph will — entirely in your own handwriting, signed and dated by you, without witnesses. Online will kits are also available for a small fee.
The risk: a DIY will that is unclear, improperly executed, or legally inconsistent can be challenged, partially invalidated, or fail to do what you intended. Fixing a problematic will after death is expensive — far more than the cost of getting it right while you are alive.
Option 2: Online Will Services (~$100–$250)
Several online services guide you through a questionnaire and generate a will document. These can work well for very simple situations: single asset owners, no blended family, no business interests, straightforward beneficiary arrangements.
The risk: online services can't ask follow-up questions, identify issues specific to your situation, or advise you when your circumstances are more complex than the template assumes.
Option 3: Lawyer-Drafted Will (~$400–$1,200 for a simple will)
A straightforward will prepared by a BC lawyer — covering a single person with a clear estate and no complications — typically costs between $400 and $800. A will for a couple (mirror wills or mutual wills) is often priced at $600 to $1,200 for both.
For a single, uncomplicated estate, this is the sweet spot: you get a legally valid, clearly drafted document, reviewed by someone who knows BC law, at a predictable and affordable price.
Option 4: Comprehensive Estate Planning (~$1,500–$5,000+)
If your situation involves a blended family, a business, significant assets, tax planning, a trust, a representation agreement, or a complex distribution — comprehensive estate planning costs more. You are paying not just for documents but for advice that protects your estate and your family from foreseeable problems.
This tier typically includes: a will, an enduring power of attorney, a representation agreement (for healthcare decisions), and where appropriate, a trust structure. The cost is usually proportional to the complexity involved.
What Is Included in the Lawyer's Fee?
When you hire a BC lawyer to prepare your will, the fee typically covers:
- A consultation to understand your situation and wishes
- Drafting and reviewing the will
- Advising you on potential issues (beneficiary designations, executor selection, guardianship)
- Witnessing and executing the will in compliance with BC law
- Storing a copy or advising you on safe storage
What Affects the Price?
- Number of people: individual vs. couple
- Complexity of distribution: equal split vs. conditional gifts, trusts, or staggered distributions
- Business interests or significant assets requiring specific treatment
- Blended family dynamics
- Tax planning needs
- Whether a power of attorney and/or representation agreement are included
Is a Cheaper Will Worth the Risk?
A will that is later challenged, found invalid, or that fails to reflect your wishes can cost your estate tens of thousands of dollars in legal fees — and leave your family in conflict. The question is not just what the will costs now, but what a mistake will cost later.
For most BC residents, a lawyer-prepared will is the right balance of cost, certainty, and protection. Many law firms offer fixed-fee will packages so you know the cost upfront — ask before your first meeting.
Yes. A holograph will — entirely handwritten, signed, and dated by the testator — is valid in BC without witnesses. However, it must be entirely in the testator's own handwriting. Any typed or printed portions, or any other person's handwriting, may invalidate it. Courts have discretion to cure deficiencies in some cases, but this is not guaranteed.
No, you are not legally required to use a lawyer. But a lawyer helps ensure your will is valid, clearly expresses your wishes, and accounts for issues you might not have considered — particularly around beneficiary designations, business assets, tax implications, and family dynamics. For most people, the cost of a lawyer-prepared will is worth the certainty it provides.
Review your will after any major life change: marriage or common-law relationship, separation or divorce, birth or adoption of a child, death of a beneficiary or executor, significant change in assets, or a move to another province. In BC, marriage does not automatically revoke a will (as it did under older law), but separation may affect spousal gifts and executor appointments depending on the circumstances.
No. A will does not need to be notarized to be valid in BC. It must be signed by the testator and witnessed by two adults (who are not beneficiaries or spouses of beneficiaries) in each other's presence. A notarized will is not a BC legal requirement, though some people choose to have an affidavit of execution sworn before a notary to simplify the probate process.