A simpler plan: is an online will right for you?

While working as an estate lawyer in Toronto, Daniel Goldgut realized people of all ages were putting off the task of making a will. Even though they knew they should have one, they didn’t feel they had the time or the knowledge to get started.

He kept asking himself the same question: what if there were a simpler, more affordable way to make a will?

That vision led him to create Epilogue. He developed an online platform that gives more Canadians an accessible way to create important estate planning documents from home.

Epilogue is a helpful resource for donors who are considering the next steps in planning their will.

Join us for our upcoming virtual event with Epilogue on November 18 to learn more.

In this Q&A with UHN Foundation, Daniel shares some important information about how an online will can help you plan for the future.

An online will is simply a will created using technology instead of meeting with a lawyer to have a will drafted. You start by answering a series of questions online, and those answers generate your personalized estate planning documents.

The program guides you step-by-step through important decisions, such as who should act as executor, and how the estate should be distributed.

A common misconception is that an online will is simply a generic form downloaded from the internet. With Epilogue, the documents are generated based on the answers provided throughout the process, so the resulting will reflects the decisions you’ve made.

Yes. People are often surprised to hear that in most cases, a will doesn’t need to be prepared or signed by a lawyer in order to be legally valid.

A will needs to comply with the legal requirements of the province in which it’s being made. With Epilogue, once the will has been completed, step-by-step signing instructions are provided. In most provinces, that involves printing the will and signing it in the presence of two witnesses, who also sign the document.

A will can be created from home, at your own pace, without needing to schedule meetings or visit a law office.

Online wills are often considerably more affordable than having documents prepared by a lawyer. There is typically an upfront cost to create the documents. With many online will platforms, including Epilogue, updates can be made for free. That can be especially valuable because a will should evolve as your life and circumstances change.

More Canadians are creating wills online than ever before. It can be a great option for people with relatively straightforward estate planning needs. However, someone with more complex estate planning needs may be better served by working directly with an estate planning lawyer.

One key difference between an online will and a will drafted by a lawyer is that an online will platform can only provide legal information. If you want personalized legal advice or planning strategies, a lawyer is the right resource.

Neither approach is right for everyone. The important thing is choosing an option that fits your individual circumstances.

Yes! An online platform can actually simplify the process of including charitable gifts in your will. Epilogue is designed to make estate planning accessible and flexible. You can choose to leave a specific amount, or a percentage of your estate, to one or more charities.

The first and most important step is to actually sign it. It sounds obvious, but completing a will online and properly executing the document are two different things.

After that, the original should be stored somewhere safe and accessible, and the executor should know where to find it. It can also be helpful to have conversations with the people who have been given important roles in the estate plan.

Finally, a will shouldn’t necessarily be viewed as something that gets completed once and forgotten about forever. Life changes, and there can be many good reasons to revisit an estate plan.

Even without a major life event, it’s worthwhile to review a will periodically to make sure it still reflects your current wishes.

To learn more, register for our virtual event with Epilogue on November 18.

Epilogue is pleased to honour our valued UHN donors by offering you special pricing.

Claim your discount and get started on your will!