11/12/2025
Did you know that November is Make a Will Month in Ontario?
The Ontario Bar Association launched this initiative several years ago to highlight the importance of having a valid Will. Multiple surveys done over the last decade have consistently shown that around half of Canadians do not have an Estate plan in place.
A 2023 survey done by the Angus Reid Institute suggests that as many as 80% of Canadians aged 18-34 do not have a Will. This percentage decreases with age, but even so, it’s estimated that 49% of Canadians aged 45-54 and 35% of Canadians aged 55-64 don’t have one either.
The most common reasons given for not having one?
- I’m too young to worry about it.
- I don’t have any major assets.
- The process is too expensive/time consuming.
- I don’t want to think about dying.
I want to address each of these points.
Understandably, if you are young and in good health, making a Will may not be a priority. However, tomorrow is not guaranteed. Accidents and illnesses happen.
Even if you don’t have any significant assets, there are certain steps that have to be taken to settle your affairs after your pass away. For example, your debts have to be paid, your bank accounts have to be closed, and your final income taxes have to be filed. If you don’t have a Will appointing someone to do this for you, the Court has to appoint someone, which can be an expensive and time-consuming process.
The cost of getting a Will done is much less than the cost of having the Court appoint someone to settle your Estate. It’s a small investment of time (a couple of hours at most) and money right now that can save your loved ones a lot of both down the road. A well-drafted Will prepared by a lawyer can reduce Probate fees and the likelihood of litigation against your Estate by making sure your wishes are expressed clearly.
As far as the last point goes— of course none of us want to think about dying. And yes, Estate planning can be a difficult and emotional process, but it doesn’t have to be. My top priority in helping you develop your Estate plan is your peace of mind and wellbeing. I’ll guide you through each step of the process in as much detail as you want, and answer any questions you have so that you can feel secure in your decisions.
If you live in Ontario and you have reservations about planning for this part of your future, I would love to be the person to relieve those concerns. Whether you’re ready to make a Will or you just want more information about the process, you can reach out to me by email ([email protected]) or phone (705-297-6626) to schedule an appointment.
