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Last Will and Testament Template

A last will and testament lets you direct how your estate is distributed, who administers it, and who cares for your minor children after your death. Our free Canadian template is drafted to meet the formal requirements of provincial wills legislation, including the Succession Law Reform Act (Ontario) and the Wills, Estates and Succession Act (British Columbia).

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LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT
Province Of Ontario, Canada
TESTATOR
Margaret Anne Campbell
45 Maple Drive, Ottawa, ON K1A 0B1
Testator: Margaret Anne Campbell
Date: March 15, 2026 · Province: Ontario · Married
I, Margaret Anne Campbell, of 45 Maple Drive, Ottawa, ON K1A 0B1, in the Province of Ontario, being of full legal age, of sound mind and memory, and not acting under any duress, menace, fraud, or undue influence of any person whatsoever, do hereby declare this to be my Last Will and Testament (the "Will"), made this March 15, 2026, and I hereby revoke all former wills, codicils, and testamentary dispositions previously made by me.
1.
REVOCATION OF PRIOR WILLS
I hereby revoke and cancel all former wills, codicils, and testamentary dispositions of every nature previously made by me. This Will constitutes my entire testamentary wishes. I confirm that I have testamentary capacity as defined under the Succession Law Reform Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. S.26 (Ontario) or the equivalent legislation of my province of residence.
2.
APPOINTMENT OF EXECUTOR
I appoint Robert James Campbell, of 120 King Street West, Toronto, ON M5H 1J9 (my Spouse), as the Estate Trustee and Executor (the "Executor") of this Will, to administer my estate, pay all just debts, funeral and testamentary expenses, and all taxes and duties payable by reason of my death, and to distribute the remainder of my estate in accordance with this Will. If Robert James Campbell is unable or unwilling to act or continue to act as Executor, I appoint Susan Elizabeth Thompson, of 789 Granville Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 1K3, as Alternate Executor with the same powers and authorities.
3.
EXECUTOR POWERS
I grant my Executor the fullest powers and discretions permissible under the applicable provincial Trustee Act and estates legislation, including without limitation the power to: (a) sell, lease, mortgage, charge, or otherwise deal with any real or personal property forming part of my estate at such price and on such terms as my Executor considers appropriate; (b) invest and reinvest estate funds in any form of investment that a prudent investor would make, having regard to the purposes, distribution requirements, and other circumstances of my estate; (c) borrow money on the security of my estate; (d) compromise, settle, or abandon any claim for or against my estate; (e) retain professional advisors, including lawyers, accountants, and investment advisors, and pay their reasonable compensation from my estate; (f) distribute my estate in specie or in cash, or partly in each, at values determined solely by my Executor; and (g) exercise all powers conferred upon estate trustees under the Estates Administration Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. E.22 (Ontario), or the equivalent provincial legislation.
4.
DISTRIBUTION OF ESTATE
I give, devise, and bequeath all the rest, residue, and remainder of my estate, both real and personal, of whatsoever nature and wheresoever situate, to Robert James Campbell, absolutely and free of all encumbrances. If this residuary beneficiary predeceases me or dies within thirty (30) days of my death, their share shall pass to their surviving issue per stirpes; and if there are no surviving issue, the residue shall be distributed in accordance with the applicable intestacy laws of the Province of Ontario.
5.
GUARDIANSHIP OF MINOR CHILDREN
If at the time of my death any of my children are under the age of majority in the Province of Ontario, I appoint Susan Elizabeth Thompson, of 789 Granville Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 1K3 (Maternal Aunt), as the guardian of the person and property of my minor children. This appointment is made pursuant to the applicable provincial Children's Law Reform Act or equivalent legislation. If Susan Elizabeth Thompson is unable or unwilling to serve as guardian, I appoint William R. Campbell as Alternate Guardian with the same powers and authorities. This appointment is an expression of my wishes and is subject to the approval of a court of competent jurisdiction acting in the best interests of my children.
6.
DIGITAL ASSETS
I grant my Executor full authority to access, manage, preserve, distribute, copy, and delete all of my digital assets, including but not limited to: email accounts, social media profiles and accounts, digital photographs and files, domain names, websites, cryptocurrency and digital wallets (including private keys), online banking and financial accounts, cloud storage services, subscription services, and any other electronically stored information or digital property. My Executor shall have the authority to receive and obtain any passwords, encryption keys, or other access credentials necessary to administer my digital estate, whether from a digital legacy service, password manager, or other means.

Specific digital asset instructions: My executor shall have access to all digital accounts. Cryptocurrency holdings to be distributed equally among my children.
7.
PAYMENT OF DEBTS AND TAXES
I direct my Executor to pay all my just and legally enforceable debts, funeral and testamentary expenses, and all estate, inheritance, succession, and other death taxes and duties that may be assessed against my estate or any beneficiary thereof, as soon as is practicable after my death, from the general assets of my estate, without apportionment against specific bequests unless otherwise required by law. This includes any income tax owing under the Income Tax Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. 1 (5th Supp.), for the year of my death and all prior taxation years.
8.
SEVERABILITY
If any provision of this Will is found to be invalid, void, or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, such invalidity shall not affect the validity or enforceability of the remaining provisions, which shall continue in full force and effect to the maximum extent permitted by law.
9.
GOVERNING LAW
This Will shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Province of Ontario and the applicable federal laws of Canada. The validity, construction, and administration of this Will shall be determined under the Succession Law Reform Act (Ontario), Wills, Estates and Succession Act (British Columbia), Wills Act (Alberta), or the equivalent provincial legislation applicable in the Province of Ontario.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and declared this to be my Last Will and Testament on March 15, 2026, in the Province of Ontario, Canada, in the presence of the two (2) witnesses named below, who have each signed below at my request, in my presence, and in the presence of each other. Neither witness is a beneficiary under this Will, and neither is the spouse or partner of a beneficiary.
TESTATOR
Margaret Anne Campbell
Date: ____________________
WITNESS 1
200 University Ave, Toronto, ON M5H 3C6
David M. Richardson
Date: ____________________
WITNESS 2
350 Albert Street, Ottawa, ON K1R 7X7
Patricia L. Chen
Date: ____________________

What Is a Last Will and Testament?

A last will and testament is a written legal document in which a person (the testator) sets out how their property, money and personal belongings are to be distributed after their death. It also names an executor (sometimes called an estate trustee in Ontario) to administer the estate, pay debts and distribute the residue to the named beneficiaries. Without a valid will, the estate is distributed according to provincial intestacy rules, which rarely match what the deceased would have wanted.

Formal wills in common-law provinces must generally be in writing, signed at the end by the testator and witnessed by two adults present at the same time. Section 4 of the Succession Law Reform Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. S.26 sets out this test in Ontario, while section 37 of the Wills, Estates and Succession Act, S.B.C. 2009, c. 13 is the equivalent provision in British Columbia. Holograph wills (entirely in the testator’s handwriting, unwitnessed) are accepted in Ontario, Alberta, Saskatchewan and several other provinces, but not in British Columbia or Manitoba.

Canadian wills are used by adults of every age and life stage — new parents wanting to appoint a guardian for their children, homeowners protecting family property, business owners dealing with shares and blended families balancing obligations to current and former spouses. Preparing a valid will is one of the most important and cost-effective acts of estate planning a person can undertake.

What's Covered in This Template

Our last will and testament template captures the core elements required for a valid Canadian will and for a clean, low-conflict probate administration.

Testator Identification

Full legal name, date of birth and current Canadian address of the person making the will.

Revocation of Prior Wills

Express revocation of all earlier wills and codicils to avoid interpretation disputes later.

Appointment of Executor

Primary and alternate executors (estate trustees) with the authority to administer the estate.

Guardian for Minor Children

Appointment of a guardian to have custody of minor children if both parents have died.

Specific Bequests

Named gifts of money, jewellery, vehicles, real property or sentimental items to identified beneficiaries.

Residue Clause

Distribution of the remainder of the estate after debts, taxes and specific gifts are satisfied.

Alternate Beneficiaries

Gift-over provisions if a primary beneficiary predeceases the testator.

Executor Powers

Broad powers to sell, invest, retain or encumber estate assets without further consent.

Funeral and Burial Wishes

Non-binding guidance on funeral, cremation, burial or organ donation preferences.

Attestation Clause

Witness attestation block that complies with provincial execution requirements for a formal will.

How to Create a Last Will and Testament

Follow these steps to produce a signed, Canadian-compliant will from our template.

  1. 1

    List Your Assets and Family

    Take stock of real property, bank accounts, investments, vehicles and any dependants you need to provide for.

  2. 2

    Choose Your Executor and Guardians

    Pick a Canadian-resident primary executor, an alternate, and (if applicable) a guardian for minor children.

  3. 3

    Decide Your Beneficiaries and Gifts

    Set out specific bequests, then state how the residue of your estate should be divided.

  4. 4

    Enter the Details

    Complete the template fields, including full legal names and addresses for every person named.

  5. 5

    Sign With Two Witnesses

    Sign at the end of the will in the presence of two adult witnesses who are not beneficiaries and who sign in your presence.

Legal Considerations

Wills are governed primarily by provincial legislation, so the formal requirements differ across Canada.

This template is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Consult a qualified lawyer in your province for advice specific to your situation.

Reviewed for Canadian law

Execution Requirements

Under section 4 of the Succession Law Reform Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. S.26, a formal will must be signed at the end by the testator (or by someone else in the testator’s presence and by their direction) in the presence of two witnesses, who must then both sign in the testator’s presence. Section 37 of the Wills, Estates and Succession Act, S.B.C. 2009, c. 13 imposes the same two-witness rule in British Columbia. A beneficiary or their spouse should never act as a witness — gifts to them are generally void.

Holograph Wills and Substantial Compliance

Holograph wills that are written entirely in the testator’s handwriting and signed by them are valid in Ontario (s. 6, Succession Law Reform Act), Alberta, Saskatchewan and New Brunswick, but not in British Columbia or Manitoba. Several provinces now have substantial-compliance rules that let a court recognise a defective document as a valid will; even so, meeting the formal requirements from the outset is far safer and cheaper.

Marriage, Separation and Revocation

Historically, marriage automatically revoked an earlier will in most provinces. Ontario abolished this rule for wills made on or after January 1, 2022, but it still matters for older wills. Separation and divorce can also change the effect of gifts to a former spouse under the Succession Law Reform Act and equivalent provincial statutes, so wills should be reviewed after any major family change.

Probate and Estate Administration Tax

Most wills in Ontario are probated through the Superior Court of Justice, attracting Estate Administration Tax under the Estate Administration Tax Act, 1998. British Columbia charges probate fees under the Probate Fee Act, S.B.C. 1999, c. 4. The executor is responsible for filing the deceased’s final tax return with the Canada Revenue Agency and obtaining a clearance certificate before distributing the residue.

Frequently Asked Questions

Create Your Will Today

Protect your family and your estate with a clear, Canadian-compliant last will and testament. Fill in the details, preview the document and download it as a PDF ready for signing with two witnesses.

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