More and more Canadians are turning to AI tools like ChatGPT when they’re researching important life decisions. Estate planning is no different, and it’s easy to see why! You can ask questions about wills, explore different scenarios, and get clear explanations in seconds.
Reading AI estate planning advice can help you feel more familiar with the basics. But it shouldn’t be used to create your actual will. Before you sit down to make your will, it’s important to understand where AI can be helpful and where its limits are.
What AI is good at when researching a will
When used as a research assistant, AI can be a great way to learn how a will works and have estate planning concepts explained in plain language.
AI can help you:
- Understand common estate planning roles. If you’re unsure what an executor actually does, or how guardianship works for minor children, AI can break down what those roles really mean.
- Learn unfamiliar legal terms. Power of attorney? Probate? Residual estate? Estate planning includes a lot of terms you might not have come across before. AI can explain concepts in a way that cuts through the legal jargon.
- Look at different ways people structure their wills. Are you going to leave specific gifts to individuals, or does dividing the remainder of your estate make more sense? How does joint ownership affect inheritance compared to single ownership? AI is great for comparing these kinds of high-level options.
Brainstorm questions to think about
One of the best things about AI is how it helps you identify decisions that are going to come up. Mulling them over in advance can make the planning process feel a lot more manageable.
Where AI shouldn’t replace proper planning
As impressive as AI is, it isn’t designed to create legally binding documents. It comes down to this: a will is a legal instrument governed by provincial law.
This means that some steps need to be done in a very specific way. For example, AI can’t reliably:
- Confirm that a will meets your province’s legal requirements
- Verify that signing and witnessing rules have been followed correctly
- Identify every legally relevant detail about your family or assets
- Make sure that the final wording avoids legal ambiguity
Important: AI can “hallucinate” legal information
AI tools sometimes produce answers that sound confident but are not fully accurate. This is known as an AI hallucination. It happens when the system fills gaps in its knowledge by generating information that appears plausible but isn’t verified.
When researching wills, hallucinations can have serious consequences. For example, an AI tool might:
- mix together legal rules from different Canadian provinces
- present outdated estate laws as current
- confidently state requirements that don’t apply where you live
Because wills are governed by provincial law in Canada, even small inaccuracies about signing, witnessing, or executor responsibilities could lead to confusion.
Treat AI responses as a starting point for learning, not confirmation that something is legally correct in your province. Before making decisions about your will, it’s important to verify the rules that apply where you live or use a Canadian estate planning platform designed for your province.
Learn more about the risks of using AI to create your will
Smart ways to use AI when thinking about your will
If you’re already using AI to research your will, that’s great! But a few simple guardrails can make the information more helpful and reliable.
Always include your province
Want more relevant answers? Always include your specific location.
Avoid general questions like “How do I write a will?” Instead, say things like: “What are the legal requirements for a will in Ontario, Canada?” This signals that you’re looking for Canadian context rather than general guidance.
Ask for explanations, not documents
Though it’s tempting to ask AI to produce a polished document for you, it’s much more reliable as a conversation partner.
Instead of asking AI to write your will, try asking: “What decisions do I need to make before creating a will in British Columbia?” Keep the conversation focused on understanding the process.
Ask it to highlight uncertainty
Another useful technique is asking the AI tool to clarify where information may vary.
After you get a response, write back: “Which parts of this advice depend on provincial law in Canada?” This helps you see the areas where the answer may not apply.
Use it to generate a checklist
Before you start creating your will, it helps to line up some information ahead of time. AI can be a quick way to figure out what you’ll need.
You might ask something like: “What information should I gather before starting an online will in Alberta?” AI can then give you a simple list of things to think about, like:
- who you want as your beneficiaries
- who you’ll name as executor
- guardians for minor children
- the main assets in your estate
Prompt library: useful AI questions to try
If you’re experimenting with AI tools while researching your will, the way you phrase your question can make a big difference. Here are a few prompts you can copy and paste to get more helpful, Canada-specific answers.
These prompts can help you understand the process and prepare for estate planning, while remembering that the final will itself should still be created through a legally compliant process.
Treat AI answers as starting points
Think of AI as a research companion, then if something feels important to your estate plan, it’s worth confirming the details elsewhere.
A simple framework
As you work through your estate planning, it can help to think about the role AI can play in three stages:
1. Learn with AI.
Use AI tools to understand the terminology, explore scenarios, and get more comfortable with the estate planning process.
2. Come to decisions with expert guidance.
Once you understand the basics, clarify your decisions about beneficiaries, executors, and guardians. Consult a Canadian expert or use a structured, Canadian-tailored planning platform like Willful.
3. Execute with compliance.
When you’re ready to create the actual will and execute it, follow the legal requirements in your province. Willful provides clear, step-by-step execution instructions so you can be confident your will is legally-valid.
When it’s time to create the document
AI’s speed and accessibility are tempting when you’re researching something new. The good news is that turning your estate planning choices into a legally-valid will can still be done online.
Online estate planning platforms like Willful are designed specifically for Canadians. The process guides you through all the legally relevant questions you need to ask yourself, then structures your will according to your province’s rules.
Instead of relying on you to know what details to include, the Willful platform prompts you for the information that matters. It also provides clear instructions for signing and witnessing your will correctly.
At the end of the day, AI can help you prepare. But a guided Canadian platform like Willful carries you the rest of the way, making sure you execute your plan properly.
Ready to create your will?
Willful works with experienced estate lawyers to build the most comprehensive online estate planning service available in Canada. Start your will today.
