Wills for parents (peace of mind included)
Minor guardianship, family estate planning, and child inheritance: all covered before you can say, 'and they lived happily ever after.'
Family estate planning starting as low as $199
How Willful makes online wills for young families easy
Whether you’re building a crib or building a treehouse, we know Canadian parents always want the best for their family. Willful’s family plans are easy to understand, cover everything you need for your children’s future, and are designed to check family estate planning off your list in as few as 20 minutes, meaning more time for soccer practice, making school lunches, and driving to (yet another) birthday party.
Appoint your children’s guardian
Decide who cares for your children in the event of your death, and make changes any time.
Plan for their RESP
Ensure your children’s education savings are managed so they can have the future they deserve
Set an age of inheritance
Add specific instructions on how old your children will be when they receive their portion of your estate.
Distribute your property and assets
List who inherits any property, investments, and personal belongings
Choose your executor, trustee, and POA
Choose who will carry out your wishes, distribute funds, and make decisions on your behalf.
Protection for their future – and your peace of mind
Your questions about online wills as a parent, answered
Living with littles means you’re always answering tough questions. Take a break from having all the answers—because when it comes to parental wills and family estate planning, we’ve got it covered.
Who takes care of my children in the event of my death?
Without a legal will, it’s up to the courts to decide who raises your children, even if you’ve made other plans.
Don’t leave it chance. Consider who you would most want to raise your children, and assign a guardian and back-up guardian so you have peace of mind when it comes to caring for your family.
How will my children afford further education?
By establishing a testamentary, or minor’s trust, you can stipulate that your children’s RESP or education fund is protected.
Together with your partner, you can decide what age your children will receive access, and who will responsibly manage and distribute their inheritance according to your wishes.
How will my spouse manage financially if there are delays in accessing my assets?
Without a legal will, it’s up to the courts to decide who raises your children, even if you’ve made other plans.
Don’t leave it chance. Consider who you would most want to raise your children, and assign a guardian and back-up guardian so you have peace of mind when it comes to caring for your family.
Family estate planning resources for parents
Our helpful resources give you all the info you need on topics like how to appoint a guardian for your children, when to release your child’s inheritance, and more. Explore our full estate planning resource library for more info.
Trusted by over 500,000 Canadian families
Frequently asked questions
If you don’t have a will or legally appointed guardian for your children when you pass, the courts will appoint someone to care for them.
In some cases, it may not be the person or people you would have wanted to raise your children. Rest easy and consult with your partner and the desired legal guardian(s) for your children, ensuring your wishes for any minor guardianship are clearly outlined in your online will.
You can choose different guardians for each of your children.
While it’s most common to have your children brought up together, there may be personal reasons you want a different guardian designation for your children. You can also assign multiple people to care for your children; like someone to care for them day-to-day, and someone else to manage their financial guardianship.
You can also assign back-up, or alternate guardians in case of changing situations or one guardian becomes unavailable. And if you change your mind at any point, you can always update your will for free through Willful.
A minor’s trust keeps your children’s inheritance in a trust until they reach a certain age after your death.
As children in Canada can’t directly receive large inheritances, a trust is commonly used to keep any funds safe until they’re of age. Usually held in trust until they’re 18, 25, or sometimes even older, the funds are managed by a trustee of your choosing and are often used for their education, a large purchase like their first home, or other specific needs.
Yes, you can update or appoint a guardian in your will at any time.
Willful makes changing your will simple, with free, unlimited updates, made from the comfort of your home.
Even if you already have a will, it’s important for both spouses to have their own parental wills.
Having your own will makes family estate planning much easier in the event of a spouse’s death, ensuring individual or shared assets can be directly transferred to the surviving partner. Specific guardianship wishes also help ensure personal wishes and desires for any children, particularly important if you have a blended family with children from previous relationships.
Explore Willful’s Premium x2 plan to create your wills together, aligning on key decisions like guardians and beneficiaries, but with an individual account and documentation that you can update at any time.
Get started with the best online will for Canadian parents
Don’t leave your child’s inheritance or family trust to chance. Appoint a guardian, set a minor’s trust, and rest easy knowing your family is protected.
No expensive lawyers. No babysitter required. Just simple, online wills for (busy) parents.