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Writing your own will is probably not on your mind every day but it saves the people you leave behind a lot of trouble. I found this link about writing your own will that could be helpful.
The above quote is a good example of why it can be dangerous to write your own will or to follow the advice of others about doing so. It is absolutely not true in all provinces that a handwritten, unwitnessed will is valid. My sister-in-law found herself in serious financial trouble when her common-law husband of 25 years died leaving everything to her in such a will (a holographic will). He had oriiginally come from Manitoba where holographic wills are apparently valid (or were when he lived there many years earlier), and he believed them to be in BC as well. They are not, and after a very expensive court case with his alienated children from previous relationships, she ended up with 1/6th of his estate. It was divided evenly between her, her own two young children with him, and the two adult children who lived in the US and had had nothing to do with him for over 30 years.It depends how simple your life is. My life is simple, I have no dependents, a few asets, so doing my own will was easy. Make sure if it's typed you have it dated and signed and witnessed. If it's hand written (entirely) you can just sign it and date it.
Your SIL's case didn't meet the bolded criteria.Will you have a very simple will?
Answer “Yes” only if all of these statements apply to you:
* You have heirs
* You have few or no debts
* You do not own a business
* You do not share property with other family members
* You do not own property outside Canada
* You live in Canada all-year-round
* You have not been married more than once
* You do not have children from more than one partner
* You don’t plan to cut someone out of your will
Holograph Wills are valid in Ontario, Alberta, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Quebec, Manitoba and Saskatchewan. In Nova Scotia and P.E.I the use of holograph Wills are not permitted, although the law in P.E.I. was amended to permit a “substantial compliance” provision (Sec. 70 of the Act) to allow the court to recognize a holograph document if it is signed and judged to represent the testamentary intentions of the deceased. In British Columbia holograph Wills are not allowed, but the law will uphold a valid holograph Will made outside of B.C insofar as it applies to moveable property in that province. (sec. 40 of the Wills Act)
That is not necessarily true. It is recommended you search for legal advice when you write a will. A lawyer can give directions as to how to make your will 100% legal. I agree with Royal Mail that it will save your children or beneficiaries a lot of trouble by just writing a will.Besides, having a legally drawn will does not preclude trouble after the fact. It will only reduce the chance of it. It is still possible for your heirs to argue that you weren't sane when you had it drawn or whatever.