Willfull Wills, explained

Willful Wills, commonly known as Willful, is a Canadian company that specializes in providing an online platform for individuals to create legally valid wills and estate planning documents. The company aims to make the process of creating a will more accessible, affordable, and convenient by allowing users to create, update, and access their wills online, without the need to visit a lawyer or legal professional in person.

The company secured a deal on the Canadian version of the popular entrepreneur program “Dragons Den” in late 2021. The company then partnered with CIBC in 2022.

Willful provides templates and guidance for creating wills and other relevant documents, such as Power of Attorney, ensuring that the final document is in compliance with the legal standards of the user’s province or territory. The platform is designed to be user-friendly and straightforward, making it easier for individuals to navigate the often complex and confusing process of will and estate planning.

It’s worth noting that while online will platforms like Willful can be a convenient option for creating a basic will, they may not be suitable for individuals with complex estates or unique legal needs, who might require personalized legal advice from a qualified professional.

Willful Wills is an innovative online platform designed to simplify the process of creating legal wills and estate planning documents. The service is designed to be user-friendly and affordable, making it accessible to a broad range of individuals who may not have the time, resources, or knowledge to create these documents through traditional means.

Here’s a deeper insight:

User Experience:

Upon accessing the Willful platform, users are guided through a series of straightforward questions. The platform utilizes the answers to these questions to auto-populate a legally valid will or other estate planning documents, based on the specific legal standards of the user’s province or territory in Canada. The step-by-step process is crafted to be intuitive, demystifying the legal jargon and complexities that can often make will creation daunting.

Document Types:

Beyond basic wills, Willful provides options for users to create other important documents, including Power of Attorney for personal care and property. These comprehensive services ensure that users can conveniently manage various aspects of their estate planning in one place.

Pricing:

Willful offers various pricing tiers to meet different needs. Typically, the packages are segmented to offer single wills, mirrored wills for couples, and additional documents at different price points. The transparent pricing structure ensures users know the cost upfront, eliminating the uncertainty of legal fees.

Legal Compliance:

To ensure the created documents are legally compliant, Willful regularly consults with experienced estate lawyers. This legal oversight aims to provide users with peace of mind, knowing their documents adhere to current legal standards.

Flexibility:

One of the key benefits of using Willful is the flexibility it offers. Users can create or update their documents anytime, making it easy to adapt to life changes such as marriage, the birth of a child, or purchasing a property.

Customer Support:

Willful underscores the importance of customer support by providing resources and assistance for users navigating the platform, ensuring their questions and concerns are promptly addressed.

While Willful streamlines the will and estate planning process, it’s also important to note that it may not cater to very complex estates or situations requiring specialized legal advice. In such cases, consultation with a legal expert is advisable.

Online will companies

Several other companies compete with Willful Wills in the online will and estate planning industry. One such competitor is LegalWills.ca, a service that offers Canadians the ability to create legal documents, including wills and powers of attorney, from the comfort of their own homes. Another competitor is LawDepot, a broader legal services platform that allows users to create a variety of legal documents, including wills, with customizable templates. In the U.S., services like Rocket Lawyer and LegalZoom provide similar online legal document creation services, including wills and estate planning documents, and they operate in a market analogous to that of Willful Wills in Canada.

All these platforms aim to simplify the process of creating legally valid wills and other documents, making legal planning more accessible to a broader range of people. However, while these services can be convenient and cost-effective, individuals with complicated estates or unique legal needs may still need to seek out personalized legal counsel.