Legal

Legal information & disclaimers

Important information about online wills, Canadian requirements, and Livewill's role.

⚖️ Important Disclaimer

Livewill is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. Our platform provides tools and templates to help you create your own will based on Canadian legal requirements. The information on this website is for general guidance only and should not be relied upon as legal advice.

For complex estates, blended families, business ownership, assets in multiple jurisdictions, or any situation where you are unsure, we strongly recommend consulting a licensed estate lawyer.

Canadian Will Requirements

Under the applicable provincial laws (e.g., Ontario's Succession Law Reform Act), for a will to be legally valid it must meet these requirements:

1. Must be in writing

Your will must be a written document. Livewill creates this document digitally — you then download and print it.

2. Testator must be 18+ and of sound mind

You must be at least 18 years old and mentally capable of understanding the nature and effect of making a will.

3. Signed by the testator

You must physically sign your printed will. Digital signatures are not valid for wills in most Canadian provinces.

4. Witnessed by two eligible people

Two witnesses must be present when you sign. Both witnesses must then sign the will in your presence and in the presence of each other. Witnesses must be 18+ and cannot be beneficiaries or spouses of beneficiaries.

🖨️ Print-and-Sign Requirement

Creating your will on Livewill is the first step. Your will is not legally valid until you print it and sign it with two eligible witnesses. We include clear signing instructions with every downloaded will.

Keep the signed original in a safe, accessible place. Tell your executor where it is. Consider using Livewill's secure storage to keep a digital backup alongside your physical copy.

Virtual Witnessing (Bill 245)

Ontario, for example, passed Bill 245 in 2021, which temporarily allowed virtual witnessing of wills via audio-visual communication during the COVID-19 emergency. This provision has been extended multiple times. We are tracking whether permanent virtual witnessing becomes law — if it does, Livewill will support it as a feature.

For now, we recommend in-person witnessing to ensure your will is valid without question.

What Livewill Is — and Isn't

✅ Livewill IS

  • • A self-service will creation tool
  • • Based on Canadian legal requirements
  • • Reviewed by licensed estate lawyers
  • • A secure document storage platform

❌ Livewill IS NOT

  • • A law firm or legal service provider
  • • A substitute for legal advice
  • • A notary or witnessing service
  • • Responsible for the legal validity of your signed will

Have legal questions about your specific situation?

We recommend consulting a licensed estate lawyer in your province.

Read Our FAQ