A holographic will is a will written entirely in the testator's own handwriting and signed by the testator, with no witnesses required. It is the simplest and cheapest way to put your wishes in writing: free, private, and revocable at any time. Yet most Canadians never make one, usually out of uncertainty about whether a handwritten will is even legal where they live.
This guide answers that directly. It sets out the province-by-province validity of holographic wills, the formal requirements that make one stand up, three templates designed to be copied out by hand, and the errors that quietly void a handwritten will. The templates must be reproduced in your own handwriting: a holographic will that is typed or printed is invalid, even if you sign it.
What a holographic will is
A holographic will (also spelled holograph will) has three defining features:
- Entirely handwritten by the person making it. Not typed, not printed, not a fill-in-the-blanks form. Every operative word must be in the testator's own hand.
- Signed by the testator, normally at the end of the document.
- No witnesses required. This is what distinguishes it from a formal (attested) will, which in every province must be signed in front of two witnesses.
Because no witnesses are involved, a holographic will can be made privately, at home, at no cost. That convenience is also its weakness: a handwritten will is easier to lose, easier to challenge, and only available in the provinces that recognize it.
Province-by-province validity
The table below shows where a purely handwritten, unwitnessed will is accepted. Where it is not, you must use a will signed in front of two witnesses (or, in Quebec, a notarial will).
| Province or territory | Holographic will valid? | Governing rule |
|---|---|---|
| Quebec | Yes | Civil Code of Quebec, art. 726 |
| Ontario | Yes | Succession Law Reform Act, s. 6 |
| Alberta | Yes | Wills and Succession Act, s. 16 |
| Saskatchewan | Yes | The Wills Act, 1996 |
| Manitoba | Yes | The Wills Act, s. 6 |
| New Brunswick | Yes | Wills Act, s. 6 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | Yes | Wills Act, s. 3 |
| Nova Scotia | Yes | Wills Act |
| British Columbia | No | WESA s. 37 requires two witnesses |
| Prince Edward Island | No | Probate Act requires a witnessed will |
Requirements that make a holographic will stand up
- Capacity. You must be of the age of majority (generally 18, or 19 in some provinces) and of sound mind, understanding the nature of the act, the extent of your property, and who would normally expect to benefit.
- Wholly in your handwriting. Not a single operative clause may be typed or printed. Writing over a printed form is a common way these wills fail, because the printed words are ignored and what remains may not make sense on its own.
- Testamentary intent. The document must show you intended it to dispose of your property on death, not just notes or a draft. Phrases like "This is my last will" make the intent clear.
- Signature. Sign at the end. Anything written below the signature may be disregarded.
- Date. Not strictly required for validity in most provinces, but strongly recommended so the most recent will can be identified.
Three templates to copy by hand
The following templates cover the most common situations. Adapt each to your own circumstances before copying it out by hand. Items in italics are placeholders to replace. Do not type these: write every word yourself.
Template 1: Everything to your spouse, then your children
Template: married with children
Last Will and Testament
This is the last will and testament of me, Full Name, of city, province, born DD Month YYYY. I am of sound mind. I revoke all prior wills and codicils made by me.
1. I appoint my spouse, Spouse Full Name, as the executor (estate trustee) of my estate. If my spouse is unable or unwilling to act, I appoint Alternate Full Name.
2. I give all my property, of every kind and wherever located, to my spouse Spouse Full Name if my spouse survives me by thirty days.
3. If my spouse does not survive me by thirty days, I give all my property to my children, names of children, in equal shares. If any child of mine dies before me leaving children of their own, that child's share goes to those grandchildren in equal shares.
Signed by me on DD Month YYYY at city, province.
Your full handwritten signature
Template 2: Single, no children
Template: single, no descendants
Last Will and Testament
This is the last will and testament of me, Full Name, of city, province. I am of sound mind and I revoke all earlier wills.
1. I appoint Executor Full Name as my executor, and if that person cannot act, Alternate Full Name.
2. I give the sum of amount CAD to name of beneficiary.
3. I give my specific item, e.g. vehicle, jewellery to name.
4. I give all the rest of my property (my residue) to main beneficiary. If that person does not survive me by thirty days, I give my residue to alternate beneficiary, e.g. a registered charity and its full legal name.
Signed by me on DD Month YYYY at city, province.
Your full handwritten signature
Template 3: Specific gifts plus a residue
A specific gift (a "bequest" or "legacy") leaves a named item or a sum of money to one person without making them a residual heir. Whatever is left over after specific gifts is the residue, which should always be given to someone so nothing falls into intestacy.
Template: heirs with specific gifts
Last Will and Testament
This is the last will and testament of me, Full Name and address. I revoke all prior wills. I appoint Executor Full Name as my executor.
Specific gifts.
a) I give amount CAD to my relationship and name.
b) I give my item, e.g. wedding ring to name.
c) I give amount CAD to registered charity, full legal name and city.
Residue. I give all the rest of my estate to my children names in equal shares, with a deceased child's share passing to that child's own children.
Signed by me on DD Month YYYY at city, province.
Your full handwritten signature
Ten mistakes that void a holographic will
- Typing or printing any part of it. A typed will is not holographic, and a handwritten signature does not save it.
- Writing on a pre-printed will form, so the printed words are ignored and the rest no longer makes sense.
- Forgetting to sign, or signing in the margin instead of at the end.
- Putting gifts below the signature, where they may be disregarded.
- Having someone else write it out for you. It must be your own handwriting.
- Making it in British Columbia or Prince Edward Island, where it is not valid.
- Naming no executor, which forces the court to appoint an administrator.
- Failing to name a residual beneficiary, so part of the estate passes by intestacy.
- Using vague language ("to whoever cares for me") that cannot be applied.
- Hiding it where no one can find it, so it never takes effect.
Where to keep it
A holographic will only works if it is found. Keep the original somewhere safe and tell your executor exactly where it is. In Quebec, holograph and witnessed wills should be searched for in the wills registries kept by the Chambre des notaires du Quebec and the Barreau du Quebec after death; a notarial will is registered automatically. In the common-law provinces, some courts and law societies offer a wills registry or safekeeping service.
Frequently asked questions
Do I really need no witnesses?
Correct, in the provinces that recognize holographic wills. Witnesses are required only for a formal (attested) will and for any will made in British Columbia or Prince Edward Island.
Does the type of paper matter?
No. Any paper works. What matters is that the entire content is in your handwriting and that you sign it.
How do I change it?
The cleanest way is to write a new will that revokes the old one. For a small change you can add a handwritten, signed codicil, but a fresh will avoids confusion. See how to write a will.
Can a holographic will disinherit my spouse or children?
You can leave them out on paper, but Canadian law lets a court order support out of your estate for a spouse or dependant who was not adequately provided for. See can you disinherit someone in Canada.
Next steps
If your situation is ordinary, a holographic will copied carefully by hand is a real, legally effective will in eight provinces. For the full how-to, read how to write a will in Canada and our free will templates. To understand what a court can override, see dependants' relief, and to see what happens with no will at all, read dying without a will. Official sources: Ontario Succession Law Reform Act and the Alberta Wills and Succession Act on CanLII.