This page gathers five will templates covering most ordinary family situations in Canada. Each is written so it can be copied out as a holographic will: entirely in your own handwriting and signed by you. Adapt each template before copying it.
Template 1: Married with children
Template: spouse first, then children
Last Will and Testament
This is the last will and testament of me, Full Name, of city, province. I am of sound mind and revoke all earlier wills and codicils.
1. I appoint my spouse Spouse Full Name as my executor, and if my spouse cannot act, Alternate Full Name.
2. I give all my property 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 in equal shares, a deceased child's share passing to that child's own children.
Signed on DD Month YYYY at city, province.
Your full handwritten signature
Template 2: Single, no children
Template: single person
Last Will and Testament
This is the last will and testament of me, Full Name, of city, province. I revoke all earlier wills.
1. I appoint Executor Full Name as my executor, and if unable to act, Alternate Full Name.
2. I give the following specific gifts: amount CAD to name; my item to name.
3. I give all the rest of my estate to main beneficiary. If that person does not survive me by thirty days, I give it to alternate beneficiary.
Signed on DD Month YYYY at city, province.
Your full handwritten signature
Template 3: Blended family
In a second marriage with children from a prior relationship, be explicit. A gift of "everything to my spouse" can unintentionally leave nothing to your own children, who would then have to consider a dependants' relief claim.
Template: second marriage, children from before
Last Will and Testament
This is the last will and testament of me, Full Name, of city, province, married to spouse name, with children names from a previous relationship. I revoke all earlier wills.
1. I appoint Executor Full Name as my executor.
2. I give specific share or amount, e.g. our home, or 50 percent to my spouse name.
3. I give the remaining share to my children names in equal shares.
4. I have considered all of the people who depend on me and I believe this provides adequately for each of them.
Signed on DD Month YYYY at city, province.
Your full handwritten signature
Template 4: Leaving a gift to charity
Template: family plus a charitable gift
Last Will and Testament
This is the last will and testament of me, Full Name, of city, province. I revoke all earlier wills and appoint Executor Full Name as my executor.
1. I give amount CAD (or percentage of my estate) to full legal name of the registered charity, city, and registration number if known, for its general purposes. The receipt of the charity's authorized officer is a full discharge to my executor.
2. I give all the rest of my estate to my children names in equal shares.
Signed on DD Month YYYY at city, province.
Your full handwritten signature
Template 5: Parents of minor children
If you have minor children, name a guardian. The appointment is usually a recommendation that a court can confirm, but it carries strong weight in showing your wishes.
Template: naming a guardian
Last Will and Testament
This is the last will and testament of me, Full Name, of city, province, parent of names and birth years of children. I revoke all earlier wills.
1. I appoint Executor Full Name as my executor.
2. If there is no surviving parent or guardian, I appoint Guardian Full Name of city as guardian of my minor children.
3. I give all my estate to my children in equal shares, to be held by my executor in trust until each child reaches age, e.g. 21, with my executor able to use income and capital for each child's care and education in the meantime.
Signed on DD Month YYYY at city, province.
Your full handwritten signature
How to copy a template correctly
- Write every word by hand. These templates are only valid if reproduced entirely in your handwriting.
- Sign at the very end, below the last clause.
- Add the date and place. Not strictly required everywhere, but it identifies your most recent will.
- Use full names and clear descriptions of people, items, and amounts.
- Avoid crossing out. If you make an error, start again on a clean sheet.
- Tell your executor where the original is kept.
Next steps
To understand the rules behind these templates, read our guide to the holographic will in Canada and the step-by-step how to write a will. To check what a court can change, see dependants' relief, and for the no-will outcome, read dying without a will. For complex estates, compare the witnessed and notarial will options. You can also return to the homepage to build a personalized draft. Official sources: Ontario Succession Law Reform Act and the Alberta Wills and Succession Act on CanLII.