How Long Does It Take to Make a Will Online?
Table of Contents
Last Updated: November 5, 2026
How Long Making a Will Online Takes, Start to Finish
Completing the online questionnaire takes a varying amount of time depending on the complexity of your estate. The full process from first login to a legally signed will usually takes longer, because the questionnaire is only one step. Review, printing, signing, witnessing, and secure storage all add time, and the total depends on how complex your family and property are.
A realistic timeline has five stages, and only one of them happens on screen:
Gathering information: one to three evenings, depending on how organized your records are
Completing the questionnaire: the time varies with the complexity of your estate
Reviewing the draft: a few hours to a few days, depending on how carefully you read and whether you ask someone to check it
Printing and signing with witnesses: usually under an hour of active time, but scheduling two adult witnesses can add days
Storing the original and telling your executor: under an hour, once the will is signed
Plan for the signing timeline to vary with your circumstances and the availability of your witnesses. That timeline can stretch if you need to track down account statements, talk to family about guardianship, or coordinate a signing session with two witnesses who are not beneficiaries.
A common pattern is that the questionnaire takes one evening, the review takes another, and the signing waits until the next weekend when witnesses are available. If you want the will signed sooner, book your witnesses before you start the questionnaire.
Government of Canada guidance on wills and estate planning
Watch out: a will is not legally complete when the online service generates the PDF. It is complete only when it has been signed and witnessed according to the formalities of your province.
Information You Need Before You Start
Having your information ready is the single biggest time-saver when you make a will online. Many people stop partway through because they have to search for a policy number or a property address. A short list of details, gathered first, keeps the session moving.
Before you begin, gather these items:
Full legal names, dates of birth and addresses for your beneficiaries
Names and contact details for your chosen executor and any alternate
Names and birth dates of any minor children and their guardians
A rough list of your major assets, such as a home, vehicles and bank accounts
A rough list of debts, such as a mortgage or a car loan
The more precise you are, the less you will need to revisit later. If you do not know a value, a close estimate is fine for now. You can update it before signing.
Step-by-Step: Completing the Online Questionnaire
The questionnaire walks you through your wishes one question at a time. Most platforms save your progress, so you can stop and return without losing your answers. Work through it in order, and do not rush the choices that matter most.
Choosing Beneficiaries, Executors and Guardians
These three choices shape the rest of your will, so make them with care. Decide who receives your property, who will manage your estate, and who will raise any minor children.
Beneficiaries: Name the people or charities who will inherit. Add a backup for each one.
Executor: Choose someone trustworthy, organized and willing to take on the role. Name an alternate.
Guardians: If you have children under 18, name a guardian and a backup. Talk to them first.
A common mistake is naming an executor who lives far away or is already overloaded. Choose someone who can handle paperwork and deadlines.
Listing Assets and Debts
Next, list what you own and what you owe. Be as complete as you can, but do not stall if a small item is missing. You can add it later by updating the will.
Start with the big items: your home, bank accounts, investments, and vehicles. Then add smaller assets like jewelry or sentimental items. List debts separately so your executor knows what must be paid before anything is distributed.
The questionnaire covers three key choices and your assets and debts, and each one takes a different amount of time to complete.
Step | What to do | Time or frequency |
Choosing beneficiaries, executors and guardians | Name beneficiaries, an executor and a guardian, each with a backup | Varies with family complexity |
Listing assets and debts | List major assets, then smaller items and debts separately | Can be updated before signing |
Reviewing the draft | Check names, dates and asset descriptions before printing | A few hours to a few days |
Online Will Checklist: Preparation and Time-Saving Tips
A short checklist keeps you on track. Use it before you open the questionnaire.
Gather identity details for yourself, beneficiaries and guardians
Find your latest statements for bank, investment and retirement accounts
Note the location of property deeds, vehicle titles and insurance policies
Decide on your executor and at least one backup
Set aside a quiet block of 60 to 90 minutes
Confirm two adult witnesses who are not beneficiaries
Watch out: naming a beneficiary as a witness can invalidate their gift in many cases. Choose witnesses who will not inherit under the will.
Many people find that splitting the work into two sessions helps. Gather information one evening, then complete the questionnaire the next.
What Makes an Online Will Take Longer
Several factors can stretch the timeline beyond a quick session. Knowing them ahead of time helps you plan.
Blended families with children from more than one relationship
Property held in more than one province or country
Business ownership or shares in a private company
Complicated debts, guarantees or pending legal matters
Several beneficiaries who each need specific instructions
Each of these adds decisions, and each decision adds time. A will for a single person with one bank account is far quicker than one for a family with a cottage, a business and children from two marriages.
How to Sign a Will Validly in Canada
Signing is where many online wills fail, because a will that does not meet the formal requirements of your province is not valid. Requirements differ across provinces, so confirm the rules that apply where you live before you sign anything.
In most provinces, the basic steps are the same. You sign the will in the presence of two adult witnesses at the same time. The witnesses then sign in your presence. Neither witness should be a beneficiary or the spouse of a beneficiary. Some provinces also require you to sign each page or to initial changes, so read the signing instructions that come with your document.
Provincial rules on will formalities and witnessing
After signing, store the original in a safe place and tell your executor where to find it. Many people keep it with a lawyer, in a bank safety deposit box, or with a trusted family member. Keep a copy for your own records, but the signed original is the one that matters.
What happens after the online questionnaire matters as much as the signing itself. Check any draft carefully for names, dates, and asset descriptions before you print. If you find an error, correct it before signing rather than after, because a signed will with a mistake may need to be redone.
Watch out: electronic signatures and remote witnessing are not accepted on the same terms in every province, so do not assume that signing on a screen is valid where you live. If you are unsure, use pen and paper with two witnesses present in person, which is the safest default across the country.
Online Will vs Lawyer: Timelines and Trade-Offs
Both options produce a legal will. They differ in speed, cost and the level of personal guidance you receive. Completion time differs between the two options, depending on the complexity of your estate and the process involved.
Cost matters too. Pricing varies widely, so check current rates directly with each provider before you decide. You can visit the Upper Canada Wills website for current pricing or request a quote for your situation.
Choose a lawyer when your estate is complex, when you have business interests, or when you want advice on tax or family conflict. Work through seven fixed-fee questions to decide whether professional help is worth the cost. An online will suits a straightforward estate where your wishes are clear.
Book Your Free Consultation to Start Your Will
If you are ready to begin, request your free consultation with Upper Canada Wills. You can review your situation and ask questions before committing to anything.
For a deeper look at the steps, see our guide to drafting a will online and review how to sign it correctly.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to make a will online?
The time spent on the online questionnaire depends on how complicated the estate is and how quickly information is gathered. The full process is longer, because it also includes review, any revisions, and signing. Simple estates can be finished in a single sitting, while blended families, business owners, or people with property in several provinces usually need more time. Check your own timeline against the provider's stated steps before you begin.
Can I complete an online will in one sitting?
Often yes, if you have your information ready. Gathering the names and contact details of your beneficiaries, executors and guardians, along with a list of major assets and debts, is the step that most often stretches a session. Saving your progress and returning later is usually possible, so a longer task can be split across several days without starting over.
Is an online will legally valid in Canada?
An online will can be legally valid in Canada if it meets the requirements of the province or territory where you live, including the signing and witnessing rules. Those rules are set by provincial legislation, so check the current requirements for your province on its official government website. Having a lawyer review the document is one way to reduce the risk of errors that could affect how the will is interpreted or accepted later.
What can make an online will take longer to complete?
Common causes of delay include a complex family structure, such as children from a previous relationship, assets in more than one province or country, business interests, and uncertainty about who should be named as guardian or executor. Missing account details or property values also slow the process, as does waiting for a lawyer to review and respond to questions. Preparing your information in advance is the most effective way to keep the timeline short.
Starting a will takes less effort than most people expect. Gather your information, work through the questionnaire at your own pace, and sign with the right witnesses. Upper Canada Wills offers lawyer-prepared estate plans with upfront pricing and a free consultation, so you can plan with confidence.
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