Expat Legal Wills

September 20, 2024

Today's Wills and Probate

Wills in North America vs England & Wales

Tim Hewson joins the Today's Wills and Probate podcast to discuss LegalWills – his Canadian-based technology company providing will writing and estate planning services in Canada and North America. On the general trends over the past 20+ years in the sector Tim bemoans the speed of innovation and change, identifying it often needs legislative intervention and lobbying to enact. But greater acceptance of digital in our daily lives has made online wills more accessible and acceptable, which, says Tim, can only be a good thing.

August 19, 2024

The Business Line Podcast

Are Digital Wills the Future? The SHOCKING TRUTH About Wills... and Why You Need One NOW!

Today on the show we sit down with the Owner & Founder of LegalWills, Tim Hewson! In this episode, we explore the inception of LegalWills, the hurdles of disrupting the legal industry, and the journey from bootstrapping to success. Tim shares insightful stories about entering different markets, the evolution of digital will creation, and the importance of having a will for financial planning. A must-watch for aspiring entrepreneurs and those intrigued by the intersection of law and technology!

August 7, 2024

Investopedia

The 6 Best Online Will Makers of 2024

US Legal Wills has one of the most affordable will options we've seen, offers 40% off forms for partners or spouses, and also has an add-on service to get an attorney to review your estate plan. Plus, it's one of the only websites that accommodates affordable wills for expats and those who have assets outside the U.S.

April 1, 2024

Best Online Will Makers 2024 USA

Best Online Will Makers List

US Legal Wills are very affordable compared to many other companies or the average rates of hiring a lawyer to prepare your document. Each of their products and services come at a different price point, but all of them stay well below the market’s average. Our bottom line is that this is a hugely popular online will service with a sufficient reputation and some great revision features.

August 21, 2023

Tim Hewson, Fintech

Should You Get AI to Write Your Will?

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its potential have captivated the world. It is a powerful tool, but should you entrust the creation of your last Will and testament to AI?

March 13, 2023

David Edey, Executor Help Podcast

Confident and Prepared: The Emotional Impact of Planning Your Legacy with a Will (Part 2)

David concludes his conversation with Tim Hewson, CEO of LegalWills. Learn how creating a Will can reduce stress and anxiety.

March 6, 2023

David Edey, Executor Help Podcast

Why You Shouldn't Wait: The Benefits of Creating or updating a Will now (Part 1)

Over 55% of Canadian and American adults do not have an estate plan which includes a Will. David has a conversation with Tim Hewson, CEO of LegalWills, on the importance of planning for the future and why getting a Will is critical.

February 15, 2022

Rob Carrick, Globe and Mail

Have you answered the 'what happens to my family if I die suddenly' question?

What would happen to your family if you died suddenly? If you have an up to date will and term life insurance, you can be confident you've done your best to provide an answer.

January 5, 2022

Best Startup Canada

Tim Hewson: Removing the Barriers To Preparing Estate Planning Documents

Most Canadians don't have a Will, but everybody needs one. We are addressing the barriers to preparing a Will by making the process affordable and convenient.

December 22, 2021

Jennifer Ferreira, CTV News

Why fewer wills are being stored in lawyer vaults

A survey conducted by LegalWills.ca earlier this year shows that more than half of participants decided to write or update their wills within the past 12 months because of the pandemic.

December 20, 2021

Lesley-Anne Scorgie, Toronto Star

Start your family on the path to financial wellness

If you've got an old will, it's possible it's invalid now. Let this be your cue for a refresh. You can do your will through a lawyer (typically when your situation is a bit more complicated) or through an online platform like... Legalwills.ca.

December 14, 2021

Elizabeth Raymer, Canadian Lawyer Magazine

Choosing the kind of last will and testament to make

LegalWills is one of a few companies to offer online will-making services across Canada, including in the province of Quebec, and is the first (and to date only) such service to offer the forms in French as well as English.

November 9, 2020

Jiro Honda, CONAN Daily News

Online will DIY kits flooding the US

US Legal Wills have online will kits that are incredibly fast to create. The process takes 20 minutes, yet is fully customizable with many options, the end document can also be reviewed by a lawyer. There’s a bunch of other legal documents to make use of, such as Trusts, Power of Attorneys and Expatriate Wills. These features make it truly stand out.

August 17, 2020

Kaitie Fraser, CBC News

People are eager to have their wills made amid COVID-19 concerns

"We've certainly seen this year that trigger for writing a will has never been higher," said Tim Hewson, CEO and co-founder of LegalWills. About one will is completed every minute on LegalWills, said Hewson, who also saw a record number of people using the service in April.

August 5, 2020

Travis Dhanraj, Global News

Estate planning company offers Canadian education workers free wills ahead of September

LegalWills is offering Canadian education workers free wills and Health Care Power of Attorney documents in August as debate continues over how to reopen schools safely in the fall amid the coronavirus pandemic. "We wanted to do our part to support the education workers who are returning to school and risking their own health and safety during these uncertain times," said Tim Hewson, the estate planning company's chief executive officer and co-founder.

July 31, 2020

Dragan Sutevski, Entrepreneurship in a Box

Top 3 Online Will Makers in 2020

LegalWills is one of the biggest online will makers in the world. It offers legal (and licensed) estate planning services in the US, Canada, and the UK. But LegalWills offers one of the most cost-friendly services of this caliber. It also offers you free updates for a year and discounts for your other family members.

May 14, 2020

Investopedia

The 6 Best Online Will Makers of 2020

April 23, 2020

Ross McLaughlin, CTV News

COVID-19 prompts more people to make wills

"April has been our busiest month in our 20 years of offering our services, by some margin," Tim Hewson, President of LegalWills.ca, said in an email to CTV News.

April 1, 2020

Maham Abedi, Global News

Coronavirus has 'unprecedented' number of Canadians making a will

A similar uptick in usage is occurring at another online legal document creation company called Canadian Legal Wills. Tim Hewson, the co-founder and president of the company, said the rise in demand has been "unprecedented" across the company's operations in Canada, United States and the United Kingdom.

March 12, 2020

Liam, Money to the Masses

The best online will writing services in the UK

Legal Wills: Basic service with Wills prepared from an online questionnaire, printed by the customer then signed and witnessed. Legal Wills has received over 80 reviews on Google with an average score of 4.9 out of 5.0.

January 31, 2020

Truc Nguyen, CBC

Finally going to make a will? Here's what the experts say you should consider

For instance, for less than one hundred dollars, LegalWills.ca does offer a lawyer-review service for your documents to offer what Hewson describes as "reassurances, suggestions, recommendations," but that report is provided via email. "We do have [this service] as a safeguard because we do have options that allow people to become quite creative with what they want to put in," says Hewson.

January 4, 2020

Erica Alini, Global News

4 financial resolutions to really get a handle on your money in 2020

Thankfully, crossing off both a will and life insurance from your to-do list is getting easier and easier if you have a simple financial situation. Solutions like Willful and Legal Wills allow Canadians to make wills and set up a power of attorney online and for a fraction of the cost of seeing a lawyer.

January 1, 2020

Top Consumer Reviews

Best Online Wills

U.S. Legal Wills is designed to offer all the legal documentation one might be in need of before the end of life. They have been in business for over 19 years and are run by Parting Wishes, Inc. which is the parent company of Parting Wishes. The products they offer consist of a Last Will and Testament, Power of Attorney, Living Will, Expatriate Will, and Life Locker.

December 4, 2019

Ian Hull, The Globe and Mail

Technology tools to make estate planning easier

LegalWills.ca provides users access to wills and powers of attorney templates so that they can create their own estate-planning documents and store copies of them online securely after they have been executed. Although these services might lack personal connection and personalized legal advice, they may be a suitable alternative to formal lawyer-assisted estate planning for individuals who favour convenience and expediency.

November 30, 2019

The Times, Money Mentor

Online will writers

What does LegalWills.co.uk offer? As well as offering you the ability to create single and mirror wills through its site, it provides some specialist services for US and Canadian expats.

November 6, 2019

Rachel Hartman, U.S. News & World Report<

The Best Online Will Making Programs

To manage assets outside of the U.S. or set up specific instructions for loved ones, you can create a will through US Legal Wills. The online will-making tool asks questions about your estate to help you line up information your executor can use to properly distribute assets. You can also tap into additional features, such as a mirror capability that lets you share data between spousal accounts.

October 30, 2019

Rachel Hartman, U.S. News & World Report<

How to Write a Will Online

If you want to leave an inheritance to minors, you can set up a trust and name a trustee to manage it. "You can then decide in your will the age that you think is most appropriate for the minor to receive their inheritance," says Tim Hewson, founder and CEO of USLegalWills.com in New York.

October 22, 2019

Josh Patoka, Well Kept Wallet

13 Best Online Will Makers in 2020

Most online will makers only provide service if you live in the 50 U.S. states. US Legal Wills offers wills for expatriates who live outside the United States. You can also get a will if you have assets in Canada or the United Kingdom.

October 21, 2019

How to Save Money

How To Write A Will: A Guide For Canadians

You can either write it on a blank piece of paper in your own handwriting or use an online interactive will service (LegalWills.ca). If anything, remember that your will must be signed and dated by yourself, and two attending witnesses that are not beneficiaries or your spouse, for good measure.

October 15, 2019

Carol Roth, Fox Business

Here are the top estate planning mistakes to avoid

Despite knowing this, too many people put off gathering key documents together. Tim Hewson, president of USLegalWills.com, believes that "waiting for a 'more appropriate time' to put together your will is a mistake. Everybody should have a will. It should be written when you are young and updated throughout your life as your circumstances change."

September 27, 2019

The Chronicle Journal

Golden arches and a sick singer; In-The-News is a little squirrely for Sept. 27

Among the big errors is assuming that all assets will go to the surviving spouse if there are children. Failing to have someone in charge of the estate can also tear families apart, says Tim Hewson, president of LegalWills.ca.

September 26, 2019

Ross Marowits, The Canadian Press

Dying without a will can expose families to financial hardships, say experts

"If you care about any people while you're alive to leave them without a will you're leaving people with such a mess," says Tim Hewson, president of LegalWills.ca, an online service available in Canada outside Quebec. Failing to have someone in charge of the estate can tear families apart, he said in an interview. "Families who have previously got along just fine, if there's no process, there's nobody in charge, then that can cause a lot of animosity and acrimony in families."

June 29, 2019

Sam Mire, Disruptor Daily

What Trends Are Shaping Law In 2019? 22 Experts Share Their Insights

Tim Hewson, co-founder and CEO of USLegalWills.com: "I think estate planning has seen a dramatic change over the last decade or so. Dozens of websites offer online estate planning services that have become more and more sophisticated. Between them, millions of wills and other estate planning documents have been created, but not one of these websites is offered by a law firm."

June 11, 2019

Tom Drake, Maple Money

Are Canadian Will Kits or Online Wills Worth It?

LegalWills.caa has been providing Canadians with online estate planning products for almost 20 years, a fact which lends to their credibility in the industry. That said, their top selling point is affordability. With Legalwills.ca, you can receive a last will and testament for as little as $49.95, while a couple's package that includes a will, and power of attorney for you and your spouse, is only $144.

May 29, 2019

Sam Juric, The Walrus

Will Millennials Be the First Generation to Stop Fearing Death?

Tim Hewson was thirty-two when he co-founded Legal Wills, in 2000, after he realized how ill prepared he and his friends were: one night while out for after-work drinks, his group realized not one person at the table had a will. He soon left his job at a tech company and cofounded his web service, where clients can pay to have their wills prepared online.

March 4, 2019

Dan Rafter, Quicken Loans, Money Matters

What Happens If You Die Without a Will? You Might Leave Behind Hurt Feelings, Legal Battles and Chaos

Tim Hewson, chief executive officer of USLegalWills.com, an online service based in New York City that helps people write their wills, said that confusion often reigns when people die without a will. As Hewson said, if you die without a will, people will inevitably try to claim parts of your estate. Resentment might result when someone finally steps up to take responsibility. The person who wants to handle the disbursement of your estate will have to apply through a court process to be officially appointed as the estate administrator. While this happens, your assets will be frozen.

January 9, 2019

Rachel Hartman, U.S. News & World Report

Should You Make a Free Will Online?

If you use an online service, you'll have access to software that guides you through the process. "You don't receive any legal advice with this option," says Tim Hewson, president of USLegalWills.com. Many of the online options allow you to make updates over time if your circumstances change. Asking for professional help to create a will gives you the opportunity to have an expert help you think through details. "This is likely to give you a well-drafted will, but it is the most expensive and least convenient approach," Hewson says.

December 27, 2018

Anja Webb, NY Metro Parents

Why It's Important to Have a Will and How to Write One

USLegalWills.com allows you to make your will at home by simply filling in a form and answering questions. With a fee of approximately $40, it's a more affordable option for young professionals or those with young children.

December 15, 2018

Jorgen Vik, The Daily Progress

You don't need to be extremely wealthy to make donations that count

According to U.S. Legal Wills, approximately eight out of nine with a will have not included a charitable beneficiary among their heirs (https://www.uslegalwills.com/blog/planned-giving/).

October 27, 2018

Erica Alini, Global News

Money 123: Importance of having a Will

Like saving for retirement, writing a legal will is a financial must-do. In this edition of our Money 123 series, online journalist Erica Alini looks at what can happen when someone dies without a will. LegalWills.ca has been online since 2003. It operates all over English-speaking Canada and is planning to launch with an English-language website in Québec next year. (But the company is also working on a French-language service to be rolled out throughout the country, co-founder Tim Hewson told Global News.)

October 20, 2018

Erica Alini, Global News

7 bad things that can happen if you don't have a will — and how to get one for cheap

But perhaps most importantly, LegalWills allows for unlimited free updates to your will, which means you don't have to pay a lawyer if, say, you have another child or get divorced. Still, if you'd like to get a legal opinion on your online draft, the site will connect you to a lawyer who'll review what you have.

July 31, 2018

Robb Engen, The Toronto Star

Canadians' legal will options, made easy

LegalWills.ca is the most affordable and comprehensive online will service. Its longevity is an advantage, as many of its will have gone through the probate process without any reported issues.

November 6, 2017

Jean Ko Din, The Catholic Register

From age to age, a guide for your Will

Hewson, who is also CEO of LegalWills.ca, has 17 years of experience under his belt providing Canadians step-by-step support for creating Wills. Having a Will is only the first task, he said. Maintaining the document throughout your lifetime ensures that your estate plan goals will be carried out in your best interest and in the best interest of your heirs.

September 13, 2017

Emma Maslin, The Money Whisperer

How Can I Write a Will - The Different Approaches

Online services, like the one provided by Beyond and LegalWills.co.uk are becoming more sophisticated, but are built from the same software used by estate planning solicitors. So, although you are not receiving legal advice, the final document is in many cases word for word identical to one prepared by a solicitor.

July 14, 2017

Rob Wile, Mic.com

Do I need a will? How to write a last will and testament, DIY templates and when to prepare one.

If you don't want to write a basic will yourself, you can use online templates from places like Quicken, LegalZoom, and USLegalWills, all of which cost less than $100.

May 3, 2017

Bruce Sellery, Moolala, Money Made Simple

Fast and Simple Way To Make a Will

Half of Canadians haven't got a Will. We'll show you the fastest, simplest option out there with Tim Hewson from LegalWills.ca.

June 30, 2016

Kate Ashford, Forbes, Personal Finance

Horror Stories: When You Die Without A Will

It's not just young people without a lot of assets. Among seniors age 65 and older, only half have up-to-date wills in place, the survey found. "We really wanted to explore this group after hearing from people who had a will, but had it written before they got married or had children," said Tim Hewson, CEO of USLegalWills.com, in the press release. "In essence, although they technically had a will, it was worthless."

June 21, 2016

Ross McLaughlin & Carly Yoshida, CTV News

Is an online will right for you?

LegalWills.ca creates custom will documents online for about $40. To create an online will, users set up an account, answer a series of questions, and then print the documents. The site promises the entire process will only take about 20 minutes. Since hiring a lawyer to draft a will can potentially cost more than $1,000, the price is attractive for many people looking for a cheaper alternative.

June 15, 2016

Lynne Butler, Estate Law Canada

New survey shows 74% of Canadians don't have an up-to-date will

This company is an online will-writing service that uses software to create an interactive experience that results in the customer having a new will. Here is one of the statements made in their report: "The service at LegalWills.ca uses the exact same software used by estate planning lawyers across Canada. So the final product is usually word-for-word identical to a Will produced by a law office."

May 19, 2016

Beth Pinsker, Reuters

Dearly beloved: Prince's death prompts uptick in wills

USLegalWills.com posted a 61 percent surge in the number of people completing a will in the three weeks after Prince's death. Prince's relatives, meanwhile, face the expensive and time-consuming process of a state-ordered probate.

April 20, 2016

Carole Hallett Mobbs, Expat Child, Financial

How to write your Last Will and Testament as an expat

The service at ExpatLegalWills.com allows you to prepare a Will to cover your assets in the UK, the US and Canada, written to deal exclusively with those assets. It differs from other Will preparation services in that a Will created at ExpatLegalWills.com can work together with a Will written for your new country of residence.

November 11, 2015

Constance Gustke, The New York Times

Plan Your Digital Legacy, and Update Often

And some assets like digital currencies, video game characters and Internet domain names exist only in cyberspace. "So they can be overlooked, since they aren't as tangible," said Tim Hewson, president of USLegalWills.com, adding that such assets "can be worth tens of thousands of dollars."

June 23, 2015

Jason Heath, Financial Post

When a do-it-yourself will is better than no will at all

Staples has long offered fill-in-the-blank will kits for $19.95. Companies like LegalWills.ca offer interactive online wills for $49.95. And Walmart jumped into the will market last year, offering $99 wills through Axess Law Offices in some of their Ontario stores.

February 22, 2013

Arthur Comings, Nerdwallet, Estate Planning

How Much Does Estate Planning Cost?

At USLegalWills.com you can step through a series of questions to create a custom, inexpensive, legal will that you can update at any time at no extra charge. The interactive software will catch errors that you might make with a paper form.

July 8, 2010

Angela Self, The Globe and Mail, Personal Finance

Baby steps to financial preparation

With a little homework and prep on your part, you can minimize the cost of working with a lawyer. Will preparation checklists will help. Or, you could draft your own will with help from such websites as LegalWills.ca

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In The Media

Today's Wills and Probate

The Business Line Podcast

Investopedia

Best Online Will Makers 2024 USA

Tim Hewson, Fintech

David Edey, Executor Help Podcast

David Edey, Executor Help Podcast

Rob Carrick, Globe and Mail

Best Startup Canada

Jennifer Ferreira, CTV News

Lesley-Anne Scorgie, Toronto Star

Elizabeth Raymer, Canadian Lawyer Magazine

Jiro Honda, CONAN Daily News

Kaitie Fraser, CBC News

Travis Dhanraj, Global News

Dragan Sutevski, Entrepreneurship in a Box

Investopedia

Ross McLaughlin, CTV News

Maham Abedi, Global News

Liam, Money to the Masses

Truc Nguyen, CBC

Erica Alini, Global News

Top Consumer Reviews

Ian Hull, The Globe and Mail

The Times, Money Mentor

Rachel Hartman, U.S. News & World Report<

Rachel Hartman, U.S. News & World Report<

Josh Patoka, Well Kept Wallet

How to Save Money

Carol Roth, Fox Business

The Chronicle Journal

Ross Marowits, The Canadian Press

Sam Mire, Disruptor Daily

Tom Drake, Maple Money

Sam Juric, The Walrus

Dan Rafter, Quicken Loans, Money Matters

Rachel Hartman, U.S. News & World Report

Anja Webb, NY Metro Parents

Jorgen Vik, The Daily Progress

Erica Alini, Global News

Erica Alini, Global News

Robb Engen, The Toronto Star

Jean Ko Din, The Catholic Register

Emma Maslin, The Money Whisperer

Rob Wile, Mic.com

Bruce Sellery, Moolala, Money Made Simple

Kate Ashford, Forbes, Personal Finance

Ross McLaughlin & Carly Yoshida, CTV News

Lynne Butler, Estate Law Canada

Beth Pinsker, Reuters

Carole Hallett Mobbs, Expat Child, Financial

Constance Gustke, The New York Times

Jason Heath, Financial Post

Arthur Comings, Nerdwallet, Estate Planning

Angela Self, The Globe and Mail, Personal Finance

Get The Latest News

Interested in Learning More?