Survey: 58% of British Columbians Have Put off Preparing for Death
Online estate planning platform Willful launches today to help BC residents create wills in less than 20 minutes for a fraction of the traditional price
VANCOUVER, B.C., Mar. 12, 2019 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Death is a sure thing in life, but most British Columbians aren't prepared for it, according to a new survey that found that 58% of BC residents have not created a will, with the vast majority of millennials (90%) saying they've also put it off. Of residents who do have a will, 1 in 10 reported theirs is out of date. The survey was commissioned by Willful, an online estate planning platform that launches today in BC to help residents create a legal will outlining their final wishes and estate plans in less than 20 minutes, and for a fraction of the price of visiting a lawyer.
"I created Willful after a relative passed away unexpectedly and our family was left to navigate his wishes. I realized through that experience that despite death being an inevitability in life, no one wants to think about it or plan for it," said Kevin Oulds, Founder & CEO, Willful. "People put off estate planning because it can be expensive and time-consuming, and that's what we set out to change with Willful. Our mission is to change the way Canadians prepare for and deal with death, and we're excited to launch our platform in BC today."
Willful was founded as an alternative to traditional estate planning, and it allows customers to make end-of-life arrangements quickly and easily. Customers are guided through entering basic information including their name and date of birth, as well as the names of their beneficiaries. When the customer is finished filling out details about property, gifts, and beneficiaries, Willful generates a document (or documents depending on the package selected) and provides instructions for how to make it legally binding by having it signed in the presence of two witnesses. Willful offers three packages, starting at $99 CAD for an individual will and going up to $249 CAD for a mirrored will for couples with a power of attorney for personal care (living will) and power of attorney for property. The company also allows for unlimited edits to each document, saving users even more time and money in the future.
Willful launched in Ontario in 2017, and Alberta in 2018, and since then has created thousands of documents for customers in those provinces. The Willful team has worked with leading estate lawyers across Canada to launch in each province, they worked with Surrey firm Patrola Law to ensure the documents are tailored for BC customers.
"Living in a complex society such as ours means that everyone should have a will. While most people can save on taxes and probate fees through meeting with a lawyer, some people simply cannot afford to do so," said Sundeep Singh Gill, a lawyer at law firm Patrola Law. "Others may have very simple estates. For these people Willful is an ideal solution."
To learn more about Willful, visit willful.co
About Willful
Willful's mission is to change the way Canadians prepare for and deal with death. Their first product is an online platform that makes it affordable, convenient, and easy for Canadians to create a legal will online. The platform provides simplified estate planning services (creation of a Legal Will, Power of Attorney for Personal Care, and Power of Attorney for property), enabling consumers to create a will and/or power of attorney by following a clear step-by-step process. Willful's platform was developed in collaboration with leading estate lawyers, with pricing plans starting at $99. Willful is based in Toronto, and it is currently available to residents of Ontario, British Columbia, and Alberta.
Survey Methodology
From March 4th to March 6th 2019, a survey was commissioned by Willful with a representative sample of 800 online British Columbia members of the Angus Reid Forum. The survey was conducted in both English and French.
SOURCE Eighty-Eight
Share this article