How to Find an Estate Lawyer in Canada (and What to Ask)

Last reviewed October 2026

In a 2026 CIBC poll, 94% of Canadians said everyone should have a Will, but only 52% had one. Without one, provincial law decides who inherits, not you. Among the reasons people gave for not having one, 24% said they did not know where to begin.

For many people, not knowing where to begin really means not knowing who to call. This article covers what kind of lawyer you need, what it costs, the seven steps to finding a good one, every province's law society and referral service, and the questions to ask before you hire.

What kind of lawyer do you need for a Will?

You don't need a lawyer for a Will to be valid, as long as it meets your province's signing and witnessing rules. Whether you should use one, and which kind, depends on your situation. If it is straightforward, an online Will can be an affordable option, and a lawyer who prepares Wills as part of a general practice may be a good choice too. If it is more complex, for example a second marriage with children from a first, a business, or a child with a disability whose inheritance needs to be carefully structured, look for a lawyer whose practice focuses on estate planning, usually listed as Wills and Estates or Wills, Estates and Trusts. Estate law covers three different kinds of work, and many lawyers focus on one or two of them.

When you search a directory, choose estate planning or Wills and Estates. A search for "estate lawyer" alone can return lawyers whose practice is mainly probate files or court disputes.

In Québec, many people have a notary prepare their Will. The province table below links to the notaries' directory.

How much does an estate lawyer cost in Canada?

There is no standard price. What you pay depends on how complex your situation is, the lawyer's experience and where you live.

If your situation is truly simple, a lawyer may cost less than you expect. In Canadian Lawyer's 2024 Legal Fees survey of law firms, the median fee for a simple Will for one person was $450 in Eastern Canada, $575 in Western Canada and $640 in Ontario.

In eState Planner's survey of Canadian estate lawyers, a standard plan for a couple, with a Will and powers of attorney for each spouse, averages $1,450 across Canada and about $1,750 in Toronto, Vancouver and Calgary.

Treat these figures as averages, not as what a good lawyer should charge. Many experienced estate lawyers charge more, and for complex situations that experience is often worth paying for: they take more time to understand your family and finances, and they plan for problems a simpler Will can miss.

Expect a higher quote if you own a business, have property outside your province or Canada, have children from an earlier relationship, have a child with a disability whose inheritance needs to be carefully structured, are separated but not yet divorced, or want tax planning built into your plan. Most firms charge $500 to $1,500 more when a plan needs multiple Wills, and plans that involve a business, trusts or tax planning can cost anywhere from several thousand to tens of thousands of dollars. Lawyers often quote this kind of work individually or bill it by the hour.

A few other things affect what you pay:

• Flat fee or hourly. Most estate lawyers charge a flat fee for a standard plan. If a lawyer bills hourly, ask for a written estimate before any work begins.
• Sales tax. Fees and most disbursements are subject to sales tax (GST or HST, plus provincial sales tax in some provinces). Some disbursements, like probate filing fees paid to the court, are not taxed.
• The first meeting. Some provinces also have a lawyer referral service that can connect you with a lawyer for a short free or low-cost first meeting. The table below lists them.

How to find an estate lawyer in 7 steps

1. Search the directories

Start with the Canadian Bar Association's Find a Lawyer directory, the STEP directory, or your province's lawyer referral service (listed below). Specify the practice area as "Wills and Estates," "estate planning," or "trusts" to narrow down your search.

In the STEP directory, check that the person is a lawyer. STEP members also include accountants, financial planners and other advisors.

2. Gather recommendations

Ask financial advisors, accountants, tax specialists and trusted friends or relatives for recommendations of lawyers they have used, including what they liked and disliked about their experience.

Friends who have recently been an executor are especially helpful, since they have seen a lawyer's work from the other side.

3. Shortlist two or three

Make a list of two or three lawyers who seem to fit your criteria: location, experience, specialty and budget.

4. Check their credentials

Every province and territory has a law society that licenses lawyers. Use its directory (listed below) to confirm the lawyer is in good standing. Most law society directories also show any discipline history.

If your situation is complex, look for specialized estate planning credentials, such as TEP. TEP shows estate training, but many TEPs are not lawyers, so confirm the person is a lawyer licensed in your province. In Ontario, the Law Society also certifies lawyers as Certified Specialists in Estates and Trusts Law.

5. Interview and ask questions

Use initial consultations to assess experience, fees, communication style and trustworthiness. A general overview of your situation is enough at this stage, so the lawyer can gauge the work involved and quote fees. The questions to ask are further down this page. It also helps to have thought through the 15 decisions a Will covers before you go.

6. Decide and get it in writing

Choose the lawyer you feel most comfortable and confident with. Request a retainer agreement or engagement letter outlining fees and services. If the lawyer bills hourly, ask for a written estimate before any work begins.

7. Review and update

Review your estate documents every few years or after major life events, such as a marriage, divorce, birth or inheritance.

Find an estate lawyer in your province

Each province and territory has a law society that licenses lawyers. Use its directory to confirm a lawyer is in good standing. Some provinces also have a lawyer referral service, often run by a separate organization, that can connect you with a lawyer for a short free or low-cost first meeting.

What questions should you ask an estate lawyer?

A first meeting goes faster when you arrive with questions. These are the ones that tell you the most:

• How long have you practised estate planning law?
• Have you handled estates similar in complexity to mine?
• Have you handled Will challenges or estate disputes? Lawyers who have seen Wills contested know how to draft yours to hold up.
• Will you do the work yourself, or will an associate or law clerk? Who will be my day-to-day contact?
• Do you charge a flat fee or hourly rate for estate planning services?
• What would a typical estate plan cost for my situation?
• Do you also assist with trusts, powers of attorney, healthcare directives, business succession planning, or charitable giving?
• Can my documents be signed by video, or do I need to come in?
• My spouse and I want to do our Wills together. How does that work? Lawyers have specific rules for advising a couple together.

One more question is easy to overlook, and it matters to your executor:

Some firms store original Wills for clients, but many no longer do. If yours does, make sure your executor knows which firm has it.

Signs you should keep looking

A first meeting is also your chance to rule someone out. Keep looking if:

• They are not licensed in your province, or their law society listing shows they are not in good standing.
• They have estate credentials but are not a lawyer licensed in your province. TEP shows estate training, but many TEPs are not lawyers.
• They will not put the fees and services in writing. Ask for a retainer agreement or engagement letter, and for hourly work, a written estimate before any work begins.
• You are not comfortable sharing personal family details with them. All lawyers are bound by confidentiality, so the real question is whether you trust this person with those details.

What to bring once you've hired an estate lawyer

At an initial consultation, a general overview of your situation is enough. After you sign a retainer agreement, your lawyer will need a full picture of your situation. Wait until then to share detailed financial information and documents.

Lawyers who bill by the hour charge for the time it takes to gather this information, so having it ready saves time and money. Prepare:

• A list of what you own and owe, with rough values and whose name each item is in
• Who is named as beneficiary on RRSPs, RRIFs, TFSAs, pensions and life insurance (these usually pass outside the Will)
• Family details: spouse, children, any prior marriages, anyone who depends on you
• Who you would want as executor, guardian and power of attorney
• Your current Will and powers of attorney, if you have them
• Property or accounts outside your province or Canada, and any business you own

If you use Estate Kit, your Legal Onboarding Summary brings all of this together in one document you can share with your lawyer once you've retained them, so their time goes to advice rather than information gathering.

Where to keep your Will once it's signed

Your executor will usually need the original Will, not a copy, to settle your estate, so keep it in a safe place your executor knows about and can reach quickly. That might be your lawyer's vault, if the firm stores Wills, a home safe, or your Estate Kit physical portfolio. Whichever you choose, tell your executor where it is and how to get to it, including the combination or key if it's in a home safe.

Then have the conversation. The people you named should know that they have been named, what the role involves, and where your important information is.

A Will says what you want done. It doesn't say where to find everything. The person who steps in will still need to find the accounts, policies, contacts and instructions, which is the other half of being estate-ready.

Questions families ask

Estate Kit provides general information and organizational guidance. It is not legal, tax, or financial advice.