If you don’t have a will, why not?

This is a super painful story to share but it’s really important for me to talk about it. When my mom died, she had a very standard will that passed all of her assets to my dad. Because she hadn’t done any other planning or made any changes to her will before she died, my brother and I had no financial security whatsoever. On the eve of going to university, my parents had saved nothing. I had no money, no funding, no assets from my mom. My entire financial security was tied with my dad. And let me tell you, it didn’t go well. I didn’t have enough money to buy a new pair of jeans to go to school in. I had my mother’s government death benefit which if I remember correctly, was about $150/month.

What happens if you die without a will? A person who dies without a will is called an intestate, and most people don’t know what happens if you die without one. It’s a common myth that the government can claim your money and assets, but it’s not true. They do have the ability to have a say in how your assets or estate gets divided between family members. Creating a will also means you can control how your assets are distributed to beneficiaries over time, instead of children receiving a lump sum when they turn 18. Having a will also ensures that you are clear about the custody of your children if your children are minors when you die.

This is incredibly important for every woman. If you don’t have a will, your spouse may control every asset you own and will decide the fate of your children. As someone who has lived this, I can tell you that it can be hell.

In Canada, Willful makes getting a will online fast, simple and straight-forward. I believe in democratizing access to wills so much. If you live in Ontario, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Nova Scotia, Manitoba, New Brunswick or B.C., you can make a will through Willful. Even if you do have a will, check out the estate planning resources on Willful. I want to encourage each of you to make a will, however you want to do that - through a lawyer or with Willful. It’s the best investment you can make for yourself and for your family.

Note that if you do get a will through Willful, the Motherlove Project receives a small commission as an affiliate. This helps me to continue the work of the Project, which is a charitable endeavour, plus you get a 10% discount!