Online estate company calls for Ontario succession law reform

Online estate-planning company Willful is petitioning the Ontario government of Canada to reform its succession law to allow digital signing, storing, and witnessing of wills. The British Columbia amended its succession law, allowing its residents to electronically create and manage their wills in May 2020. Currently, residents of Ontario are required to print and sign their typed will in the presence of two people who are also required to sign the will. Willful highlighted that the COVID-19 pandemic posed challenges in accessing printers and meeting witnesses in person. Moreover, the company said that allowing electronic signatures and digital storage of wills will reduce fraud as digital processes provide audit trails and prevent wills from being destroyed.