A recent article from the National Post underscores how important it is to ensure that your Will is up to date and that it is well-drafted.
I do not personally draft wills, as I focus on estate litigation disputes. However, I have seen firsthand that a homemade will kit can sometimes end up costing the testator much more money, than if the testator had simply gone to see a lawyer to do their will in the first place. Homemade will kits can be entirely valid, and often are used without any trouble. But in some situations, having a lawyer will ensure that you do not accidentally use ambiguous wording in your will. Moreover, a lawyer can provide crucial contemporaneous evidence of capacity, or voluntariness, in case of a challenge brought after your death. The witness on a homemade will kit will often not be trained to keep the proper notes that a court typically looks for. A will may cost several hundred dollars, which is of course a significant sum. However, a will dispute after your death may consume tens of thousands of dollars in legal fees. Using a lawyer can be good insurance to minimize these costs.