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Has anyone recently had a will drawn up? I am wondering what the cost is approximately? Just a basic will leaving my house and investments to my kids.

I'm curious of this too

Around $450.

Do funeral homes still offer free will kits? I used to see a sign on the way into Winnipeg offering them

A big part of the cost is the lawyer that you choose as well!

Around five hundred for two wills and two poa. Power of attorney is very important , the cost of not having one is higher.

All professional people charge for their time. If you have an idea of what you want you will be saving the lawyer time. The more disorganized you are the greater the fee will be.  
 
A couple of years ago I wrote up what I though should be there. I emailed my rough copy. Basically the lawyer copied and pasted onto their letterhead.  
 
If you go in and the lawyer has to spend time getting you to decide what you want it will cost you

Wills, powers of attorneys and health care directive for a couple and with tax it was $450.

flanamy said "Do funeral homes still offer free will kits? I used to see a sign on the way into Winnipeg offering them "

Free Will kits?!? You get exactly what you pay for.

I got mine the same time I bought my house. It was 250 bucks

I got mine the same time I bought my house. It was 250 bucks

What happens to my properties and investments in case I passed away if I did not execute a will?

Where is the best place to get one done

a holographic will is recognised in Manitoba just check the details required and do it ti a "T" http://info.legalzoom.com/write-canadian-hand-written-20498.html  
 
more detailed info here https://www.hg.org/holographic-will-guidelines.html  
 
Edited by ptooti, 2017-10-21 18:46:26

Some of the common mistakes in holographic wills i:nclude:  
 
Failing to name an executor: this means a court appoints one for you, and maybe not the person you want. It can lead to family squabbles and court battles.  
Failing to name guardians: similarly, this means a court, not you, decides who fills this important role.  
Not disposing of the entire estate: formal wills usually i:nclude a “residuary clause” that says what happens with the residue of your estate — the assets left over after court fees, taxes and other costs. This is easy to overlook in your homemade will.  
Ambiguity: wording that’s clear to you isn’t necessarily clear to others. In one example, an Ontario father left annual payments to his daughter “so long as she continues to reside in Canada.” He didn’t say how long she had to reside for, or if she could take trips abroad. A court invalidated that condition in the will.  
If holographic wills are valid in your jurisdiction and you’re determined to write one, do plenty of research to avoid the many common mistakes. Also, discuss it with your executor and beneficiaries to ensure your will and wishes are clear and unambiguous.

pinkflamingos said "    Jm69 said "What happens to my properties and investments in case I passed away if I did not execute a will? " I am not lawyer, but the law states that if you have a spouse or common law partner, it all goes to your spouse or common law partner. If you have children with your current spouse, then your spouse still receives the full estate. If you have children with someone who isn't your current spouse, it is split 50/50 with one share to your spouse and one to your children. If you are not married/common law and have no children, it goes to your parents.     It is still a very good idea to have a will however. It is always possible for these laws to be argued or simply not dealt with the way you want. You can read the Manitoba Intestate Succession Act if you want to get specific about what happens when you die without a will. "

You're referring to the right of survivorship. That only applies to certain types of communal property, such as a home that's resided in together and sometimes joint bank accounts, investments. But, for example, if the OP has any accounts solely in their name and dies intestate, it may not necessarily go to the surviving spouse.  
 
Also, if the OP has a previous marriage, especially if the new relationship is only common-law, there's the risk that the courts could grant the estate to the former spouse. Divorce doesn't automatically end entitlement by a former spouse (i.e. a will completed prior to divorce will remain in effect until it's updated accordingly) although remarriage, if I remember correctly, will make a previous will null. But the court could still decide that the OP has obligations to previous spouses or children if there's no will to state otherwise.  
 
Wills can actually be very complex. I've had to redo mine several times over the course of my life as my situation changed over the years (marriage, divorce, home ownership, remarriage, children, children with disabilities, etc). It's worth paying a lawyer to do it right, and to explain your options and obligations. Most lawyers will also allow to you make a limited number of changes to a will once you complete one with them (a codicil) without charge.