Frequently Asked Questions
Find quick answers to the most common questions from families and lawyers.
General FAQs
The Canadian Will Registry is a centralized online platform designed to bridge the gap between families, executors, and lawyers who hold wills across Canada. Currently, wills are stored individually by law firms, meaning there is no single database for families to check when a loved one passes away. Our registry solves this problem by allowing lawyers to securely register wills under their care, while giving families a way to search for those wills quickly and affordably. Additionally, our system integrates with obituary notices, ensuring that lawyers are automatically notified if a registered client passes away. This provides peace of mind for families and helps lawyers offer an extended level of service to their clients.
The registry is built to serve two main groups: lawyers and families. Lawyers and law firms can upload and manage wills securely, ensuring they are accessible when needed. Families, executors, or authorized representatives can use the search function to check if a will has been registered and where it is held. The service is available to anyone in Canada, and because it is online, it can be accessed 24/7 from anywhere, making it a reliable solution for time-sensitive estate matters.
Yes. Security and privacy are at the core of the Canadian Will Registry. We only collect the minimum amount of information required to identify a will holder, such as their name, date of birth, and the lawyer or law firm responsible for safekeeping. Full will documents are never uploaded or stored on the public registry. Instead, the registry acts as a secure directory that connects families with the correct law office. All data is encrypted, and strict access protocols are followed to comply with Canadian privacy and legal standards.
Our platform has a unique advantage because it is connected directly with Canadian Obituaries, one of the largest obituary networks in Canada. Every day, our system scans obituary notices across the country. If a name in the obituary matches a name in our registry, the associated lawyer or law firm is automatically notified. This ensures lawyers stay informed when a client has passed away and can take timely action to guide families through the estate process.
If you cannot find the answer you are looking for in this FAQ, our support team is available to assist. Whether you are a lawyer interested in joining the registry, or a family member searching for a loved one’s will, you can contact us directly for guidance. Simply visit our Contact Page or email our team, and we will respond promptly.
For Families & Individuals
Find a Will is a secure Canadian platform that bridges the gap between families and law firms. In Canada, there is no single government database where all wills are stored. Wills are typically kept by the lawyer who drafted them, the executor, or sometimes at home or in a safety deposit box. This makes locating them difficult, especially if you don’t know which firm was involved. Find a Will solves this problem by allowing you to submit a request with basic information about the deceased. That request is securely routed to participating lawyers and law firms who have privately indexed wills they hold. If there’s a match, the firm can contact you directly, helping you avoid weeks or months of searching firm by firm.
The cost to submit a search is $10 CAD per name. This fee covers the technology and secure notifications to participating firms. Importantly, you only pay once per search name. If a lawyer later registers a will that matches your search, you’ll be automatically notified at no extra cost. This means your request doesn’t expire after one attempt—it stays active, giving you peace of mind that you won’t miss future updates. The fee does not include legal advice, probate costs, or document retrieval charges that may be billed directly by a law firm.
Anyone with a legitimate interest in finding a will can use the service. This typically includes executors, next of kin, beneficiaries, or people with a lawful claim against an estate. Even if you’re not sure you qualify, you may still submit a search. The participating law firm will verify your authority before releasing any information or documents. This ensures the process respects both privacy laws and professional obligations of lawyers.
No, wills are not public record in Canada until they go through the probate process in court. Even then, public access is limited and often requires a formal request. Unlike some countries, Canada does not have a central registry that tracks all wills. This makes private registries like Find a Will essential. Our system gives you a secure, lawyer-managed way to locate wills without exposing sensitive client documents to the public.
If no registered will matches your search right away, don’t worry. Your request doesn’t just disappear. It remains active in the system. That means if a lawyer later adds a matching will record, you will automatically receive a notification. This ongoing matching process reduces the need for repeated searches and ensures you won’t miss a future registration.
Response times depend on the law firm involved. Some lawyers respond within a few business days when they see a strong match. Others may take longer because they need to confirm details, check conflicts, or verify your authority. If you don’t hear back within 3–4 weeks, you may want to submit an updated search with more details such as alternate spellings of the name, city, or date of birth.
The more details you can provide, the higher the chance of a successful match. Include the deceased’s full legal name (and any known variations), date of birth, date of death (if known), last known address or city, spouse’s or executor’s name, and any law firm names you suspect may have been involved. Even partial details can help lawyers identify the correct will in their records.
Yes, security and privacy are top priorities. All data you submit is encrypted during transmission and while stored. Participating law firms only see the specific information needed to check for a name match. Your data is never made public, and Find a Will does not sell or share your details with third parties. The system is designed to comply with Canadian privacy laws, including PIPEDA.
Probate is the court process of validating a will and authorizing the executor to manage the estate. Rules vary from province to province, but in most cases, having a lawyer is essential. If your search identifies a registered will, the lawyer holding it can explain your next steps, including probate requirements in your province. Even if you already know where the will is, consulting a probate lawyer can save time and prevent costly mistakes.
No. The service is intended only for estate administration after death. If you are the testator (the person making the will), the best way to help your executor is to inform them which lawyer or law firm holds your will and keep this record safe with other important documents. Our platform is not a pre-registration system for individuals; it’s a search tool for executors and families after someone has passed.
For Lawyers & Law Firms
Law firms participating in Find a Will maintain a private registry of client wills. This registry is not visible to the public. Firms add name records (with optional birth/death years and internal file numbers). When a family or executor submits a search that matches a name in your registry, the system sends you a secure notification. You can then review the request and decide whether to contact the requester.
Only minimal identifiers are required: full name, name variants, date of birth or death year (optional), file number, and location. Wills themselves should never be uploaded. The purpose of the system is to generate match notifications, not to act as a document storage solution. This keeps client data secure and ensures compliance with privacy rules.
Law firms can choose from flexible pricing models. Options include an annual subscription for unlimited records or a pay-per-record model if you prefer to register only certain wills. Pricing is kept simple to encourage widespread participation across Canada. Contact our sales team for the most up-to-date rates.
When a user search matches a name in your registry, the match appears in your firm’s dashboard. Authorized users can also receive notifications by email. Within the dashboard, you can classify inquiries as Potential Match, Verified, or Not a Match. This allows your team to track and manage leads efficiently.
Verification remains your responsibility. You should apply your firm’s standard procedures, such as requesting proof of death (death certificate), executor appointment documents, or valid government-issued identification. The platform does not override your legal and professional duties; it simply connects you with potential inquiries.
Confidentiality is a cornerstone of the system. Only your firm can view its private registry. Users never see the data you’ve registered. They only know if a lawyer reaches out in response to their search. This ensures confidentiality while still making wills more discoverable.
Yes. The system supports CSV import of historical records, making it easy for firms with decades of wills to upload them at once. The import tool automatically checks for duplicates and common formatting errors. Bulk import helps ensure your firm is fully searchable without needing to manually add each entry.
Your internal conflict checks and professional obligations still apply. If you hold multiple wills for the same client, you must determine which is the most recent valid will before advising the requester. The system does not interfere with your professional judgment.
Yes. The platform offers role-based access so administrators can assign different permissions. You can also set notification preferences by office, practice group, or individual staff member. This ensures that only the right people are alerted to potential matches.
Yes. Participating firms receive a “Find a Will Participant” badge that can be displayed on websites, email signatures, and marketing materials. This demonstrates your commitment to client service and can set your firm apart by showing you take proactive steps to make wills more discoverable for families.
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