Looking for a Will of a deceased person in Ontario? Not sure where to begin your search? Here a few tips to get you started:
1. If the Will was probated (submitted to Court after the person died), it is possible to hire an agent to do a manual search of the records in the Estates Office at the Court in the jurisdiction where the person was a resident at the time of death.
2. If you know the name of the lawyer who handled the deceased person’s estate, he or she may have a copy on file.
3. If the deceased person owned real estate at his or her death, a lawyer could perform a title search of the property. Depending upon where and when the person died, the Will might have been registered at the Land Title Office in the jurisdiction where the property was located.
4. If you were the executor (or ‘estate trustee’ as it is now called) of the deceased person’s estate, you may be able to obtain a copy from Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) or from the deceased’s bank.
5. If you know the names of any of the beneficiaries named in the Will, ask if one of them has a copy.
Reproduction of this blog is permitted if the author is credited. If you have questions or if you would like more information, please call us at 613 836-9915. This blog is not intended to be legal advice but contains general information. Please consult a lawyer or other professional to determine how the information in this blog might apply to you.
Blog posts pre-dated December 1, 2015 were originally published under Neff Law Office Professional Corporation.
