Writing your will is only half the job. Once it’s signed and witnessed, you need to store it somewhere safe, accessible, and known to your executor. A will that can’t be located after your death is a will that can’t be followed — and that creates exactly the kind of confusion and legal complications you were trying to avoid.
Here are your main options in Canada, along with the pros and cons of each.
Safety Deposit Box
A safety deposit box at your bank is one of the most secure storage options available. It protects your will from fire, flood, theft, and accidental damage.
The key consideration: make sure your executor knows where the box is and where to find the key. You don’t need to give your executor signing authority on the box while you’re alive, but they need to be able to access it promptly after your death. Most Canadian banks will allow an executor with a key to open the box after a death to retrieve the original will and inventory the contents — after which the bank seals the box until the executor returns with a probate certificate from the surrogate court.
One potential issue: if your original will is the only item in the box and your executor needs the will to prove they’re your executor, there can be a brief catch-22 while that gets sorted. Keeping a certified copy with your executor helps bridge this gap.
Trust Company Storage
If you’ve named a trust company as your executor, they will typically store your original will in their secure vault at no charge. This is a convenient option if you’re using a professional executor for a complex estate — the will is held by the same organization responsible for carrying it out.
At Home — With Precautions
Keeping your will at home is common, but it requires care. If you store it at home:
- Use a fireproof, waterproof document safe rather than a filing cabinet or desk drawer
- Tell your executor exactly where it is and how to access it
- Never store your will in a location only you know about — a will discovered years after your death may be too late to be useful
Avoid storing your will with items that might be discarded during an estate cleanup (boxes in storage, old filing systems) — your executor will be sorting through everything under emotional pressure and time constraints.
Canada Will Registry
The Canada Will Registry allows you to register the location of your will (not the will itself) so that lawyers, executors, and family members can search for it after your death. Registration doesn’t replace secure physical storage, but it adds a searchable record that can be invaluable if your executor isn’t sure where to look.
Registration is available at canadawillregistry.ca and costs a one-time fee. It’s a small, worthwhile step particularly if your executor lives in a different city or province.
Digital Copies
A scanned digital copy of your signed will is useful as a reference but is not a substitute for the original. Most Canadian provinces require the original signed document for probate. Keep a digital copy for your own records and share it with your executor, but always know where the original is.
What Your Executor Needs to Know
Regardless of where you store your will, your executor needs three things:
- To know a will exists — don’t keep it a secret
- To know where it is — tell them directly, and consider putting it in writing in a separate letter of instruction
- To be able to access it promptly — keys, combinations, access codes, or contacts at the institution holding it
The best storage solution is the one your executor can actually get to quickly and without legal complications immediately after your death.
Ready to Write Your Will?
Once your will is written, signed, witnessed, and stored correctly, your estate plan is in place. WillKit makes it simple to create a legally valid Canadian will from home — written by a Canadian lawyer, covering all provinces except Quebec, for $59.
Conclusion
In any event, make sure your will is safe from damage and loss, and that it will be easily accessible when needed by your executor. For more tips on how to write your legal will, check out the new online service from Self-Counsel Press called WillKit!
