How to Store Your Will Safely in BC
A will that can't be found is as useless as no will at all. Where to keep it, how to register it, and the one place you should never put it.
Key Takeaways
- Best option: your lawyer's or notary's office — secure, fire-protected, and registerable
- Register the location with BC's Vital Statistics Wills Registry
- Safety deposit boxes can create a catch-22 — you may need the will to open the box
- Keep a clearly-marked COPY at home — never the original in an unsecured location
- The most important thing: tell your executor where it is
Storage options compared
| Location | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Lawyer/notary office | Secure vault, fire protection, can register with Wills Registry, professional handling | If the firm closes, you need to retrieve it; may charge a storage fee |
| Home fireproof safe | Immediate access, no third-party dependence | Fire risk (most home safes aren't rated for paper), theft risk, family may not know the combination |
| Safety deposit box | Secure, fire-protected | Access after death can be difficult — may need the will to get probate, need probate to open the box |
| With your executor | They know where it is, immediate access | Risk of loss, damage, or tampering; what if you change executors? |
Recommended approach
- Store the original at your lawyer's or notary's office
- Register the location with BC's Vital Statistics Wills Registry
- Keep a copy at home, clearly marked "COPY — Original at [lawyer's name and address]"
- Tell your executor exactly where the original is stored and give them your lawyer's contact info
BC Wills Registry
BC's Vital Statistics Agency maintains a Wills Notice Registry (commonly called the Wills Registry). It does not store your actual will — it stores a notice of where your will is kept.
How it works:
- Your lawyer or notary files a notice recording where the will is stored
- After your death, your executor or family can search the registry to find the will's location
- The search is done through BC Vital Statistics and requires a death certificate
- Registration is optional but strongly recommended
This is a simple, low-cost safeguard. If your executor doesn't know you had a will, a Wills Registry search will find it.
What not to do
- Don't store the original in an unsecured location (desk drawer, filing cabinet) — fire, water damage, or accidental destruction
- Don't give the original to a beneficiary — if they're unhappy with the will, it could "disappear"
- Don't store it only digitally — a scanned copy is not the original. BC requires the original signed will for probate. (Section 58 may allow a court to accept a copy, but this requires a court application.)
- Don't staple, clip, or attach anything to the original — staple marks or attachments can raise questions about whether pages were removed or altered
- Don't keep it in a safety deposit box without a plan for access — verify your bank's policy on post-death access
If you update your will
When you make a new will:
- The new will should state "I revoke all previous wills and codicils"
- Destroy the old will to prevent confusion — ask your lawyer to do this
- Update the Wills Registry if the storage location changes
- Tell your executor about the new will
- Destroy any copies of the old will
Frequently asked questions
Where is the best place to store a will in BC?
Your lawyer's or notary's office. Secure, fire-protected, and they can register it with the Wills Registry.
What is the BC Wills Registry?
A provincial database of where wills are stored — not the wills themselves. Searchable after death with a death certificate.
Should I put my will in a safety deposit box?
Be cautious. Accessing the box after death may require probate, which requires the will. Check your bank's policy first.