Where should I keep my will so it can be found after I die in Ontario?

Where you store your will matters as much as how it is drafted. A will that cannot be found after death may lead the estate to be administered as if no will existed. In Ontario there is no government registry where you must file your will, so safekeeping is entirely up to you.

Common options include: a fireproof home safe (with your estate trustee knowing the combination), your lawyer's office (many lawyers store original wills for clients), or a bank safety deposit box (though access may be restricted after death until the estate trustee obtains court authority). Some lawyers maintain their own will registries.

The most important step is to ensure that your estate trustee knows where the original will is kept. The original signed document is what the courts and probate process require — a photocopy alone is generally not sufficient, although a lost original will situation can sometimes be addressed in court.

You should also keep a brief note in an accessible place (such as with your personal papers or in a letter to your estate trustee) that names your lawyer, the will's location, and the location of key documents such as insurance policies, account information, and beneficiary designations.