Where to Store Your Will
Learn the safest and smartest places to keep your Will, what to avoid, and how to make sure your executor can find it when the time comes
Once your Will is signed and witnessed, the next essential step is storage. A Will is only useful if it can be found, verified, and acted on when needed. Where and how you store your Will affects its accessibility, security, and legal reliability.
Storing your Will is not just about protecting a piece of paper. It is about protecting the plan, decisions, and care you have put into your legacy.
Top Options for Storing a Will in Canada
Different storage choices offer different benefits. Here is a comparison of the most common and secure options:
| Storage Location | Pros | Considerations |
|---|---|---|
| At home (fireproof safe) | Easy to access and update | Must ensure someone knows the location and has access |
| With a lawyer or notary | Professionally managed, often includes backup copies | May be harder to access if lawyer retires or relocates |
| Provincial Will registry | Some provinces allow registration of Will existence and location | Does not store the document itself, only records key details |
| Estate planning service | Organized, often includes digital tracking or shared access | Usually part of a paid plan or legal service package |
| Digital document vault | Useful for sharing location data or scanned copies | Original hard copy is still needed for legal execution |
Tip: If you store your Will at home, use a water- and fire-resistant safe. Avoid storing it in a location that requires a key or password no one else has access to.
Where Not to Store Your Will
Some places may seem safe but can create complications or make your Will inaccessible when it is most needed.
Avoid:
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Bank safety deposit boxes without shared access
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Locked drawers or safes where no one knows the combination
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Storage in someone else’s home or custody without written agreement
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Scanned copies as the only version
If your executor cannot find the original Will, the court may assume there is none. This can lead to intestacy rules being applied or older, outdated Wills being used instead.
Important: The original Will is typically required for probate. While copies can help in a crisis, only the signed original holds full legal power unless a court accepts a substitute under exceptional circumstances.
How to Make Sure Your Will Can Be Found and Used
Storing your Will securely is not enough—it must also be discoverable. That means someone must know it exists, where to find it, and how to access it.
Steps to take:
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Tell your executor and one or two trusted individuals where your Will is stored
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Leave written instructions in a secure but accessible location
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Include your Will’s location in any estate binder, digital organizer, or legacy plan
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If you move or change lawyers, update your storage records accordingly
A good plan includes both storage and communication.
How Optimize Helps You Include Will Storage in Your Financial Plan
At Optimize, we believe that a complete estate plan does not stop at planning or signing. We help you ensure your Will is safely stored, easily accessible, and fully aligned with your other financial documents and strategies.
We support you by:
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Recommending the best storage option based on your situation
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Helping you document access plans for your executor
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Ensuring your Will and investments are coordinated in structure and intent
Our goal is not just to plan your legacy, but to protect it through every step.
Why a Will Only Matters If It Can Be Found
Even the most thoughtfully written Will cannot serve its purpose if it is lost, forgotten, or locked away. Safe, intentional storage is what turns your estate plan into something real and ready.
Your Will is not just a document. It is a message to your family. Make sure it is one they can actually receive.
Store it wisely. Share its location. And give your executor the tools to honour your plan with confidence.