| Ontario’s courthouse libraries are a trusted and often overlooked resource for will searches |
| When someone passes away, finding their will can feel like searching for a needle in a haystack. Wills are prepared years before they’re needed, and lawyers change offices, retire, and leave practice altogether. Unlike other legal documents, there is no single official government registry for wills executed in Ontario.
If you’re stuck, your local courthouse library may be able to help. Nearly 40% of libraries in the LiRN Network actively promote will searching services on their websites, and their knowledgeable staff are ready to help. Whether you’re helping an executor locate a loved ones final wishes, or taking over another firm’s files, your local courthouse library can point you to the right tools and resources. A Guide to Ontario Will RegistriesOntario has several will registries available to help you find wills, and many courthouse libraries connect their members directly to them: WillCheck.ca — Maintained by the County of Carleton Law Association and available free to licensed Ontario lawyers, WillCheck stores information on the location of wills, making it easier to track down where a will was filed. OnWills.ca — An Ontario-wide registry created by estate lawyers with over 95,000 will records in its database. OnWills helps beneficiaries and executors locate registered wills across the province. Canada Will Registry — A national database that goes beyond Ontario, allowing searches for registered wills across the country. Library Staff searching for WillsSearching a will registry sounds simple, but knowing which registry to use, understanding their limitations, and knowing what to do when a will isn’t registered at all are questions best answered by someone who uses these tools every day. Library staff aren’t just pointing you to a link; they’re helping you understand your options when the outcome matters. LSO ResourcesIf you are looking for a will and your lawyer has closed their practice, please contact the Law Society of Ontario at 1-800-668-7380 ext. 3315. Please see the LSO page HERE for more information.
– from Laura Dobbie – Peterborough Law Association (2026) Library DisclaimerYou may need to remind the requestor that librarians DO NOT hold the wills, and all that they can do is circulate the will searching request to the estates lawyers “Please see the below message – If anyone has any information that could be of use please contact the requestor, and not the librarian. Reminder: please do not tell clients/the public that the library “has the Wills” – these requests should be directed to the website contact form “searching for a Will”.
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