Lost Will Inquiry Form
Click here to complete this online form
For more information on locating a file of a deceased or former lawyer, please review these frequently asked questions.
How can I find the original will of the deceased?
- Look in typical places where a will might be stored, such as safety deposit boxes, home safes, desks, or file cabinets.
- Contact the law firm of the lawyer who drafted the will. The drafting lawyer/firm may not be able to help if they don’t have the original will, or if the requester isn’t a named executor in the original will.
- If you have an estate lawyer, they can help search for the will and advise you on your next steps.
- Talk to relatives or close friends of the deceased who might have knowledge about the will’s location.
- You may consider placing a public notice to inquire if anyone has information about the will, as this may reach individuals who are aware of its whereabouts.
- Check any correspondence or documentation from the deceased that might reference the will or its location.
- You can check the Court Registry System (KB Wills), as in the past, some wills were registered with the Court of King’s Bench.
- Contact us to ask if the Law Society has any relevant information.
How can the Law Society help me to locate the will?
If you know the name of the lawyer who drafted the will, we can look in our records to see if we have any relevant information.
Here are some examples:
Example 1: The Law Society might store the will as a result of custodianship over the lawyer’s practice. We will release the will to the testator or, if deceased, to the named executor or their legal representative.
Example 2: We have information indicating where the wills prepared by this particular lawyer are stored. We will provide the testator or, if deceased, the executor, or their legal representative with the contact details for the storage location.
However, please be advised that our records are general and the Law Society cannot confirm whether your specific will is at that storage location.
Example 3: The Law Society does not have any relevant information.
It is important to note that when lawyers stop practicing law, they are required to provide the Law Society with information about where the wills in their possession will be stored. However, the information provided may be incomplete or outdated.
I don’t know/remember who prepared the will, can you help me to find it?
Unfortunately, the Law Society won’t be able to help you unless you provide sufficient information to identify the lawyer.
Can the Law Society tell me if a person had a will?
Manitoba does not have a specific wills registry. As a result the Law Society doesn’t have information on whether the person had a will.
I have a general question about the wills.
The Law Society cannot provide legal advice to the public. You may want to consider consulting a lawyer.
