Published
Sundeep S. Grewal is a lawyer at Lawgical Law Corporation, called to the BC bar in 2018, and a member of the Law Society of British Columbia.
Updated November 11, 2026: the BC government’s Wills Registry page (modified January 16, 2025) and the Supreme Court Civil Rules, Part 25, checked that day.
What the registry holds: where a will is kept, if someone filed a wills notice. “Vital Statistics does not keep a copy of your will.”
How to search after a death: Form VSA 532 with a copy of the death certificate, by mail or at a Service BC counter. $20 per search, plus $5 for each other name.
Time: results print within 20 business days by mail, plus mailing time.
Probate: the search is required, and the application needs the certificate.
The lawyers who handle these estate files
About our lawyers
Sundeep S. Grewal founded Lawgical Law Corporation and practises probate, estate litigation and immigration. He has represented clients in the Provincial and Supreme Courts of British Columbia, from chambers applications to contested trials.
Pardeep S. Grewal is a probate, estates and immigration lawyer known for clear communication and practical strategy.
British Columbia’s wills registry, run by the Vital Statistics Agency, records where a person’s will is kept, not the will itself. When someone makes a will, they or their lawyer or notary can file a wills notice saying where the original is stored. After a death, anyone with a copy of the death certificate can apply for a wills notice search; it costs $20 and the results come back within about 20 business days by mail. A search that finds a notice tells you where to look for the original. A search that finds nothing doesn’t prove there is no will, because filing a notice is voluntary. Either way, the search certificate is a required part of a BC probate application.
Lawgical Law Corporation, a probate and estate law firm with offices in Surrey, Abbotsford and Vancouver, BC, prepares probate applications, including the wills notice search; this guide is by Sundeep S. Grewal.
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What the BC wills registry is, and isn’t
- It records the location of a will: the will-maker’s name, the date of the will, and where the original is kept. “Vital Statistics does not keep a copy of your will or record any information about its contents” (Gov. of BC, Wills Registry).
- Filing is voluntary. A lawyer, notary or trustee can file a notice, or the will-maker can file their own if 16 or older and mentally capable. The fee is $17 per notice.
- It doesn’t stop a will being changed. A newer will may exist that was never registered.
How to do a wills notice search after a death
- Get a copy of the death certificate. It is required for mail or in-person applications.
- Complete Form VSA 532, Application for Search of Wills Notice, including any other names the person used.
- Pay the fee: $20 per search, plus $5 for each additional name.
- Submit it by mail or at a Service BC counter. The government page notes this excludes the Vancouver, Burnaby and Surrey offices.
- Wait for the certificate. By mail, results print within 20 business days, plus mailing time from Victoria. Courier delivery prints the next business day, plus delivery time.
While the will-maker is alive, “only the testator or a lawyer can request a search”. Lawyers can also search through BC OnLine.
Why probate needs the search
The government says completing a wills notice search “is a requirement of the wills probate process”. The application for a grant of probate or administration must include the search certificates (Supreme Court Civil Rules, Rule 25-3). Order two certificates, because the registry needs two copies with the application. See how to apply for probate in BC and BC probate forms and documents.
Other ways to find a will
- Check the person’s home: a safe, filing cabinet or desk, and any safety deposit box.
- Ask the lawyer or notary the person used. Many keep originals in their vaults.
- Check papers for letters from a law office, invoices or a will “kit”.
- Ask close family and friends whether the person mentioned making a will.
- If the person lived in another province, check that province’s registry, if it has one.
What the result means
| Result | What it means | Next step |
|---|---|---|
| A notice is found | A will was registered, with its date and location | Contact the holder for the original; check whether there is a later will |
| No notice is found | No notice was filed; a will may still exist | Search the other places above; if there is truly no will, apply for administration |
| Only a copy of the will is found | The original may have been destroyed, or is lost | Get advice: a copy can be admitted only with evidence, usually by court application |
If there is no will, see who inherits and who applies when someone dies without a will.
Mistakes I have seen
- Ordering one search certificate instead of the two the probate registry needs.
- Treating a “no notice” result as proof there’s no will, then finding one after the grant.
- Leaving out the deceased’s other names, such as a maiden name or a name spelled differently on documents.
- Waiting weeks for the death certificate before ordering the search; plan for both early.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get a copy of someone’s will from Vital Statistics?
No. Vital Statistics only records where the will is kept. You get the will from whoever holds it.
Can I search the wills registry online?
The government page lists mail and in-person applications for searches. Lawyers can search through BC OnLine.
How much does a wills search cost in BC?
$20 per search, plus $5 for each additional name, as of the government page modified January 16, 2025.
Do I need a will search if I already have the will?
Yes, for probate. The search certificate shows whether a different will was registered, and the registry requires it.
Is a will valid if it wasn’t registered?
Yes. Registering a wills notice is optional and doesn’t affect whether the will is valid.
What should I do right now?
Order the death certificate and the wills notice search at the same time, list every name the person used, and ask for two search certificates if you will apply for probate.
Book a consultation with our probate lawyers in Surrey, Abbotsford or Vancouver to have the search and the probate application handled for you.
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Sources (official)
- Wills Registry, Government of BC (modified January 16, 2025)
- Application for Search of Wills Notice (VSA 532), Vital Statistics Agency
- Supreme Court Civil Rules, Part 25 (Rule 25-3), BC Laws
This article is general information about BC law, not legal advice for your situation.