Once your will is signed and witnessed, you might wonder - how will my loved ones find it when the time comes? Registering your will is an optional step, but it helps ensure your executor and family can locate the most up-to-date version when it matters most.
If you're looking for information on how to register your will directly within your Willful account, check out our guide on Understanding and registering your will. This article focuses on an alternative option: the Canada Will Registry
What is the Canada Will Registry?
The Canada Will Registry (CWR) allows you to register the existence and location of your will. It does not store the actual document. Instead, it keeps a record of important information so your executor can find your will when needed. It’s designed to be used by both individuals and legal professionals and can help prevent issues that arise when a will goes missing or multiple versions exist.
Since it is a third-party service, we're limited in the support we can provide. CWR-related issues are best resolved directly with their support team.
Is there a cost to the Canada Will Registry?
Yes. Registering with the Canada Will Registry comes with a one-time fee for your initial registration. If you make changes to your will and want to update your CWR registration, you’ll need to pay again each time. If you created your will with Willful, you can find a discount code that waives the cost of your first registration with the Canada Will Registry.
If you would like a no-cost option, consider using Willful's in-house registry for maximum flexibility.
How to find your code
Open the Documents page and log into your Willful account
Scroll to the very bottom to find the Register your will section
Click on Learn more about will registration in Canada
A pop-up will appear - your discount code is located at the bottom
Copy the code and head to the Canada Will Registry website to complete your registration!
How to register with the Canada Will Registry
Once you have your discount code ready, follow these steps:
Visit the Canada Will Registry website
Log in or create an account with the Canada Will Registry
Under Products For You, click Order Now
Choose Individual Will Registration
Enter your information and proceed to checkout
Apply your discount code at checkout
Once complete, you'll receive a receipt and a registration certificate via email.
Troubleshooting common issues
If you run into trouble with your code or registration:
Try copying and pasting the code directly
Refresh the page and try again
Still stuck? Reach out to the Canada Will Registry team directly at [email protected].