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→How can you find the will?
To check on the location of the will, you can do a search of the [http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/life-events/death-and-bereavement/wills-registry Wills Registry] maintained by the provincial government’s Vital Statistics Agency. [[Ten Steps to Being an Executor#How do I search the Wills Registry?|See below for details on how to do the search]]. If the will-maker filed a notice of their will with the Registry, the search certificate will indicate the location of the original will. Filing a Wills Notice is optional, so it’s possible the will-maker didn’t file a notice or may have since moved the will or revoked it.
If you need to look in a safety deposit box for the original will, make an appointment with the financial institution. You will need a key to the box, your own identification, and a copy of the '''death certificate ''' ([[Ten Steps to Being an Executor#How do I get a copy of the death certificate?|see below for how to get a copy]]). If you can’t find the key, the bank may permit the box to be drilled open for a charge.
If the will is in the safety deposit box and names you as executor, the bank will let you take the will. With a bank representative, you must make a list of the contents of the box and leave the list in the box before you remove any contents. You will need a copy of this list if you are required to probate the will.