Work through the deceased's lawyer, their banks, the home, and any will registry — then document every step for the affidavit of diligent search.
How will searches work in Canada, and what happens when a will cannot be found →
The Canadian position
Mississauga estates are administered through the Superior Court of Justice under Ontario law. There is no municipal registry.
The provincial law society may hold records for a firm that has wound up, which is a common dead end otherwise.
The Islamic position
Locating the will is what makes the wasiyyah effective. Where none is found, the estate is divided by provincial statute instead.
The obligation runs both ways: the testator keeps it findable, the executor genuinely looks.
What to do about it
- Contact every lawyer the deceased used.
- Check safety deposit boxes at all their banks.
- Search the home and digital storage.
- Search will registries.
- Write down every step with dates.
This is legal information only. For advice on your own circumstances, speak to a lawyer.
Citations & sources
Every factual claim on this page traces to a source below. Details change — check the original source before relying on any figure, fee or legal position. Anything under “further reading” is related material, not a source for what is stated here.
- Succession Law Reform Act, RSO 1990, c S.26 — Government of Ontario
- Locating wills and documents — Law Society of Ontario
- Wills Registry — Province of British Columbia
- Search the registers of wills and mandates — Chambre des notaires du Québec
- Accessing safety deposit box after death ontario — Treadstone Law
- Executor access safety deposit box ontario — Treadstone Law
- Matrimonial home one spouse never lived there — Treadstone Law
- Dealing with deceased home ontario estate — Treadstone Law
- Wills & estates practice — Treadstone Law