There are two ways you can ask the Barreau du Québec to conduct a will search:
- Use the online service Registers of wills and mandates of the Barreau du Québec – Will and mandate search request, upload the required document, and pay online.
- Or, fill out the search request form, attach the required documents together with your payment, and mail to the Registers of wills and mandates of the Barreau du Québec.
Communication of Search Results If the search was positive, you will be mailed a search certificate identifying the most recent will found in the registers, with the name and contact information of the lawyer who has it. To consult or obtain a copy of the will, you must then contact the lawyer.
The following fees apply:
- $17.25 for an online request, payable by credit card;
- $23 for a mailed request, payable by credit card, certified check or postal money order payable to the Barreau du Québec.
Depending on how much time has passed since the death occurred, the processing time will be as follows:
| Less than 2 weeks |
Within 3 weeks |
| More than 2 weeks |
Within 2 weeks |
For an online request, scan the original of the Copy of the act of death or the death certificate, save in PDF, JPEG or GIF format, and send the file to the Directeur de l’état civil. The maximum file size accepted is 4 MB.
For a mailed request, you must provide the original of the Copy of the act of death or the death certificate issued by the Directeur de l’état civil. If you wish to have the original returned to you, include a photocopy of it along with the original.
If the death occurred outside of Québec, you must provide
- the original of the Copy of the act of death or the death certificate issued by the Directeur de l’état civil, or
- a certified true copy of an equivalent document issued by the competent authority of the province or country where the death occurred.
If the act or certificate is in a language other than French or English, it must be accompanied by a translation approved by the consulate or embassy of the country concerned.
Note
Certain documents are not recognized as official proofs of death. These include declarations of death, attestations of death, and documents issued by any organization other than the Directeur de l’état civil, such as a funeral home or hospital.
