Where to get help

People, services, and information

Get legal help

Lawyer Referral Service
Access Pro Bono operates this service, where all British Columbians can consult with a lawyer for up to 15 minutes. This meeting is free. The lawyer won’t be able to prepare a will for you in this time, but can answer your questions.
604-687-3221 (Greater Vancouver)
1-800-663-1919 (elsewhere in BC)
Hours: 8:30 am – 4:30 pm (Monday to Friday)
Email: lawyerreferral@accessprobono.ca

Society of Notaries Public of BC
Notaries are professionals who help people prepare legal documents, among other services. You can go to a notary for help with making a will. To get the name and telephone number of a notary near you, phone the Society of Notaries Public of BC. Ask the notary how much it will cost for a first meeting.
604-681-4516 (Greater Vancouver)
1-800-663-0343 (elsewhere in BC)

Seniors First BC
Formerly BC Centre for Elder Advocacy and Support. They provide information and services for seniors with low incomes, including free workshops about wills.
604-688-1927 (Greater Vancouver)

They also operate the Seniors Abuse and Information Line (SAIL), for older adults and those who care about them and have concerns about abuse and neglect of seniors. weekdays 8 am to 8 pm and weekends 10 am to 5:30 pm (except holidays).604-437-1940 (Greater Vancouver)
1-866-437-1940 (elsewhere in BC)

Law Student Clinics

Law Students’ Legal Advice Program
University of British Columbia
604-822-5791

The Law Centre (Victoria)
1-250-385-1221

Get legal information

Clicklaw
Legal information and resources on a wide range of legal topics including will and estates.

Courthouse Libraries BC
Will and Personal Planning Resources

Dial-a-Law
Dial-A-Law is a library of pre-recorded tapes with information about the law in BC. for example, they have a tape on making a will.
604-687-4680 (Greater Vancouver)
1-800-565-5297 (elsewhere in BC)

Family Law in BC
Family las information, step-by-step guides, and links to court forms including Appointment of Standby or Testamentary Guardian.

People’s Law School
Plain language legal information and publications on related topics including:
Wills, Planning & Estates
604-331-5400 (Greater Vancouver)

Find other services

Organ Donations
If you want to donate your organs, it is best to use BC Transplant’s official organ donation form.

Body donation
Visit the UBC Body Donation program page , run through their faculty of medicine, for more information and to download consent forms. Note, if you die outside of Vancouver, your executor will have to arrange for transportation.

Wills Registry
Tor register your will, file a Wills Notice with the Wills Registry, Division of Vital Statistics. Contact them to find the nearest office. Do not send a copy of the will; just send the Notice.

Division of Vital Statistics
250-952-2681 (Victoria)
1-888-876-1633 (elsewhere in BC)
Email Vital Statistics

Your Child’s Trust Fund
Read an online guide from the Public Guardian and Trustee of British Columbia

We are a friendly competitor of Truvera Trust. They are lovely, classy, collegial, competent people, committed to their clients’ success.

Nicole L. Garton, B.A. LL.B, TEP Heritage Trust Corporation

We have dealt with Truvera Trust Corporation for many years. They are the appointed executor for many of our clients. They have experience and skills and make the effort to do a very professional job.

Richard Montgomery, Montgomery Miles Law Firm

I have had the opportunity to work with Ian Williamson and Truvera Trust since inception both as a CA, CPA in Public Practice and as the Executor of several Estates. In all circumstances, I have found Ian to be professional, practical and knowledgeable with high ethical standards. I would not hesitate to recommend Truvera should the occasion arise in the future and have done so in the past.

John McCormack, Retired Partner at MNP

Our firm has had the privilege of working with Rita and Truvera Trust for a number of years and our experiences have been excellent. We find them to be thorough and comprehensive on the information they supply us, furthermore they are well organized in their approach to completing Estate work (which can be quite challenging by nature). Their approach is proactive and collaborative, and has always been delivered in a professional, honest and pleasant manner. Rita has been extremely responsive to our needs for information so that we can play a role on their team as they assist those dealing with a season of loss. We are grateful to consider them a valued professional partner.

Robert Ohlmann CPA, CGA, CA, Ohlmann & Associates Chartered Professional Accountant