How do I know if a will has been probated?

Last reviewed February 2025 by the Clicklaw editors

Probate is a way of getting the court to say a will is real under BC laws, but not all estates go through probate. Probate files are usually created and maintained by the court registry closest to where a deceased person or the executor of their will live. For more recent wills, you can do an E-Search on Court Services Online (CSO) to find out if a probate file has been opened in BC.

There are places you can look to find older probate files. See “Where can I find wills and probate records?” for more information about finding wills probated before 1992.

Probate files

If everything the person owned (their estate) is under $25,000, you usually don’t need to apply for probate, unless there is a dispute or a bank or some other organization requires it. Some things can be passed down without requiring probate, like jointly owned property or bank accounts.

After someone dies, their executor (or their estate’s representative) will open a file in BC Supreme Court to get the legal right to deal with the estate. The representative will apply for an “estate grant” for their role.

If there is a will, they’ll apply for a grant of probate. See our common question “How do I apply for probate?” for more information on the probate process.

If there is no will, or if the executor in the will can’t perform their duties, the process is called administration. For more information about this, see People’s Law School’s Applying for a Grant of Administration.

These kinds of files are called probate files. A probate file might contain:

  • A copy of the will
  • A death certificate
  • An inventory of belongings
  • Claims from creditors
  • General family and financial information

A probate file on Court Services Online (CSO) will show the basics of the case and often the names of those involved, including the executor’s lawyer if there is one. Wills can’t be viewed as their own file, but a copy of the will is often attached to the grant of probate/administration. For probate files, the grant (and attached will) is often the only document you can view through CSO.

Using CSO E-search at Courthouse Libraries BC

Courthouse Libraries BC offers free access to CSO E-search from its public access computers at any of its 30 branches across the province, including case views and document downloads. You don’t have to sign up; just come into one of our libraries. If you need guidance, our librarians can help you. See our post Using CSO E-search at Courthouse Libraries BC for more information.

Once you launch the CSO application from the desktop on one of our public computers:

  1. A pop-up survey will open in a separate window. Please remember to take the survey once you’re done. Your feedback is important to us and the future of the pilot.
  2. Read the disclaimer, and close the box.
  3. You will be on the “E-search Home Page.” Search “Civil By Deceased Name.”
  4. Click on View for the file that matches your search.
  5. Look for the tab that lists documents. Some documents will be available to download.
  6. You can print documents for $0.25 per page, email them to yourself by signing into your email account in the web browser, or save them on your own USB stick.

Using CSO E-search at home

To use CSO outside of a courthouse library, you need a credit card or BC OnLine account. Once in the website:

  1. Read the disclaimer, and close the box.
  2. You will be on the “E-search Home Page.” Search “Civil By Deceased Name.”
  3. Click on View for the file that matches your search.
  4. Click Continue with Purchase to view the file.
  5. Look for the tab that lists documents. Some documents will be available to download for another fee.

If your search shows that a probate file exists, before clicking Continue with Purchase, you can contact the appropriate Supreme Court registry to find out if they have the file you’d like and the cost of getting a copy directly from the registry. Read more about the E-search service on CSO’s website, under the heading “How much does it cost to use Court Services Online?” and “Are Wills available online?”

Helpful services

  • Courthouse Libraries BC: We are a network of libraries in BC courthouses where you can access public computers, books and other print materials, and legal databases. Reach us at 1-800-665-2570 or email librarian@courthouselibrary.ca.
  • Lawyer Referral Service (Access Pro Bono): This service offers a free, brief initial consultation with a lawyer to determine your legal needs. If you’d like further help from your lawyer, you can retain them at a rate you both agree to.
  • Find more services.