Enrollment options
This course builds on the Basic level Canadian: Wills-Part 1 as it delves deeper into the intricacies of researching wills and estate records. Several examples illustrate the various documents. Rather than focusing heavily on course material, the emphasis is placed on case studies to increase familiarity with the documents. By reviewing the documents, case studies allow one to get familiar with their language, format, and content. Lastly, the course discusses sources which shouldn’t be overlooked when researching wills and estate records.
Note: Due to large files with images, some record examples provided in this course are accessible online only. Working with these course materials as well as the online content is required to complete the course.
Course Length: 8 weeks
Historical: This course originated March 2026.
Current version copyright is March
2026. If you have older material, it needs to be
replaced. Use the chat app to order your replacement
materials.
Formerly
was Canadian: Wills & Estate Records-Part
2, originated June 2001, final
version copyright June
2009.
Course Content
MODULE
1
WILLS,
ESTATES & PROBATE
- Introduction
-
Obituaries and Death
Notices
- Government Gazettes
SUCCESSION DUTIES AND INHERITANCE TAXES
Succession Duties
- Summary
Succession Duties in Canada
Case Study
- Timothy Eaton
CORONER RECORDS
Coroner’s Inquests and Reports
- Provincial Records
- First Pedestrian Killed by a Car in Toronto (and perhaps Canada)
- Newspaper Accounts
- Module Activity
GUARDIANS AND TRUSTEES
Guardianship
- Roles of the Public Guardian & Trustee
- Summary
- Guardianship of Vincent Coleman’s Children
- Additional Sources
- The Estate File
- Module Activity
WILLS IN LAND RECORDS
Land Registry Offices
- Locating a LRO Will Using FamilySearch
- Locating a LRO Will Using OnLand
- Leverett D. Carman, New Brunswick
- Module Activity
OTHER TYPES OF WILLS
Holographic and Nuncupative Wills
- Soldiers’ Wills in WWI and WWII
- Holographic Military Will - Pte. Wilfred Laurence Bancroft
- Nuncupative Will - Herbert Jones
- Module Activity
Indigenous Estates
Case Study #3
- John Sterling
- Module Activity
ADDITIONAL WILLS
Interesting Wills
- One Dollar Bequests
- ‘All for mother’: The shortest ever will (at least in England)
- William “Tiger” Dunlop’s Classic