The Nidus Registry: A Place for Your Will

The Nidus Registry helps people keep track of important information and documents that might be needed during a health crisis or other emergency.

Family members, even from other provinces and countries, spend significant time and energy trying to locate necessary documentation when a loved one is incapacitated or dies. The Nidus Registry in British Columbia is a logical place to start. Families often report they don’t know what plans were made or what legal professional might be involved. The Registry tries to “connect the right information to the right people at the right time.”

The Nidus Resource Centre, a non-profit charitable organization, launched the online Nidus Registry in 2002. It was first developed to fill a gap by providing a place to register personal planning documents under BC legislation, namely Representation Agreements, Enduring Powers of Attorney, and other types of Powers of Attorney.

One of the unique features of the Nidus Registry today is it can store a copy of any type of document scanned in PDF format. It can also store a video or audio recording such as the statement of a person’s values and beliefs.

The Nidus Registry allows registrants to “share” registrations with trusted individuals and permits access to Nidus-authorized third parties (financial institutions, health care settings, government agencies, and the Public Guardian and Trustee).

Legal professionals (Notary Public firms and law firms) can be authorized as Registration Agents for the Nidus Registry without cost. With the client’s consent, Registration Agents can make registrations on behalf of clients and view any previous registered documents. That assists the legal practitioner when giving legal advice about revocations or gaps in the client’s plans.

The online Nidus Registry is gaining value as a repository for important information and documents in case of a wildfire or flood. The Insurance Bureau of Canada is reminding the public to think of registering documents as well as getting personal items ready for emergency preparedness and possible evacuation. s

Joanne Taylor

A fictional Registry Account/Welcome page for an Account Holder/Client

Before, laminating, client can list name and phone number of representative and attorney on back of wallet card.

Joanne Taylor is Executive Director of the Nidus Resource Centre and Registrar of the Personal Planning Registry.