You were named executor. You have 180 days, a list of obligations you've never seen, and personal liability for getting it wrong.

The will named you, or the family chose you. Either way, the court applications, tax filings, creditor notices, and beneficiary expectations are now yours to manage. The decisions you make in the first few weeks will determine whether this process costs your family months or years.

The job nobody prepares you for.

You are personally liable for mistakes. That sentence is worth reading twice. As estate trustee, if you distribute assets before obtaining a clearance certificate from the CRA, the unpaid taxes come out of your pocket. If you pay one creditor ahead of another in an insolvent estate, the shortfall is yours. If you miss the 180-day deadline to file the Estate Information Return with the Ministry of Finance, fines start at $1,000 and there is no limitation on future audits.

These are not edge cases. They are the ordinary consequences of administering an estate without someone watching the deadlines, the tax filings, and the order of payments. Executors hire lawyers because the personal stakes are high and the early decisions are the ones that cannot be undone.

What we do.

We handle estate administration from beginning to end. The court applications, the tax filings, the creditor notices, the beneficiary distributions, and the formal discharge of the estate trustee.

We review the will, identify the assets and debts, and flag problems before they become expensive. A dependant who may claim support under the Succession Law Reform Act. A beneficiary designation that contradicts the will. Jointly held property where the surviving owner's claim is weaker than they think.

We prepare the application for a Certificate of Appointment of Estate Trustee. We calculate and pay the Estate Administration Tax. We publish the notice to creditors under section 53 of the Trustee Act to protect you from personal liability. We coordinate with accountants on the final tax return and the estate's T3. We request the CRA clearance certificate. We file the Estate Information Return.

When estates are contested, we advise on the legal options and prepare the court materials. Capacity challenges. Undue influence. Dependant support claims. Disputes between co-executors. Beneficiaries who want the trustee removed. We work toward resolution through mandatory mediation or, where necessary, litigation.

How we work.

The first step is understanding where things stand. What assets exist. What debts are outstanding. Who the beneficiaries are. Whether anyone is likely to make a claim.

From there, we lay out the full process, identify the deadlines that matter, and give you a clear picture of your responsibilities and your exposure. We tell you what you can do now, what needs to wait, and what happens if you move too quickly.

The most common mistake is distributing assets before the estate is ready. Before the CRA issues a clearance certificate. Before the six-month window for dependant support claims has closed. Before all creditors have been notified. Moving too fast creates liability that follows you personally. We make sure you move at the right pace.

The Numbers

What estate administration actually costs.

$14,250

Estate Administration Tax on a $1,000,000 estate. Nothing on the first $50,000. 1.5% on the rest.

180 days

to file the Estate Information Return with the Ministry of Finance after the Certificate is issued

3–5 months

typical wait for a Certificate of Appointment in the GTA. Smaller courts can process applications in weeks.

~5%

guideline for estate trustee compensation. Roughly $50,000 on a million-dollar estate. Taxable as income.

Situations We See

Every estate is different. These are the ones we handle regularly.

You were named executor and have no idea where to start.

Someone has died. You found out you are the estate trustee. The bank wants a Certificate of Appointment before they will release funds. We walk you through the entire process from day one.

Someone died without a will.

Intestate estates are harder. You need consents from next-of-kin, you may need to post a bond worth double the estate value, and the Succession Law Reform Act decides who gets what. Common-law partners inherit nothing. Step-children inherit nothing unless legally adopted.

A beneficiary is challenging the will.

Capacity disputes. Undue influence allegations. Claims that the will does not reflect what the deceased actually wanted. Will challenges are emotionally charged and procedurally complex. We assess the merits and prepare the court materials.

A dependant is claiming support from the estate.

Under the Succession Law Reform Act, a spouse, common-law partner, parent, child, or sibling who depended on the deceased can apply for provision from the estate within six months of the Certificate being issued. These claims override both wills and intestacy rules.

The estate includes a business or private company shares.

Private company shares create valuation disputes, shareholder agreement complications, and potential dual-will strategies. Administration of business assets requires coordination between estate counsel, corporate counsel, and the company's accountant.

You are a beneficiary and the executor is not doing their job.

Estate trustees owe fiduciary obligations to the beneficiaries. If the trustee is delaying without justification, failing to account, or acting in self-interest, the court can compel an accounting, reduce compensation, or remove the trustee entirely.