If you've just been named the executor of someone's estate in Canada — particularly a parent or spouse — the next 30 days will set the tone for everything that follows. Done well, the first month makes the next twelve manageable. Done poorly, you can create tax penalties, family disputes, and probate delays that cost both time and money.
This guide walks you through what to do, in what order, in your first 30 days as a Canadian executor. It applies whether the deceased lived in Ontario, BC, Alberta, Quebec, or anywhere else in Canada — though provincial-specific steps are flagged where they matter.
The executor (also called an estate trustee in Ontario, or liquidator in Quebec) is legally responsible for administering the deceased's estate: collecting assets, paying debts, filing the final tax return with the CRA, and distributing what's left to the beneficiaries named in the will. You can be held personally liable for mistakes, so the order of operations matters.
Days 1–3: The Immediate Priorities
The first 72 hours are not about probate or banks. They're about three things: locating the will, securing the deceased's home and personal property, and registering the death so you can get the official document you'll need for everything else.
1. Find the will
Look in the obvious places first — a home safe, a filing cabinet labelled "Important Documents," a safety deposit box. If the will isn't found at home, contact the deceased's lawyer. In Ontario, you can also search the wills registry maintained by the Ministry of the Attorney General. In British Columbia, search the Wills Registry through Vital Statistics. If no will exists, the estate is intestate and provincial intestacy rules will determine who inherits — and who gets to administer the estate.
2. Secure the property
Lock the deceased's home. Change locks if needed. Make sure mail is collected (consider a Canada Post mail forward). Cancel any standing visitors — cleaners, dog walkers, home-care workers — until you understand the situation. Notify the home insurer that the home is now unoccupied, because most policies require notification within 30 days, and an unoccupied-home rider may be needed.
3. Register the death and order extra death certificates
The funeral home will typically register the death with the province and produce the Statement of Death. From the province, you'll order the official Death Certificate — and you'll want at least 5–10 copies. Banks, the CRA, insurance companies, pension plans, and the land registry all want originals. Provincial vital statistics offices charge $20–$50 per certified copy. Ordering them all at once saves weeks later.
Days 4–10: Notification and Information Gathering
With the immediate logistics handled, the next phase is getting an accurate picture of the deceased's financial life — and notifying the institutions that need to know.
4. Notify Service Canada
Notify Service Canada of the death to stop CPP and OAS payments. Any payment received after the date of death must usually be returned. Apply for the CPP Death Benefit (a one-time lump-sum payment of up to $2,500) and, if applicable, the CPP Survivor's Pension and Children's Benefit. Forms ISP1200 (Death Benefit) and ISP1300 (Survivor's Pension) can be downloaded from the Service Canada website.
5. Notify the bank(s)
Bring a Death Certificate and the will to each bank where the deceased had accounts. Joint accounts with right of survivorship typically pass automatically to the surviving holder. Solo accounts will be frozen until you obtain probate (or, for smaller estates, sometimes the bank will release funds with just the will and your ID). Ask each bank to give you a complete list of accounts, balances on the date of death, and any safe deposit box contents.
6. Build the asset and liability list
This is the foundation of everything else. You'll need a complete inventory of:
- All bank accounts, GICs, and investment accounts (with balances on the date of death)
- Real estate (with estimated fair market value)
- Vehicles, valuables, and personal property
- Pensions (CPP, OAS, employer plans)
- Life insurance policies (note: policies with a named beneficiary pass directly to that beneficiary and are not part of the probate estate)
- RRSPs, RRIFs, and TFSAs (with named beneficiaries flagged separately)
- Outstanding debts (credit cards, mortgages, loans, taxes owed)
The total value of the probate estate is what determines whether you need to apply for probate (called a Certificate of Appointment of Estate Trustee in Ontario, or Grant of Letters Probate elsewhere). It also determines your provincial probate fees — Ontario charges roughly 1.5% on estates over $50,000; BC charges around 1.4% on estates over $50,000; Alberta has flat-fee tiers; Quebec has no probate tax for notarial wills. Get this number right.
Days 11–20: Probate Application and CRA Notification
Once you have the asset list, the next step is the legal authority to act — probate — and the financial authority — the CRA's confirmation of the deceased's tax accounts.
7. Decide whether you need probate
Not every estate needs probate. If all the deceased's assets pass outside the estate (joint accounts with survivorship, life insurance with named beneficiaries, RRSPs/RRIFs with named beneficiaries, real estate held in joint tenancy), you may avoid the process entirely. But most estates with solo bank accounts, real estate held solely, or non-trivial investments will need it. Banks generally require probate before releasing funds above a threshold (often $25,000–$50,000).
8. Apply for probate
The application is filed with the provincial superior court — Ontario Superior Court of Justice, BC Supreme Court, Quebec Superior Court, etc. You'll need the original will, the Death Certificate, the asset and liability inventory, and the application forms (different in each province). Probate fees are paid at filing. Typical processing time is 6–12 weeks, though some provinces are running longer in 2026.
9. Notify the CRA
The CRA has a specific process for notifying them of a death — Form RC4111 plus the death certificate. Once notified, the deceased's tax account is closed and a clearance certificate process can begin (more on that later). The CRA also requires the final T1 tax return — typically due either April 30 of the year following the death, or six months after the date of death, whichever is later. Optional separate returns (rights or things, partnership/proprietorship income, testamentary trust) can sometimes save the estate thousands in tax.
Days 21–30: Stabilization and the Long View
10. Open an executor's bank account
Once you have probate (or letter from the bank for smaller estates), open an "Estate of [Name], by [You], Executor" account. All estate income — rents, dividends, account interest — flows through this account. All estate expenses — legal fees, funeral costs, ongoing utilities, insurance — come out of it. Keep meticulous records. You'll need to provide an accounting to the beneficiaries at the end.
11. Cancel and consolidate
Cancel things that no longer need to exist: credit cards, gym memberships, streaming subscriptions, the deceased's driver's licence, health card, passport (Passport Canada has a specific process), Costco, CAA, and so on. Cancel utilities only if the home is being sold or closed up — otherwise keep them on. Notify the post office of a forwarding address for the deceased's mail (typically your address as executor).
12. Communicate with beneficiaries
By the end of the first month, beneficiaries should know: who the executor is (you), what the rough size of the estate is, the realistic timeline (typically 6–18 months for distribution), and what's needed from them (usually nothing for a while). Ambiguity during this period is what creates family disputes later. A short written email summary at the 30-day mark can prevent dozens of phone calls over the following months.
Do not distribute any assets to beneficiaries. Do not pay debts beyond essential ones (utilities, insurance) without legal advice. Do not promise timelines you can't keep. Do not commingle estate funds with your personal funds. Each of these creates personal liability that you, the executor, will absorb.
What Happens After Day 30
Days 31–180 are the bulk of the work: probate is granted, the final T1 tax return is filed, debts are paid, real estate may be sold, and a CRA Clearance Certificate is requested before the estate is distributed. Days 180–365 are typically about distribution to beneficiaries and closing the estate file. The full timeline is rarely under nine months and frequently runs past eighteen.
The most important thing to remember is this: as executor, you are not racing. Slow and methodical is faster than rushed and corrected. Keep records, keep beneficiaries informed, and don't distribute anything until you have a CRA clearance certificate in hand.
The Executor's Handbook · Canadian Edition
The full 45-page guide: probate by province, CRA forms in detail, beneficiary communication scripts, and 5 ready-to-use templates including the executor letter, asset inventory, and beneficiary update.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a lawyer to be an executor in Canada?
No, but most executors hire one for the probate application and to review complex tax issues. Estate lawyers typically charge $1,500–$5,000 for a basic probate, plus hourly fees for complications. The estate pays the legal fees, not the executor personally.
Can I be paid for being an executor?
Yes. Provincial law allows reasonable executor compensation — typically up to 5% of the estate's value plus 5% of the estate's annual income (Ontario guidelines; other provinces vary). The amount must be approved by the beneficiaries or the court. Most family executors waive the fee.
What if I don't want to be the executor?
You can renounce the role before you take any executor actions. Once you've started administering the estate, renouncing is much harder. If a substitute executor is named in the will, they take over. If not, the court appoints an estate trustee, often a major bank's trust department.
How long does executor liability last?
Until the estate is fully distributed and a CRA clearance certificate is issued. After that, beneficiaries can still raise concerns about your administration for up to two years (in most provinces) under the Limitations Act, so keep all records for at least three years post-distribution.