Estate administration in London, Ontario

If you have been named as the estate trustee (executor) in a will, or someone close to you has died without a will, you are responsible for settling the estate. I guide estate trustees through it from the first weeks to the final distribution, and I can do as much or as little of the work as you want.

How I help

• Reviewing the will and explaining your duties and the timeline.

• Deciding whether probate is needed, and preparing the application for a certificate of appointment of estate trustee.

• Calculating the estate administration tax and filing the Estate Information Return.

• Dealing with banks, investment firms, pension plans and insurers.

• Selling or transferring real estate from the estate, which I handle myself.

• Working with the estate’s accountant on the final tax returns and the clearance certificate from the Canada Revenue Agency.

• Preparing the accounts, releases and final distribution to the beneficiaries.

When there is no will

If the person died without a will, someone entitled to share in the estate, usually the spouse or a close family member, applies to the court to be appointed. The estate then passes to the family under Ontario’s intestacy rules. The court may require a bond, and the process usually takes longer. I explain who is entitled to what and handle the application.

Deadlines to know

• A surviving married spouse has six months after the death to choose between what they receive under the will (or without a will) and an equalization of family property. Unless the spouse consents in writing or the court allows it, the estate should not be distributed during those six months.

• A dependant who was not adequately provided for can generally apply for support within six months after the certificate of appointment is issued.

• The Estate Information Return is due to the Ministry of Finance within 180 days after the certificate is issued.

• The deceased’s final income tax return is generally due by April 30 of the following year, or six months after the death if that is later.

Estates with a private company

When the deceased owned shares of a private company, the shares are generally treated as sold at death for tax purposes, and the same value can end up being taxed twice unless planning is done after the death, often within the estate’s first year. I coordinate the corporate and estate work with the accountant from the start. If there is a secondary will covering the shares, they may not need to go through probate at all.

Estate trustee compensation

Estate trustees are entitled to be paid for their work. Compensation is usually calculated as a percentage of the money that comes into and goes out of the estate, subject to the will and to approval by the beneficiaries or the court. I can tell you what is reasonable for your estate.

Where to start

Read my estate trustee checklist for the first 30 days and estimate the tax with my probate calculator. Then book a meeting and bring the will, the funeral home’s statement of death and whatever account statements you have. Selling the house? Read the estate sales section of my tricky deals guide.

Useful links

• What is estate administration in Ontario?

• Wills and powers of attorney

• Frequently asked questions

Settling an estate in London or the surrounding area? Get in touch or call (226) 402-0823.

This page is general information about Ontario estate law as of September 2026. It is not legal or tax advice about a particular estate.