Are domain names and monetized websites treated as estate assets in Ontario?

Generally, yes. A domain name registration and a monetized website are treated as property of the deceased and, in principle, pass into the estate along with everything else the person owned, even though Ontario has no statute written specifically for either one. A domain name is really a contractual right against the registrar rather than physical property, and a website's value often comes from a bundle of things — the domain, the content, any advertising or affiliate income, and accounts tied to hosting or payment processors.

Because there's no dedicated Ontario rule, transfer in practice depends heavily on the registrar's or platform's own policies for handling a deceased customer's account, which vary and can be slow or restrictive. An executor will typically need to provide a death certificate and proof of their appointment as estate trustee to the registrar, hosting provider, and any payment processor separately, since each is a distinct account with its own recovery process. Income-generating sites also raise valuation questions, since ongoing revenue affects what the asset is worth for estate purposes. Anyone with a valuable domain or website should keep a clear record of logins, registrar accounts, and revenue sources for their executor, since this area is not something current law addresses directly.