Can I enforce a judgment against a debtor's estate if they die before I collect in Ontario?

Yes — a judgment debt generally doesn't disappear just because the debtor dies before it's fully collected. It becomes a claim against the deceased debtor's estate, similar to any other debt the person owed at the time of death, and the executor or estate trustee is generally responsible for paying valid debts, including judgment debts, out of the estate's assets before distributing anything to beneficiaries. A creditor holding an unpaid judgment generally needs to present that claim to the estate trustee, much like any other creditor of the estate would.

Complications can arise if the estate has limited assets and multiple creditors competing for what's available, since debts are generally paid according to a recognized order of priority rather than simply whoever asks first, and there may not be enough left to pay everyone in full. If the estate trustee distributes assets to beneficiaries without properly accounting for a known debt, that can potentially expose the trustee to personal liability, which is part of why executors are generally expected to identify and address creditor claims before finalizing distributions. A creditor concerned about a debtor's death should act promptly to notify the estate rather than waiting, since delay can mean assets are distributed before the claim is addressed.