Are beneficiaries entitled to a full financial accounting of the estate in Ontario?

Yes. Beneficiaries in Ontario are generally entitled to receive a proper accounting of the estate — a detailed record of all assets collected, debts paid, expenses incurred, and amounts available for distribution. This right flows from the executor's fiduciary duty to account to the beneficiaries for their stewardship of the estate.

A residuary beneficiary (someone who shares in the remainder of the estate after specific gifts) has the strongest right to an accounting, since the amount they receive depends directly on how well the estate was managed. Beneficiaries who receive a fixed gift may have a more limited interest in the full accounting.

In practice, executors often provide an informal accounting — a written statement of estate receipts and disbursements — and ask beneficiaries to sign a release before receiving their distribution. If the executor refuses to account or the beneficiaries are dissatisfied, they can apply to court to compel a formal passing of accounts. Executors who maintain clear records from the beginning make this process straightforward.