What evidence does an Ontario court require to grant a guardianship of property application?

An Ontario court generally expects solid, specific evidence before granting a guardianship of property application, centred on demonstrating that the person is actually incapable of managing their property under the Substitute Decisions Act's legal test — typically a capacity assessment from a qualified assessor, though other evidence, such as detailed medical records and firsthand observations of the person's actual functioning, can also support the case. General statements that someone "isn't doing well" or is "getting older" aren't enough on their own; the evidence needs to connect to the specific legal test for incapacity to manage property.

Beyond capacity itself, the court also wants evidence supporting the proposed guardian's suitability — their relationship to the incapable person, their own financial responsibility, and the absence of a disqualifying conflict of interest — along with a realistic management plan showing how the property will actually be handled. Evidence that a less restrictive option, such as an existing or potential power of attorney, isn't available or adequate also strengthens the application, since courts favour the least restrictive appropriate alternative. Because assembling this evidence properly takes real preparation, work with a lawyer early to build a complete, well-supported application file.