Can an executor be held personally liable for the estate's debts in Ontario?

Generally, an executor is not personally responsible for the debts of the deceased simply because they agreed to administer the estate. The estate's debts are paid from the estate's assets, not the executor's own pocket — as long as the executor acts properly.

However, personal liability can arise in specific situations. If the executor distributes assets to beneficiaries before paying all creditors and taxes, and there is nothing left to cover those outstanding amounts, the executor can be required to personally make up the shortfall — up to the value distributed. Similarly, if the executor creates new obligations on behalf of the estate (such as signing a contract) without disclosing they are acting as estate trustee, they can be personally bound by those commitments.

An executor can protect themselves by paying debts in the proper order of priority, obtaining CRA clearance before final distribution, and always signing documents clearly in their capacity as estate trustee (not in their personal name).