How long does it take to get a certificate of appointment of estate trustee in Ontario?
Applications for an estate certificate in Ontario are usually processed within 15 business days. That is a typical time rather than a fixed deadline, and it can vary by courthouse. Plan for the wait when you schedule anything that depends on the certificate, such as listing a house.
Processing takes longer if documents are missing or a judge must decide an issue. If an application is refused or returned, court staff send Form 74O, Registrar's Notice to Applicant, giving the reason. If a beneficiary has filed a Notice of Objection (Form 75.1), you must give notice to the objector (Form 75.3).
You can also reduce delay before filing. The signed application must go to the estate beneficiaries first, and the original will must be filed in hard copy even when the rest is emailed. If the estate is worth $150,000 or less, the simplified Small Estate Certificate process is usually processed within five business days, but the application must reach beneficiaries 30 days before filing. If documents were missing, staff may ask for revised or additional materials. Gathering your documents before you file is a practical way to avoid avoidable back-and-forth, and a lawyer can confirm what your situation needs.
Key takeaways
- Applications are usually processed within 15 business days, but that is a typical time and not a fixed deadline.
- Missing documents or an issue that a judge must decide can make processing take longer.
- A refused application comes back with Form 74O, Registrar's Notice to Applicant, which gives the reason, but a refused small estate application receives Form 74.1D instead.
- Estates of $150,000 or less can use a simplified Small Estate Certificate process that is usually processed within five business days.