Can an out-of-province beneficiary participate remotely in Ontario will challenge proceedings?

Generally, yes. Ontario courts have significantly expanded the use of remote and virtual attendance for many types of proceedings, including estate litigation, and a beneficiary who lives outside the province can often participate in case conferences, motions, and even parts of a trial or solemn form hearing by video or telephone, rather than needing to travel to Ontario for every step. Whether a specific hearing proceeds remotely, in person, or in a hybrid format is ultimately up to the presiding judge, based on the nature of the hearing and what's fair and practical for everyone involved.

For steps that mainly involve legal argument or scheduling, remote participation is now routine. For evidence-heavy hearings, such as a trial or proof-in-solemn-form hearing involving live witness testimony and credibility findings, a judge may be more cautious about remote attendance, particularly for a party who needs to testify or be cross-examined, since in-person testimony can affect how credibility is assessed. If you're an out-of-province beneficiary or party in an Ontario will dispute, raise the possibility of remote participation with your lawyer and the court as early as possible, since arrangements are usually easier to secure well in advance of the hearing date.