Can beneficiaries ask a court to remove an executor who moved abroad after being appointed?

Moving abroad after being appointed isn't, by itself, automatic grounds for removal — beneficiaries generally need to show the move actually impairs how the estate is being administered, not just that the trustee now lives somewhere else. Courts recognize that people relocate for entirely ordinary reasons unrelated to the estate, so the location change alone usually isn't enough.

What matters more is the practical effect: is the trustee still responsive, still making timely decisions, still able to deal properly with Ontario assets and institutions, or has the move led to real delays, missed deadlines, or difficulty communicating that's genuinely hurting the estate and its beneficiaries? Beneficiaries bringing a removal application need to show that kind of concrete impact rather than relying on the relocation as a shortcut to removal.

In some cases, a less drastic response — like the court requiring a bond to protect the estate given the added distance, rather than removing the trustee outright — may be the more likely outcome if the trustee is otherwise administering the estate properly. Anyone considering this kind of application should gather specific evidence of delays or problems caused by the move before deciding whether removal, a bond requirement, or something else is the realistic goal.