- Ontario says applications are typically processed within 15 business days, but this takes longer if documents are missing or a judge must decide an issue.
- You check status with your lawyer or the estates court office where you filed.
- A refusal comes as a Registrar's Notice (Form 74O) stating the reason.
- The Estate Information Return is due within 180 calendar days after the certificate is issued.
Once a probate application is filed, there is often a long silence. You may not know whether the court received everything, whether something is missing, or whether anyone has looked at it yet. Waiting without information is hard, especially when banks and other institutions are waiting for the certificate.
This article explains how to follow up, what the different outcomes generally look like, and what to prepare so that a missing document does not slow things down.
Where to ask about your application
Ontario says you check the status of an application with your lawyer or with the estates court office where you filed. Applications are filed with the Superior Court of Justice in the county or district where the deceased lived, or, if they lived outside Ontario, where they owned Ontario property. That is the office to contact.
How you are contacted can depend on how you filed. Filing can be by mail or by email under the court's practice direction. Email filers are contacted by email and receive the certificate by email. If you filed by email, check your inbox and spam folder before assuming nothing has happened.
When you reach out, have the deceased's full name, the date you filed, how you filed and any file number you were given. Keep your message short and specific.
What the possible outcomes mean
There is no single set of status labels to rely on, so it helps to think in terms of outcomes. Ontario describes these paths.
| Situation | What generally happens |
|---|---|
| Application is complete | It is typically processed within 15 business days |
| Documents are missing | Revised or additional materials can be submitted when court staff request them |
| An issue needs a decision | A judge reviews the matter and may make an order |
| Application is refused | You receive a Registrar's Notice (Form 74O) stating the reason |
| An objection (Form 75.1) was filed | The applicant must give notice to the objector (Form 75.3) and file a copy with an affidavit of service |
The 15 business days is a general target, not a promise. Processing takes longer if documents are missing or a judge must decide an issue.
Common reasons an application stalls
Most delays come from incomplete paperwork. The main probate forms include the Application (Form 74A), an Affidavit of Service (Form 74B) or Lawyer's Certificate (Form 74B.1), an affidavit for a will (Form 74D, 74E or 74F) and a draft certificate (Form 74C). Bond forms, a renunciation or a consent may also be needed where applicable. Documents are sworn before a Commissioner for Taking Affidavits.
- A signed copy of the application must be sent to all estate beneficiaries before filing.
- The Office of the Children's Lawyer and the Public Guardian and Trustee may need to be served for minor or incapable beneficiaries.
- A bond is required if the deceased died without a will, if the applicant is not the named trustee, or if the applicant does not live in Ontario, another Canadian province or territory, or a Commonwealth country.
- Form 74A requires the total value of real property, total value of personal property and total estate value.
If you think any of these were missed, tell the court office or your lawyer early so the gap can be fixed.
Payment and value questions
Estate administration tax is paid as a deposit when applying and becomes the tax once the certificate is issued. If probate is not issued, the deposit is refunded. Payment at the court office may be by cash or debit (where available), or certified cheque, solicitor trust cheque, trust company cheque or bank draft payable to the "Minister of Finance".
In some cases tax can be paid on an estimated value, sworn or affirmed on the application, and the applicant undertakes to file a sworn statement of the total value within six months and pay any balance owing. If you cannot pay when applying, you can ask a judge for an order allowing payment later. These points can affect how quickly a file moves, so they are worth raising with a lawyer.
What to do next
- Confirm which court office you filed with and how you filed.
- Check your email, including spam, if you filed by email.
- Allow the general 15 business days before assuming a problem.
- Contact the estates court office or your lawyer with your file details if you have heard nothing.
- Respond quickly to any request for revised or additional materials.
- If you receive a Form 74O, read the stated reason and get advice on how to respond.
- Once the certificate arrives, diarize the Estate Information Return due within 180 calendar days.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a way to check my probate status online?
Ontario says you check status with your lawyer or the estates court office where you filed. Whether a particular office offers any other way to check is something to ask that office directly.
What if my application is refused?
A refusal is communicated by a Registrar's Notice (Form 74O) that states the reason. If documents were missing, revised or additional materials can be submitted when court staff request them. A lawyer can help you decide how to respond.
Does someone objecting stop my application?
If an objection (Form 75.1) has been filed, the applicant must give notice to the objector (Form 75.3) and file a copy with an affidavit of service. Objections can add steps and time, so legal advice is wise.
What do I do once the certificate arrives?
The Estate Information Return must be filed with the Ministry of Finance within 180 calendar days after the certificate is issued, even if the calculated value of the estate is $0. You should also review your other duties, such as the deceased's income tax return.
Sources
- Ontario.ca – Administering estates — ontario.ca
- Ontario.ca – Calculating the Estate Administration Tax — ontario.ca
- Ontario.ca – Apply for probate — ontario.ca
- Ontario.ca – Estate Administration Tax — ontario.ca
- Ontario.ca – What to do when someone dies — ontario.ca
Links go to official government, court and regulator pages. The law changes — confirm you are reading the current version.
This is a wills & estates question
Start a file online — flat, published fees, reviewed by a licensed lawyer before a dollar is owed.