3. Apply to be estate trustee
Before you apply to be , check to see if anyone else has already applied. Ask the estates courthouse of any Superior Court of Justice if someone has applied to be trustee anywhere in Ontario.
Or, you may hear from a beneficiary that someone else has applied to be estate trustee. This is because anyone filing an application has to give notice to all .
Fill out your application
You have to fill out an application asking for a certificate that gives you the power to deal with the estate.
You apply for the certificate at the Superior Court of Justice in the area where the person lived or owned . You can apply by email, mail, or courier.
The question How do I apply to be an estate trustee without a will? has more information on how to apply.
Being an estate trustee is a lot of work. You take on a lot of responsibility. If the court makes you the estate trustee, it can be hard to stop being estate trustee if you later change your mind.
Notice that someone else has applied
Before appointing an estate trustee, the court sends a notice of your application to the Estate Registrar for Ontario.
If someone else has applied in another court, you're informed.
Both applications will be put on hold until a judge decides which one can go ahead.
