A certificate of appointment of estate trustee with a will is a document issued by the court that proves the authority of the estate trustee (formerly called an executor) to administer the provisions of the deceased’s will.

A certificate of appointment of estate trustee without a will is a document granted by the court that gives authority to the estate trustee (formerly called an administrator) to manage and distribute the estate of the deceased who died without having made a will.
* Taken from the Ontario Government Ministry of Attorney General’s website.

This is where an estate gets fun.

Contrary to popular belief, a lawyer does not decide whether probate is required in order to make a few extra sheckles. This decision is determined by the asset holders, Land Registry Office, quite possibly the beneficiaries and can be quite complex. Although it is not necessary to retain a lawyer to prepare and file the documents required by the court, it is strongly recommended that you seek professional advice prior to handling this task on your own. What ‘appears’ to be a relatively simple process may end up costing the estate you are handling thousands of dollars, thereby causing you tremendous grief and putting you in a position where you are liable and have to answer to the beneficiaries.

Let ESTATE-HELP.ca evaluate your particular situation and assist you with filing for a Certificate of Appointment of Estate Trustee. In the event that you wish to complete this task on your own, please send us a quick email and we will be happy to forward to you the link which contains the forms that need to be filed with the Court.