Poll shows Canadians lean on family despite executor complexity (Press Release)

Montréal, October 5, 2026 – A comprehensive national survey commissioned by ClearEstate finds most Canadians are willing to take responsibility for settling a loved one’s estate, despite widespread recognition that the paperwork may be more than they are prepared to handle.

That tension is at the heart of the new benchmark study by Canada Pulse Insights, which polled 3,048 Canadian adults on behalf of ClearEstate. It found broad willingness for executorship alongside strong demand for at least some professional support.

Nearly nine in ten (89%) agree that being an executor can become a complicated and time-consuming job that most people are not prepared for, yet three in four (76%) would accept the role for a family member or close friend even without fully understanding the duties involved. More than eight in ten (83%) say they would want professional support if the responsibility fell to them.

“It’s safe to say this is the largest Canadian survey on this issue in recent memory,” said study lead Will Daley, Senior Vice President, Research and Analytics at Canada Pulse Insights. “At more than 3,000 respondents, the sample is two or three times the size of an ordinary poll and lets us drill down into very specific groups of Canadians.”

Anything for Family

Among those with a completed Estate Plan who have not used a professional executor, the vast majority (82%) have named a family member or friend. At the same time, nearly two-thirds of respondents (63%) agree it is unfair to expect a family member to handle all of the bureaucratic work of settling an estate on their own.

Preparation for that handoff is often limited. Among Canadians who have not used a professional executor, nearly half (44%) are unsure how their executor would access their latest information on assets and liabilities, including accounts, deeds and passwords, after their death.

“There’s a generous reading of this, which is that people want the person they trust most handling something so deeply personal,” said Davide Pisanu, co-founder and CEO of ClearEstate. “But there’s also a less generous reading. We know the work can be painful and complicated, and we still ask someone we love to take it on without always doing enough to make their job easier.”

What Drives Executor Decisions

Among respondents who have appointed a family member or friend, 58% say they chose the most trustworthy person they know. For advisors and various professionals involved in a family’s finances, estate administration—including the complexities of estate settlement—offers opportunities to educate clients on a more holistic approach to wealth management.

The survey suggests the principal obstacle to professional executorship may be perceived need over cost. Among people with completed estate plans who have not hired a professional executor:

• 79% cite reasons related to a perceived lack of need

• 33% describe their estate as simple

• 27% say family members can handle the work

• 22% cite cost

Experience suggests even relatively ordinary estates can require significant work. One in five Canadians surveyed has acted as an executor, with a median reported workload of 35 hours; 39% spent 50 hours or more on executor duties and another 17% lost track of the time altogether. ClearEstate’s own client data shows that even uncontested estate settlements typically unfold over 12 to 18 months.

Daley suggests most Canadians “reach for the people they trust the most” when seeking help managing their estate and that many are wary of “handing it off to a stranger.”

“People generally understand what it means to be someone’s best man or maid of honour, and what those duties entail,” Daley said. “With executorship, there aren’t those same baseline expectations. People feel honoured or obligated to say yes but may have no clear idea what the job will actually involve.”

A Window for Estate Planning

The results suggest some differences between Canadians who have begun planning and those who have not.

Among people currently working on a will, 54% say they will complete or update their estate plan within the next year, compared with just 18% of those who have no will. Among Canadians currently working on an estate plan, that figure rises to 59%.

Further reinforcing the need for broad-based education on these issues: the finding that 81% of Canadians show at least some confusion between wills and estate plans, mistaking at least one plan component for something typically found in a will. More than half (56%) believe a typical will includes an estate plan.

The results suggest that once Canadians begin engaging with estate planning, they are substantially more likely to continue taking action. For wealth advisors, insurers and other financial professionals, the period in which a client is already considering a will or updating it may therefore offer an important opportunity to discuss how estate planning can preserve their legacy.

Family in the Loop

Canadians appear more receptive to professional expertise around a trusted family executor than to replacing that person altogether. There is a preference for keeping family involved in estate planning and settlement among older Canadians (65+):

• 55% would appoint a family member or close friend who could hire professionals as needed

• 32% who would have a family member handle everything alone

• 13% would choose a professional-led route through either a professional executor service or a financial institution or trust company

Across the full sample, 48% prefer a family executor with access to professional support, compared with 30% who would leave the entire job with family and 22% who would choose a professional-led option.

Experience may also change how Canadians approach their own planning. 41% of those who have already served as an executor say they will complete or update their own estate plan in the next year, compared with 26% of those who have never served.

Canadians are nevertheless open to professional alternatives. Seven in ten (70%) say they would feel more comfortable naming a professional executor service, or using one to support their executor, if fees were clearly explained and significantly lower than traditional options. With awareness of professional executorship still limited, the study suggests education remains one of the largest barriers to adoption.

About ClearEstate

ClearEstate is Canada’s only comprehensive estate planning and settlement fintech solution. Its intuitive web-based platform provides transparent, efficient support for estate administration and executor services. Founded in 2020 and backed by investors including Diagram Ventures, OMERS Ventures, NAVentures, Investissement Québec, Canada Life and IG Wealth, ClearEstate has supported thousands of families across North America during some of life’s most challenging moments.

Media contact: media@clearestate.com