And there's no starting list. Nobody hands you an inventory of what the estate owns or owes. You search for and build it yourself, one statement and one phone call at a time, usually while grieving and with commitments of your own.
An executor is a fiduciary. The law expects you to act with care, loyalty and impartiality toward every beneficiary. You have to account for every dollar of the estate. Mistakes can leave you personally liable for losses to the estate. That's a lot to ask of someone who is also saying goodbye.
An executor's commitment
We can lift the burden. Meet with an estate specialist today.
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With Professional Estate Representative services, our trust partner takes on the legal role of settling the estate and ClearEstate's team does the work, from the first death notification to the final distribution.
Your family stays informed through the ClearEstate online platform. You're kept in the loop without carrying the legal weight.
For families seeking a professional executor to be responsible for the estate settlement, with ClearEstate handling the administrative burden, providing total peace of mind
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Settlement plan fees do not include the cost of notarization of signatures or documents, notice to creditors, estate administration tax, costs to transfer real title, services rendered to other professionals, such as appraisers, property managers, etc., or other estate expenses unless otherwise specified.
Some estates are more complicated to settle, such as where there are multiple executors, business interests, trusts, multi-jurisdictions, or where legislation requires an attorney or there is legal or tax advice or additional documents needed. In such cases, add-ons may apply and/or it may be necessary to engage external professionals at an additional cost to the estate.
*Professional Representative plan is provided in partnership with ClearEstate's trust partner (Natcan Trust Company, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the National Bank of Canada) and is subject to partner and court approval.
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No one has 400+ hours to give. Careers, kids and commitments don't pause for 18 months of estate paperwork.
The named executor doesn't want the responsibility. You can decline the role, and a professional can step in.
Family relationships are complicated. When family members don't see eye to eye, a neutral third party with no stake in the outcome keeps decisions fair and the settlement moving.
The estate has no clear executor. No Will, or an executor who has passed away or can't act.
The executor lives far away. Out of province or out of the country, with no practical way to meet with banks, sign documents or manage the estate in person.
so you can focus on what matters most
An estate representative is the person or company legally responsible for settling an estate. If there's a Will, this is usually the executor named in it. If there's no Will, or the executor can't act, the court appoints an administrator. Depending on the province, the role may also be called an estate trustee or personal representative. With our Professional Estate Representative service, our trust partner, Natcan Trust Company, takes on this role instead of a family member or friend. ClearEstate acts as Natcan's agent and carries out the day-to-day work of settling the estate.
ClearEstate acts as agent to the executor. Our estate professionals carry out the administration of the estate settlement: notifications, inventory, communications, taxes and distribution. We keep the executor and beneficiaries informed through our online platform.
You can work with us in one of two ways, at the same fee:
Professional Estate Representative service: Natcan Trust Company acts as executor. Our trust partner, Natcan Trust Company, is appointed as estate representative and takes on the executor role and its legal responsibility. ClearEstate acts as its agent and takes on the administrative work.
Agent for Executor service: You remain executor. You keep the executor role and ClearEstate acts as your agent. We do the administrative work, and you have the final say on every key decision. The executor's legal responsibility stays with you.
ClearEstate is not a trust company and is not a law firm.
Natcan Trust Company is a regulated trust company and a wholly-owned subsidiary of National Bank of Canada. As a regulated entity, it's held to higher standards than an individual executor, and it provides continuity: the estate never depends on one person's health, schedule or availability.
Yes. Being named executor is a serious legal responsibility, but you're not obligated to accept it. If you haven't started acting on the estate, you can formally decline (renounce) the role. If the Will names alternate executors, they're next in line and would also need to renounce. A court application can then ask for our trust partner, Natcan Trust Company, to be appointed. Beneficiaries often need to give their consent, and the appointment is subject to court approval.
Already started acting as executor? Stepping aside usually takes a court order. In that case, our Agent for Executor service is often the better fit. You stay the executor with the final say, and ClearEstate acts as your agent and takes on the administrative burden, at the same fee.
Every estate is different. Talk to an Estate Solutions Advisor about yours.
Estates must be solvent (able to pay their debts) and free from legal claims, such as a challenge to the Will, a dispute among beneficiaries or any other litigation involving the estate. Appointment is subject to approval by our trust partner and the court. Some estates, such as those with multiple executors, business interests, trusts or property in several jurisdictions, may involve add-ons or outside professionals at an additional cost to the estate.
ClearEstate's fee is 1.75% of the fair market value of the estate assets as of the date of death, with a minimum fee of $21,000. It includes the final T1 and first estate T3 tax returns, the CRA clearance certificate application and a full accounting to beneficiaries. In many provinces, executor compensation can be up to about 5% of the estate's value, with legal and accounting fees usually extra. Trust company fees vary, but they're often in the 3 to 5% range with minimum fees starting around $25,000.
The fee is paid from the estate as an estate expense, not by the executor or family personally.
When someone dies without a will — known as dying intestate — their estate is managed according to provincial intestacy laws rather than their personal wishes. A family member usually needs to apply to the court to become the administrator, who takes on duties like identifying assets, paying debts, and distributing what remains to the legal heirs.
Because there’s no written guidance, the process can take longer, involve more paperwork, and sometimes cause confusion or conflict among family members. The law typically prioritizes spouses, children, and close relatives — meaning friends, stepchildren, or charities usually aren’t included.Settling an estate can bring old tensions to the surface. A neutral professional with no personal stake treats every beneficiary impartially and keeps a full record of every decision. Please note that ClearEstate can't take on estates that are being contested or are in litigation.
