The First 30 Days After a Death — Executor Priorities

Last updated July 4, 2026 · 5 min read
Quick answer
The first 30 days as executor in Canada involve — Week 1 (funeral coordination, locating Will, securing the home and pets, notifying immediate family); Week 2 (notifying employer, government via Service Canada, beginning asset inventory, contacting executor's lawyer if needed); Week 3 (notifying financial institutions, beginning insurance claims, identifying creditors); Week 4 (beginning probate application if required, asset valuation in progress, ongoing communication with beneficiaries). Probate application typically takes 4-8 weeks to complete. Don't make distributions until probate granted and creditors notified.

For Canadian executors, the first 30 days after death involve concentrated activity — coordinating the funeral, locating documents, notifying institutions, securing assets, and beginning the probate process. Here's a practical weekly breakdown.

Week 1 — Funeral and immediate logistics

Within hours:

  • Confirm death (hospital, care facility, family doctor, or 911)
  • Contact funeral home (24/7 services for body transfer)
  • Locate the Will if possible (often at home, with lawyer, or in safe)
  • Confirm you are the named executor

Day 1-2:

  • Coordinate funeral arrangements with funeral home
  • Notify immediate family
  • Secure the deceased's home (lock doors, change locks if appropriate)
  • Pets — immediate care; contact designated caregiver per Will
  • Contact lawyer (if Will is with a lawyer)
  • Begin gathering important documents (Will, ID, insurance papers, financial records)

Day 3-7:

  • Funeral and burial/cremation
  • Continue funeral logistics (reception, thank-yous to attendees)
  • Order initial batch of death certificates (funeral home typically does this)
  • Read the Will carefully
  • Begin to understand the scope of the estate

Week 2 — Notifications and asset inventory

Government notifications:

  • Service Canada — federal benefits (CPP, OAS) cessation via Notification of Death
  • Provincial pension if applicable
  • CRA — final tax filing (later, but begin to gather records)

Employer notification:

  • HR for bereavement and benefits
  • Group life insurance claim if applicable
  • Final paycheque arrangements
  • Pension considerations

Begin asset inventory:

  • Bank accounts (all institutions, all account types)
  • Investment accounts (RRSP, RRIF, TFSA, non-registered)
  • Real estate (principal residence, recreational, investment)
  • Vehicles
  • Personal property of value (jewellery, art, collections, vehicles)
  • Insurance policies (life, group, disability)
  • Pension entitlements
  • Outstanding debts or loans owed

Notifications to financial institutions:

  • Initial contact with each bank
  • Initial contact with each investment firm
  • Initial contact with insurance companies
  • Request 'date of death' values for tax purposes

Locate or contact:

  • Lawyer (if not already engaged)
  • Accountant
  • Investment adviser
  • Insurance broker

Week 3 — Beginning probate process

Decide on probate:

  • Probate needed if significant assets (most situations)
  • Probate not strictly needed for small estates or where all assets pass outside the Will
  • See small estate procedures Canada

Prepare probate application:

  • Detailed asset inventory with values
  • Will (original)
  • Death certificate
  • Application form (provincial — Application for Estate Trustee/Probate)
  • Affidavit
  • Probate fees (varies by province; see probate fees Canada)

Probate application processing:

  • File with Probate Registry (Court)
  • Specific provincial process
  • Processing time typically 4-8 weeks (varies significantly)

Creditor notification:

  • Publish notice in newspaper (or specific provincial requirement) calling on creditors to come forward
  • Wait specified period (typically 30-60 days)
  • Notify known creditors directly

Ongoing tasks:

  • Continue asset inventory and valuation
  • Communications with beneficiaries (don't make commitments before probate)
  • Property and asset preservation (maintain insurance, security, etc.)

Week 4 — Continuing administration

Wait for probate:

  • Probate application processing continues
  • During wait, continue inventory and valuation
  • Don't make distributions

Insurance claims:

  • Submit life insurance claims (each policy)
  • Group life through employer
  • Mortgage insurance if applicable
  • Other insurance claims

Tax considerations:

  • Note the deadline for the final T1 return (generally April 30 of the year following death, or six months after the date of death if the death occurred in November or December, per CRA)
  • Begin gathering tax documents
  • Consider need for accountant or tax preparer

Property management:

  • Continue utilities, insurance, security on deceased's property
  • Discuss with beneficiaries (will property be retained, sold, or distributed?)
  • Begin specific property decisions (real estate listings, contents disposition)

Family communication:

  • Update beneficiaries on progress
  • Manage expectations on timing
  • Address specific questions

Common first-30-days mistakes

Distributing too early: Distributing assets before probate granted, creditors notified, and waiting periods expired creates personal liability for executor. Wait until proper time.

Failing to secure property: Deceased's home, vehicles, valuable items need active management. Some have been lost or stolen during transition periods.

Mixing finances: Executor's personal finances should be entirely separate from estate. Specific estate bank account in 'Estate of [deceased]' is standard.

Failing to notify creditors: Required step. Failure can create personal liability and complicate distribution.

Failing to maintain records: Detailed records of all decisions, transactions, and time spent are essential. Beneficiaries may later request accounting.

Trying to do it all alone: Specific tasks warrant professional help — complex tax filing, real estate sale, business valuation, estate disputes. Don't hesitate to engage professionals.

Specific to particular situations

No Will (intestate):

  • Apply for Letters of Administration rather than probate
  • Specific person eligible to apply varies by province
  • Asset distribution per provincial intestacy law
  • Often more complex than estate with Will
  • See letters of administration Canada

Disputed Will or estate:

Small estate:

Real estate involved:

  • Specific provincial Land Title office requirements
  • Probate often required for real estate transfer
  • Title insurance considerations
  • See probate with only real estate

Business interest:

  • Specific business valuation
  • Continued operations decisions
  • Specific business succession plans

Professional help

Lawyer: Often engaged for probate application; complex situations; disputes; specific tax planning.

Accountant: Final tax returns; clearance certificate; tax planning.

Real estate professional: Property sale; valuation.

Estate administrator: Some executors retain professional estate administrator for full-service support (trust company, lawyer firm with estate services).

What we focus on at It's Simple Will

The Life Discovery Kit (post-payment) is the executor's roadmap — where assets are, who to contact, what to do. Drastically reduces the first-30-days burden when the deceased had completed it.

Citations & sources

  1. [1]Canadian Bar Association — Wills, Estates and Trusts — Canadian Bar Association
  2. [2]Service Canada — Death of a Canadian — Government of Canada

Frequently asked questions

What's the very first thing to do as executor?

Locate the Will. Confirm you're the executor. Coordinate with funeral home for arrangements. Secure the deceased's home and any pets. Notify immediate family. These typically happen within hours/first day.

When do I need to apply for probate?

Probate is needed when — there are significant assets (real estate, investments, large bank accounts); institutions require probated Will (most banks for accounts >$25,000-50,000 require probate). Application typically within first 1-2 months. Some small estates don't require probate.

Should I notify creditors?

Yes — best practice. Publish notice in newspaper (or specific province's required publication) notifying creditors to come forward. Specific requirements vary by province. Notify known creditors directly. Wait specified period (typically 30-60 days) before final distribution.

Can I distribute assets immediately?

No. Distributions before probate granted and creditors notified create personal liability for executor. Wait until probate granted, creditors notified and waiting period expired, and tax clearance obtained before final distribution.

What about the deceased's home?

Secure it — lock doors, change locks if appropriate. Continue utilities, insurance, security. Contact home insurer (some policies have vacancy clauses). Don't sell or distribute contents until full inventory and probate status clear.

What about the deceased's pets?

Immediate care. Designated caregiver per Will (if any) or family member willing. Don't surrender to shelter without confirming Will provisions. Specific provisions in Will should be followed.

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