Everything you need to know about Ontario Form 74B.1, including helpful tips, fast facts & deadlines, how to fill it out, where to submit it and other related ON probate forms.
There are all sorts of forms executors, beneficiaries, and probate court clerks have to fill out and correspond with during probate and estate settlement, including affidavits, letters, petitions, summons, orders, and notices.
Lawyer’s Certificate Of Service Of Application For A Certificate Of Appointment Of Estate Trustee is a commonly used form within Ontario. Here’s an overview of what the form is and means, including a breakdown of the situations when (or why) you may need to use it:
Sometimes it’s tough to find a quick summary— here’s the important details you should know about Lawyer’s Certificate Of Service Of Application For A Certificate Of Appointment Of Estate Trustee:
This form pertains to the State of Ontario
Government forms are not typically updated often, though when they are, it often happens rather quietly. While Atticus works hard to keep this information about Ontario’s Form 74B.1 - Lawyer’s Certificate Of Service Of Application For A Certificate Of Appointment Of Estate Trustee up to date, certain details can change from time-to-time with little or no communication.
Double check that you have both the correct form name and the correct form ID. Some Ontario probate forms can look remarkably similar, so it’s best to double, even triple-check that you’re using the right one! Keep in mind that not all States have a standardized Form ID system for their probate forms.
Fill out all relevant fields in Form 74B.1, take a break, and then review. Probate and estate settlement processes in ON are long enough to begin with, and making a silly error can push your timeline even farther back. No thank you!
Note: If you don’t currently know all of the answers and are accessing Form 74B.1 online, be sure to avoid closing the browser tab and potentially losing all your progress (or use a platform like Atticus to help avoid making mistakes).
Some States and situations require particular forms to be notarized. If you have been instructed to get the document notarized or see it in writing on the document, then make sure to hire a local notary. There are max notary fees in the United States that are defined and set by local law. Take a look at our full guide to notary fees to make sure you aren’t overpaying or getting ripped off.
This is most often the local probate court where the decedent (person who passed away) is domiciled (permanently resides) or the institution involved with this particular form (e.g. a bank). Some offices allow you to submit forms online, other’s don’t, and we while we generally recommend going in-person to expedite the process, sometimes that simply isn’t an option.
It’s also a generally good idea to establish a positive working relationship with any probate clerk (unfortunately there’s enough people & process out there making things more difficult and unnecessarily confusing for them), so a best practice is to simply ask the probate clerk proactively exactly how and where they’d prefer you to submit all forms.
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Different probate forms or processes can require different deadlines or response times for completing the appropriate form.
While some steps in the process are bound to specific deadlines (like petitioning for probate, having to submit an inventory of assets, or filing applicable notices to creditors and beneficiaries), many probate forms or processes are not tied to a specific deadline since the scope of work can vary based on situational factors or requirements involved.
Either way, there are a bunch of practical reasons why personal representatives should work to complete each step as thoroughly and quickly as possible when completing probate in Ontario.
The sooner you begin, the faster Ontario can allow heirs and beneficiaries to get their share of assets subject to probate. Acting promptly can also decrease the costs & overall mental fatigue through an otherwise burdensome process.
Helpful Context: What’s the Difference Between Probate and Non-Probate Assets?
In general, creditors of an estate usually have around 3-6 months from the time you file notice to creditors to file any claims for debt against the deceased’s assets. If they don’t, then that debt is forfeited (and more importantly, the executor won’t be held personally responsible). So doing this sooner means you have a better idea of who is owed what and ensures you won’t get a surprise collector months later.
Not filing a will within 30 days (on average) could mean that the probate process proceeds according to intestate laws (laws that govern what happens to someone's stuff without a will) or is subject to unnecessary supervision by the probate court. And if you aren't directly related to the deceased (a.k.a. next of kin), this could also mean you lose your inheritance.
It’s important to file any necessary state tax returns on behalf of the deceased or estate by the following tax season in Ontario. If you don’t, you could owe penalties and interest. This also includes any necessary federal tax returns such as Forms 1040, 1041, or even a Form 706 estate tax return.
If a house in the State of Ontario is left empty (or abandoned) for a while, insurance can get dicey. For example, if the house burns down and no one has been there for a year, an insurance company may get out of paying your claim.
If you’re not using Atticus to get specific forms, deadlines, and timelines for Ontario probate, then try and stay as organized as possible, pay close attention to the dates mentioned in any correspondence you have with the State’s government officials, call the local Ontario probate clerk or court for exact answers regarding Form 74B.1, and when in doubt— consult a qualified trust & estates lawyer for that area.
Lawyer’s Certificate Of Service Of Application For A Certificate Of Appointment Of Estate Trustee is one of the many probate court forms available for download through Atticus.
It may also be available through some Ontario probate court sites, such as . In order to access the latest version, be updated with any revisions, and get full instructions on how to complete each form, check out the Atticus Probate & Estate Settlement software or consider hiring a qualified legal expert locally within Ontario.
While Atticus automatically provides the latest forms, be sure to choose the correct version of Form 74B.1 - Lawyer’s Certificate Of Service Of Application For A Certificate Of Appointment Of Estate Trustee f using any other site or resource in order to avoid having to re-complete the form process and/or make another trip to the Ontario probate court office.
Lawyer’s Certificate Of Service Of Application For A Certificate Of Appointment Of Estate Trustee is a .pdf, so opening it should be as simple as clicking “View Form” from within the Atticus app or by clicking the appropriate link found on any Ontario-provided government platform. Once you’ve opened the form, you should be able to directly edit the form before saving or printing.
Form 74B.1 - Lawyer’s Certificate Of Service Of Application For A Certificate Of Appointment Of Estate Trustee is a probate form in Ontario.
Ontario has multiple types of probate and the necessary forms depend on the unique aspects of each estate, such as type and value of assets, whether there was a valid will, who is serving as the personal representative or executor, and even whether or not they also live in Ontario.
During probate, all personal representatives and executives in are required to submit a detailed inventory of assets that must separate non-probate assets from probate assets.
Probate in Ontario, especially without guidance, can take years to finish and cost upwards of $14,000.
What is probate, exactly?
Probate is the government’s way of making sure that when a person dies, the right stuff goes to the right people (including the taxes the government wants).
All of that stuff is collectively known as someone’s “estate”, and it’s the job of the executor or personal representative to fill out all the forms and complete all the required steps to formally dissolve the estate.
To get instant clarity on the entire probate process and get an idea of the steps, timeline, and best practices, read the Atticus Beginner’s Guide to Probate.
Where can I get help with Probate?
The best place? Create an account in Atticus to start getting estate-specific advice.
You may need a lawyer, you may not, and paying for one when you didn’t need it really hurts. Atticus makes sure you make the best decisions (plus you can write it off as an executor expense).
We’ve also created a list of other probate services. Be sure to check it out!
What does a ON executor or personal representative have to do?
An executor is named in someone’s will, and if the deceased didn’t have a will, then the spouse or other close family relative usually steps up to fulfill the role. If no one wants to do it, then a judge will appoint someone.
The executor is responsible for the complete management of the probate process, including major responsibilities such as:
Creating an inventory of all probate assets.
Filling out all necessary forms
Paying off all estate debts and taxes
Submitting reports to the court and beneficiaries as requested
And much more. This process often stretches longer than a year.
For an idea of what separates executors who succeed from those who make this way harder than it should be, visit our article, Executors of an Estate:
What they do & secrets to succeeding.
Here’s the text, verbatim, that is found on Ontario Form 74B.1 - Lawyer’s Certificate Of Service Of Application For A Certificate Of Appointment Of Estate Trustee. You can use this to get an idea of the context of the form and what type of information is needed.
Page 1 of 3 FORM 74B.1 Courts of Justice Act ONTARIO SUPERIOR COURT OF JUSTICE IN THE ESTATE OF _____________________, deceased. LAWYER’S CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE OF APPLICATION FOR A CERTIFICATE OF APPOINTMENT OF ESTATE TRUSTEE I, ______________________ a lawyer licensed by the Law Society of Ontario, certify that: 1. I am the lawyer for the applicant for a certificate of appointment of estate trustee in the above- noted estate. 2. This is a certificate of service for an: (select one) Application for Certificate of Appointment of Estate Trustee with a Will Application for Certificate of Appointment of Estate Trustee with a Will Limited to the Assets Referred to in the Will Application for Certificate of Appointment of Estate Trustee without a Will 3. I: (select one) served the above-noted Application myself. caused ___________________ (name of person who served) to serve the above-noted Application, and I am satisfied that service was effected. 4. _____________________ (insert name of person who served) served the above-noted Application on: i. each person entitled to share in the distribution of the estate, including charities and contingent beneficiaries; ii. the Office of the Children’s Lawyer if any of the persons with an interest in the estate are under the age of 18 and a parent or guardian of those persons; iii. the Office of the Children’s Lawyer if any of the persons who may be entitled to an interest in the estate are unborn or unascertained; and iv. the Guardian or Attorney for any adults who meet the definition of “incapable” as set out in Part 6 of the Application form. If I wrote “None” in the Guardian or Attorney section of Part 6, _____________________ (insert name of person who served) served on the Office of the Public Guardian and Trustee a copy of this Application form and a copy of the Will and any codicil(s) if there is a Will and any codicil(s). 5. The above-noted Application was served on each of the above persons by email, mail, courier or personal service in accordance with the Rules of Civil Procedure. Page 2 of 3 (If applying without a Will, delete or strike paragraph 6.) 6.I have attached or caused to be attached to each Application the following: a.an extract of the part or parts of the Will or codicil relating to the gift, or a copy of the Will (and codicil(s), if any), in the case of an application served on or in respect of a person entitled only to a specified item of property or stated or determinable amount of money, b.a copy of the Will (and codicil(s), if any), in the case of an application served or in respect of any other beneficiary, c.a copy of the Will (and codicil(s), if any) and a statement of the estimated value of the interest of a minor or an adult described in the application as lacking capacity, as the case may be, if that value is not disclosed in the application form, in the case of an application served on the Office of the Children’s Lawyer or the Office of the Public Guardian and Trustee. (If paragraph 7 does not apply, delete or strike it.) 7.The following persons and charities specifically named in the Will are not entitled to be served for the reasons shown below: Name of person (as it appears in Will, if any) Reason not served (If not applicable, delete or strike paragraph 8. Complete this section if the application has not been served on persons who are named in the Will or who are members of a class of beneficiaries under the Will or are entitled under an intestacy pursuant to the Succession Law Reform Act.) 8.The following persons may be entitled to be served but have not been served for the reasons shown below: Name of person (as it appears in Will, if any) Reason not served To the best of my knowledge and belief, subject to paragraph 8 (if applicable), the persons named in the application are all the persons who are entitled to share in the distribution of the estate. Page 3 of 3 (If there is more than one deponent, attach a separate sheet for additional affidavits.) I certify that the information contained in this certificate of service is true, to the best of my knowledge and belief. Signature of Lawyer Date Lawyer’s name: Lawyer’s firm: Lawyer for: Law Society of Ontario #: Contact information Street address: City or town: Province: Postal code: Country: E-mail address: Telephone number: RCP-E-74B.1 (August 1, 2022)
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