Deceased Estates - Overview
The Public Guardian and Trustee administers estates of deceased Manitobans where there is no one else willing, capable and appropriate to do so. The specific circumstances include the following:
- When a person for whom The Public Guardian and Trustee acts as Committee dies, The Public Guardian and Trustee acts as administrator until a personal representative is appointed. In many cases, this authority lasts a significant period of time. During that time, The Public Guardian and Trustee has all the powers and duties of an administrator, except the power to distribute the estate.
- The Court of Queen's Bench requests The Public Guardian and Trustee to act. This usually occurs where there is no one willing or able to act, or where there is a dispute over who should act as personal representative.
- The Public Guardian and Trustee can act at the request of interested parties where there is no one resident in Manitoba who can act or where there is a dispute. The Public Guardian and Trustee encourages interested parties to find a trust company or other suitable person to act under these circumstances.
- The Public Guardian and Trustee can act when it is named as litigation administrator under The Queen's Bench Surrogate Practice Act
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can administer an estate?
"Administrator" is the term describing anyone who is granted legal authority to administer an estate. "Executor" is the term describing anyone who is given authority under a will to administer an estate. Administrators and executors perform similar functions. The difference in their titles is due to the different ways they receive their authority.
What is the role of The Public Guardian and Trustee in estates administration?
The Public Guardian and Trustee administers estates of people who die in Manitoba and there is no one else willing or able to do it. The Public Guardian and Trustee is an administrator of last resort and does not actively seek to administer estates. The office encourages other appropriate people to serve as administrators.
How do estates get referred to The Public Guardian and Trustee?
Many estates are already known to The Public Guardian and Trustee's Office because it was looking after the deceased's affairs during his or her lifetime. In addition, estates may be referred to The Public Guardian and Trustee by:
- the Medical Examiner's Office
- police officers
- social workers
- hospital staff
- friends
- funeral homes
- the deceased's lawyer
- family members outside the province
What happens after a referral is made?
The Public Guardian and Trustee gathers details about the estate by:
- contacting financial institutions
- conducting a preliminary search for next-of-kin
- attending at the deceased's former residence
- reviewing financial records and personal papers
- compiling an inventory of all belongings
Sometimes a will is discovered during the process. If this happens, The Public Guardian and Trustee contacts the executor to take over the administration of the estate.
How can I make a referral?
If you know of an estate that you think may be eligible for administration by The Public Guardian and Trustee, call the office, explain that you are calling about a deceased estate and provide the last name of the deceased. You will then be connected to the appropriate staff person in the Estates Department.
Who arranges the deceased's funeral?
The executor, next-of-kin or a friend can arrange the funeral and burial. As a last resort, the sub-inspector of anatomy at the Medical Examiner's Office arranges burials when no one else is available to do so.
Who pays the deceased's funeral expenses?
The costs of the funeral are paid by the estate. If the estate does not have enough money to cover the cost of a basic funeral or burial, Employment and Income Assistance may be asked to pay. There is also a special fund to pay for the funeral and burial of deceased veterans.
What is involved in administering an estate?
Estate administration is a complex process involving a lot of research and paperwork and many transactions. It also involves gathering information and approvals from external authorities over whom The Public Guardian and Trustee has no control. The specific work involved includes:
- determining the nature, location and value of assets
- securing the assets, including maintaining and managing real estate if necessary
- collecting any money or benefits owing to the estate
- liquidating assets and disposing of personal effects
- paying debts
- initiating or defending legal action on behalf of the estate
- filing tax returns
- establishing identity and location of the lawful heirs
- accounting to the heirs and distributing the money in proper shares among them
How much does it cost for The Public Guardian and Trustee to administer an estate?
The Public Guardian and Trustee charges fees which are set out in our Fee Schedule.
How long does it take The Public Guardian and Trustee to administer an estate?
If the estate is bankrupt or if all the heirs are known and can easily be located, the estate can usually be wound up in one or two years. This time frame would only apply if the assets can easily be converted into cash and if there is no dispute or litigation between parties making claims against the estate.
However, when all the heirs are not known or cannot be easily located, the time frame to wind up the estate will vary greatly. If The Public Guardian and Trustee's Office is attempting to locate heirs of different generations and from different countries, the search may take a number of years.
Who is entitled to estate funds?
If the deceased did not leave a valid will, a Manitoba law called The Intestate Succession Act sets out, in order, which next-of-kin are entitled to inherit. This type of estate is called an "intestate" estate. Next-of-kin who inherit from this type of estate are heirs.
If the deceased did leave a valid will, the persons named in the will, called "beneficiaries", are entitled to inherit if the estate assets are sufficient to:
- pay all outstanding debts
- pay beneficiaries named in the will
How does The Public Guardian and Trustee find heirs and beneficiaries?
The Public Guardian and Trustee makes extensive efforts to find heirs and beneficiaries when it administers an estate. Next-of-kin or beneficiaries can often be found by reviewing the deceased's personal papers, or they are identified by others such as the deceased's caregivers, lawyers, friends or family. All heirs and beneficiaries are told how to prove their identity to The Public Guardian and Trustee.
In some cases, it is difficult to identify and locate next-of-kin or beneficiaries. The Public Guardian and Trustee's officers use their own professional resources and sometimes employ genealogists or heir locators to trace the deceased's family tree. All professionals use a variety of known techniques including searching birth, marriage and death notices and records in Canada and other countries.
How does The Public Guardian and Trustee know whether a person claiming to be an heir is legitimate?
The Public Guardian and Trustee must be certain that:
- there is no one living who is closer in relationship to the deceased than the person claiming to be the heir
- proof of the heir's identity is sufficient
- we are aware of all persons who are entitled to inherit
This is done by reviewing the deceased's family tree and verifying the proof of identity. The material is further reviewed and verified by senior staff before the estate is distributed.
What if I am approached by a person who agrees to give me information about an inheritance in exchange for a percentage of the estate?
There are individuals - sometimes referred to as heir tracers or locaters - whose business it is to track down people who are not aware of their entitlement to an inheritance. Heir tracers often require a very substantial finder's fee before giving a person the information they need to get the inheritance.
If you suspect you have an entitlement to an estate that The Public Guardian and Trustee's Office is administering, contact us. Provide the last name of the deceased person and your relationship to him or her, and our staff will try to assist you in determining whether you are a potential heir. The Public Guardian and Trustee does not charge for this information. If you are found to be an heir, you will be provided with information regarding the requirements to obtain your inheritance.
How many estates does The Public Guardian and Trustee administer?
The Public Guardian and Trustee is appointed as administrator or executor of approximately 175 new estates each year and administers approximately 400 to 470 estates at any given time.
