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Resources & Frequently Asked Questions
Resources

Resources & Commonly Asked Questions

What does the Public Guardian and Trustee do when someone dies?

When no one is able to handle an estate in BC, the Public Guardian and Trustee may step in.

Updated September 29, 2026

The Public Guardian and Trustee of British Columbia (PGT) is a provincial office. Part of its work is to administer the estates of people who have died when no one else is able to.

When the PGT may help

When someone dies, the executor named in the will, or the beneficiaries or heirs, have the first right to administer the estate. A referral to the PGT may be made when:

  • the PGT is named as executor in the will, or
  • no suitable person is willing or able to handle the estate, or the people entitled to cannot be identified or contacted.

The PGT assesses each referral and does not take on every estate. It does not administer an estate if the assets are not enough to pay funeral costs and its fees. It also has no role in settling family disagreements about who should administer an estate.

What the PGT does

When the PGT administers an estate, its steps include:

  • making funeral arrangements
  • finding, securing and dealing with the assets
  • paying valid debts and claims
  • dealing with any legal issues
  • finding the heirs or beneficiaries and paying out the rest of the estate

The PGT charges fees, which are set by the BC government. Administering an estate can take several years.

If the PGT won't be administering the estate

If there is no executor or next of kin willing to make funeral arrangements and the PGT is not administering the estate, the PGT refers the matter to the Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction. The ministry may help with funeral costs and authorize the arrangements. See Can the BC government help pay for a cremation?

How to make a referral

Anyone who knows of an estate that needs to be administered can make a referral. Coroners, hospital and community social workers, family members, executors and beneficiaries are the most common sources. You can refer an estate online, or contact the PGT's estates team:

  • Phone: 604-660-4444
  • Email: estates@trustee.bc.ca
  • Toll-free through Service BC: 1-800-663-7867 (ask to be transferred to the Public Guardian and Trustee)
  • Office: 700-808 West Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC V6C 3L3
  • Hours for general inquiries: Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

More information is on the PGT's page about referring an estate. The PGT also supports adults who need help with decisions and protects the financial interests of children; see trustee.bc.ca.

If you're facing a death with no one to make arrangements, contact us and we'll help you work out who to call.