Probate fees by province in 2026: Ontario, BC, Alberta, Quebec and the rest
Probate costs in Canada in 2026: Ontario estate administration tax, BC probate fees, Alberta's flat court fees, Quebec notarial wills and other provinces.
Probate costs in Canada depend entirely on the province. In Ontario, estate administration tax is $0 on the first $50,000 of the estate's value and $15 per $1,000 (or part) above it, for applications since 1 January 2020. In British Columbia, there is no fee up to $25,000, then $6 per $1,000 up to $50,000 and $14 per $1,000 above $50,000. Alberta charges a flat court fee based on the net value of Alberta property, from $35 to a maximum of $525. Quebec has no probate tax at all, and a notarial will does not need probate. On a $640,000 estate that means roughly $8,850 in Ontario, $8,410 in BC, $525 in Alberta and $0 in Quebec, before legal and other costs.
Part of the overview of estate and family law costs. General information, not legal advice.
What probate is and when you need it
Probate (in Ontario, a certificate of appointment of estate trustee; in BC, a grant of probate or grant of administration; in Quebec, the verification of a non-notarial will) is a court confirmation that the will is valid and that the executor has authority. Banks, investment firms and land registries usually require it before releasing or transferring significant assets. Some estates need no probate at all: small bank balances, assets held jointly with right of survivorship, and registered plans or insurance with a named beneficiary can often be released without it.
Ontario: Estate Administration Tax Act, 1998
| Value of the estate | Tax |
|---|---|
| $50,000 or less | $0 (but an Estate Information Return is still required) |
| Above $50,000 | $15 for each $1,000 or part of $1,000 above $50,000 |
What counts. Real estate in Ontario (less mortgages and other encumbrances registered against it), bank accounts including foreign ones, investments, vehicles and other personal property that pass under the will or intestacy. Excluded: real estate outside Ontario, joint assets passing by survivorship, RRSPs, RRIFs, TFSAs and pensions with a named beneficiary, insurance paid to a named beneficiary and the CPP death benefit. Debts other than encumbrances on real estate are not deducted.
When. The tax is paid with the application for the estate certificate, and the Estate Information Return is due within 180 days after the certificate is issued. The Ontario government's own example: a $240,000 estate pays $2,850.
For a full walk-through, see calculating Ontario estate administration tax and the Ontario estimator. Estates up to $150,000 can use the simpler small estate certificate.
British Columbia: Probate Fee Act
| Slice of estate value | Fee |
|---|---|
| Up to $25,000 | $0 |
| $25,000 to $50,000 | $6 per $1,000 or part |
| Above $50,000 | $14 per $1,000 or part |
The value is the gross value declared in the Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Distribution: the deceased's real and tangible personal property in BC, plus intangible property anywhere if the deceased was ordinarily resident in BC. Property that does not pass to the personal representative, such as joint property and designated plans, is outside it. Court filing fees for the application are charged separately. Use the BC probate fee estimator.
Illustrative example. A BC estate worth $640,000: 25 × $6 = $150, plus 590 × $14 = $8,260, total $8,410.
Alberta: flat surrogate court fees
| Net value of property in Alberta | Fee |
|---|---|
| $10,000 or less | $35 |
| Over $10,000 to $25,000 | $135 |
| Over $25,000 to $125,000 | $275 |
| Over $125,000 to $250,000 | $400 |
| Over $250,000 | $525 |
Alberta uses net value, after debts. Related filings, such as a caveat or a supplemental grant, have their own fees listed on the province's court fees page. Because the maximum is $525, probate planning in Alberta is about speed and privacy more than tax.
Quebec: notarial wills and verification
Quebec charges no probate tax. A notarial will is an authentic act, so the liquidator can act on it without any court step. A holograph will or a will made before witnesses must be verified (probated) by the Superior Court or by a notary through the non-contentious procedure. The cost is the court or notary's fees and disbursements for that step, which vary with the file. The succession's main costs in Quebec are usually the notary's or lawyer's fees, the will search certificates and tax filings at both levels (CRA and Revenu Québec).
Other provinces and territories
- Manitoba eliminated its probate fee in 2020.
- Saskatchewan, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador charge fees based on the estate's value, using brackets or a percentage. The rates change from time to time, so check the current court fee schedule in the province.
- The territories charge court fees for grants; check with the territorial court registry.
Comparison: one estate, four provinces (illustrative)
| Estate value | Ontario EAT | BC probate fee | Alberta fee | Quebec (notarial will) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $0 | $90 | $275 | $0 |
| $150,000 | $1,500 | $1,550 | $400 | $0 |
| $640,000 | $8,850 | $8,410 | $525 | $0 |
| $1,200,000 | $17,250 | $16,250 | $525 | $0 |
The arithmetic for $1,200,000: Ontario 1,150 × $15 = $17,250; BC $150 + 1,150 × $14 = $16,250. These assume whole thousands and that every asset passes through the estate, and they leave out legal fees, which are often larger than the provincial charge.
Ways people reduce probate costs, and the catch
| Strategy | How it saves | Catch |
|---|---|---|
| Joint ownership with right of survivorship | Asset passes outside the estate | Exposes the asset to the other owner's creditors and spouse; for adult children, presumed to be held in trust for the estate unless a gift is proven |
| Beneficiary designations on RRSPs, RRIFs, TFSAs, insurance | Paid directly to the beneficiary | The estate may still owe the income tax on the RRSP; mismatches with the will |
| Ontario multiple wills | A secondary will covers assets that do not need probate, such as private company shares | Must be drafted carefully; errors can make both wills fail |
| Quebec notarial will | No probate needed | Notary's fee up front |
See probate avoidance and its risks before using any of these.
FAQ
Is estate administration tax deductible on the final tax return?
No. It is a cost of the estate, paid from the estate's assets, not a deduction from the deceased's income.
Do I pay probate on a house in another province?
Each province charges on property located there (and, for BC and Ontario, on certain property wherever located). Real estate outside Ontario is excluded from Ontario's tax but may require probate in the other province.
Who pays the probate fee?
The estate, from its assets. The executor may have to advance it and be repaid, or arrange a bank transfer from the deceased's account directly to the court.
Sources
- Ontario e-Laws — Estate Administration Tax Act, 1998, s. 2
- Government of Ontario — estate administration tax and the Estate Information Return
- BC Laws — Probate Fee Act, ss. 1–2
- Government of Alberta — court fees, surrogate matters
- Éducaloi — probate of wills in Quebec
