Applying for probate is the formal process of having a deceased person’s Will validated and the executor's appointment confirmed by the courts. Probate may be required by a third party prior to a transfer of legal ownership of realestate, or upon request from a financial institution prior to the settlement of a particular asset or account. The following table summarizes probate costs by each province and/or territory:
Alberta
$35 on estates worth $10,000 or less
$135 on estates over $10,000, up to $25,000
$275 on estates over $25,000, up to $125,000
$400 on estates over $125,000, up to $250,000
$525 on estates over $250,000
British Columbia
$0 on estates up to $25,000
0.6 percent of estate value over $25,000, up to $50,000
1.4 percent of estate value over $50,000
(There’s also a filing fee of $200 for estates worth more than $25,000.)
Manitoba
No probate fee (as per the December 2019 provincial budget)
New Brunswick
$25 on estates worth $5,000 or less
$50 on estates worth more than $5,000, up to $10,000
$75 on estates worth more than $10,000, up to $15,000
$100 on estates worth more than $15,000, up to $20,000
0.5 percent ($5 per $1,000 or part thereof) of estates with values in excess of $20,000
(Additional court fees may be levied.)
Newfoundland and Labrador
$60 on estate value up to $1,000
The above, plus 0.6 percent ($0.60 per $100 or part thereof) of estate value over $1,000
Northwest Territories
$30 on estates worth $10,000 or less
$110 on estates worth more than $10,000, up to $25,000
$215 on estates worth more than $25,000, up to $125,000
$325 on estates worth more than $125,000, up to $250,000
$435 on estates worth more than $250,000
Nova Scotia
$85.60 on estates worth $10,000 or less
$215.20 on estates worth more than $10,000, up to $25,000
$358.15 on estates worth more than $25,000, up to $50,000
$1,002.65 on estates worth more than $50,000, up to $100,000
$1,002.65 plus 1.695 percent ($16.95 per $1,000 or part thereof) of estate value in excess of $100,000
Nunavut
$25 on estates worth $10,000 or less
$100 on estates worth over $10,000, up to $25,000
$200 on estates worth over $25,000, up to $125,000
$300 on estates worth over $125,000, up to $250,000
$400 on estates worth over $250,000
Ontario
$0 on estates worth $50,000 or less
1.5 percent ($15 per $1,000 or a portion thereof) of estate value in excess of $50,000
Prince Edward Island
$50 on estates worth $10,000 or less
$100 on estates worth over $10,000, up to $25,000
$200 on estates worth over $25,000, up to $50,000
$400 on estates worth over $50,000, up to $100,000
$400 plus 0.4 percent ($4 per $1,000 or part thereof) of estate value in excess of $100,000
Quebec
No probate fee per se, but a filing fee of $202 applies for the verification of wills
Saskatchewan
0.7 percent ($7 per $1,000 or part thereof in estate value)
Yukon
No probate fee, but a filing fee of $140 is levied on estates worth more than $25,000; a lesser fee may be applied to estates of lesser value.