Probate fee calculator
Enter an estate value and province to estimate the probate fee — the provincial charge to validate a will. The range is enormous: $0 in Manitoba to over $16,000 in Nova Scotia on a $1-million estate. Every schedule verified at the governing statute or court.
The estate
This estimates the fee on value passing through the estate. Assets with a named beneficiary or held jointly usually pass outside probate.
Ontario: how the fee works
Nothing on the first $50,000, then $15 per $1,000 (1.5%) on the rest. No cap.
Estate value is rounded up to the nearest $1,000. The first $50,000 has been exempt since the 2020 reform.
Reduce it
In high-fee provinces, assets with a named beneficiary (RRSP, RRIF, TFSA, life insurance) or held in joint ownership pass outside the estate and avoid this fee. See the estate-planning guide and compare every province on the probate fees hub.
Frequently asked questions
What are probate fees?
Probate fees (called estate administration tax in Ontario, probate fees in BC, and surrogate fees in Alberta) are what a province charges to validate a will and authorize the executor to act. They are not income tax — they are a separate, provincial charge based, in most provinces, on the value of the estate.
Which province has the highest and lowest probate fees?
Manitoba charges nothing (probate fees were abolished in 2020) and Quebec charges nothing for a notarial will. Alberta caps its fee at $525 and Yukon at a flat $140. At the high end, Nova Scotia and Ontario charge uncapped percentage fees — over $16,000 (NS) and about $14,250 (ON) on a $1-million estate.
How can I reduce probate fees?
In the higher-fee provinces, assets that pass outside the estate avoid the fee: registered accounts and insurance with a named beneficiary (RRSP, RRIF, TFSA, life insurance), and assets held in joint ownership with right of survivorship. Gifting during life and certain trusts also remove value from the estate. Get advice first — some of these moves carry tax or family-law consequences. See our estate-planning guide.
Is the probate fee charged on the whole estate?
Usually on the value that passes through the estate. Assets with a valid beneficiary designation or held jointly typically pass outside probate and are not counted. Some provinces use the gross value and others net of debts — the schedule and the exact base differ by province, which is why the figure here is an estimate. Confirm with the estate’s lawyer or the provincial court.
Educational tool, not legal or tax advice. Probate-fee schedules were verified June 13, 2026 at each province’s governing statute, regulation, or court fee table. The estimate assumes the full value passes through the estate; the exact base (gross vs net of debts, what counts as estate property) varies by province, and BC and Saskatchewan add a flat filing fee that is included here. Confirm the figure with the estate’s lawyer or the provincial court before relying on it.