Estate & Wills · Probate fees
Probate fees by province in Canada
What it costs to validate a will varies wildly — from $0 in Manitoba to $16,257.65 in Nova Scotia on a $1-million estate. Below is every province and territory’s 2026 schedule, verified at the source, plus a calculator for your own numbers.
Probate fees, all 13 jurisdictions (2026)
| Province / territory | Charge | On $500k | On $1M |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manitoba | No fee | $0 | $0 |
| Yukon | Capped $140 | $140 | $140 |
| Quebec | Capped $243 | $243 | $243 |
| Nunavut | Capped $425 | $425 | $425 |
| Northwest Territories | Capped $435 | $435 | $435 |
| Alberta | Capped $525 | $525 | $525 |
| Prince Edward Island | Percentage | $2,000 | $4,000 |
| New Brunswick | Percentage | $2,500 | $5,000 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | Percentage | $3,054 | $6,054 |
| Saskatchewan | Percentage | $3,700 | $7,200 |
| British Columbia | Percentage | $6,650 | $13,650 |
| Ontario | Percentage | $6,750 | $14,250 |
| Nova Scotia | Percentage | $7,782.65 | $16,257.65 |
Ranked cheapest to most expensive on a $1M estate. Click any province for its full schedule, worked examples, and how it compares. BC and Saskatchewan totals include the separate flat filing fee. Verified June 13, 2026 at each jurisdiction’s governing statute, regulation, or court fee table.
How probate fees work
Probate is the court process that confirms a will is valid and gives the executor legal authority to gather assets, pay debts, and distribute the estate. Most provinces charge a fee for it, calculated on the value of the estate that passes through the will. The structures fall into three camps:
- No fee: Manitoba (abolished in 2020) and Quebec (for a notarial will) charge nothing.
- Flat or capped: Alberta ($525 maximum), Yukon ($140 flat), and the territories use small banded fees — predictable no matter how large the estate.
- Percentage, uncapped: Ontario, British Columbia, Nova Scotia and others charge a rising fee with no ceiling, so a large estate can owe well over $10,000.
Because the fee applies only to assets passing through the estate, the main way to reduce it is to have assets pass outside it — via beneficiary designations and joint ownership. Read how this fits the full picture, including the income-tax side of death, in our estate-planning guide.
Estimate the fee on your estate
Enter any value and province — the calculator uses these same verified schedules.
Frequently asked questions
What are probate fees in Canada?
Probate fees are a provincial charge to validate a will and authorize the executor — also called estate administration tax (Ontario), probate fees (BC), or surrogate fees (Alberta). They are separate from income tax, and most provinces base them on the value of the estate. They range from $0 to over 1.5% of the estate depending on where you live.
Which province has the cheapest probate fees?
Manitoba abolished probate fees entirely in 2020, and Quebec charges nothing for a notarial will. Among provinces that do charge, Alberta caps the fee at $525 and Yukon at a flat $140, regardless of estate size.
Which province has the most expensive probate fees?
Nova Scotia tops the list — about $16,257.65 on a $1-million estate. Nova Scotia and Ontario both charge uncapped percentage fees, so the cost keeps climbing with larger estates.
Do all assets go through probate?
No. Assets with a valid beneficiary designation (RRSP, RRIF, TFSA, life insurance) or held in joint ownership with right of survivorship generally pass outside the estate — and outside probate — so they are not counted toward the fee. This is the main lever for reducing probate cost in high-fee provinces.
Educational information, not legal or tax advice. Probate-fee schedules were verified June 13, 2026 at each province’s governing statute, regulation, or court fee table. What counts as estate property and whether value is measured gross or net of debts varies by province and changes over time. Confirm any figure with the estate’s lawyer or the provincial court before relying on it.