Probate on an $800,000 estate costs $11,250 in Ontario, $10,850 in British Columbia and $525 in Alberta, while Manitoba charges nothing on the value. Pick the province where the court will grant probate, enter the estate value and the calculator shows the fee.
Who pays probate, and why?
Probate is the court saying a will is valid and the executor can go ahead and act on it. Most provinces want a fee before they’ll issue the grant, and the executor pays it from the estate’s money, not their own, so nobody has to find the cash personally if the estate has it. Ontario calls its version the Estate Administration Tax. Elsewhere you’ll hear probate fee, probate tax or plain court fee, and the formulas behind them are all over the map.
What does an $800,000 estate cost in each province?
| Province | Charge | How it is set | Fee on $800,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ontario | Estate Administration Tax | $15 per $1,000 above $50,000 | $11,250 |
| British Columbia | Probate fee plus $200 filing fee | $14 per $1,000 above $50,000 | $10,650 plus $200 |
| Alberta | Surrogate court fee | Step fee by estate size | $525 |
| Quebec | Court fee to verify a will | Flat, not based on value | $241 |
| Manitoba | None | Probate charge repealed | $0 |
| Nova Scotia | Probate tax | Step fees, then $16.95 per $1,000 | $12,867.65 |
How is the Ontario tax worked out?
Skip the first $50,000, since it’s free. Every $1,000 above that, or part of $1,000, costs $15. So $800,000 leaves 750 units and a bill of $11,250. An estate of $1,500,000 owes $21,750, and one of $50,001 owes $15. The calculator rounds each part up the same way.
British Columbia takes two steps. The first $25,000 is free, $6 per $1,000 applies up to $50,000, and $14 per $1,000 above that. On $800,000 the result is $10,650, and the $200 filing fee brings it to $10,850.
What counts as the value of the estate?
This is where people slip up. In Ontario the value covers real estate in the province less mortgages, plus bank accounts, investments, vehicles, business property and insurance payable to the estate. Write down every item first. Then type in the total of the ones that count, and you’ll get a figure you can trust.
Mistakes and limits
Only assets that pass through the estate count. Joint accounts and plans with a named beneficiary usually skip probate, so leave them out. Ontario also leaves out real estate outside the province. Legal fees and executor pay are separate costs, and nothing here is legal advice.
Quebec’s $241 applies only when the will needs verifying, and a notarial will doesn’t. Third-party sites quote slightly different Quebec amounts, and the figure here comes from the ministry’s tariff. We didn’t check every amendment in every province, Nova Scotia’s included. And Ontario’s initial court fee for the application isn’t listed on the page we used, so it’s left out.
What else does an estate cost?
A death can trigger tax on gains from a home or investments, and the capital gains tax calculator gives you an estimate. If the estate holds real estate, buyers and heirs can compare transfer costs with the land transfer tax calculator. Heirs who inherit a pension or RRIF can run the numbers through the retirement income tax calculator.
Where do these fees come from?
Fees move with government budgets and court tariffs, so the year of the source matters.
The schedules come from the Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta and Quebec government sites, and from the consolidated laws of Manitoba and Nova Scotia. Nova Scotia’s figures follow a 2025 consolidation. Confirm the amount with the court registry or a lawyer before you file. This website has no connection with any government or court.
Frequently asked questions
What does Ontario charge on an $800,000 estate?
$11,250. The first $50,000 is free, and after that it's $15 for each $1,000 or part of it.
Is there a probate fee in every province?
No. Manitoba doesn't charge anything on estate value, and Quebec asks a flat court fee to verify a will.
Who has to pay it?
The executor, out of the estate's own money, before the court issues the grant.
Do joint accounts count toward the estate value?
Usually not. Anything with a joint owner or a named beneficiary passes outside the will.
What would British Columbia charge on $800,000?
The probate fee is $10,650. Add the $200 filing fee and the total is $10,850.
Sources and updates
Updated: . How we check rates · Editorial team · Updates
Estimate only. These figures are a planning estimate, not tax, legal or accounting advice. Tax-Services.ca is an independent publisher: we don't prepare or file tax returns, and we don't offer tax, legal or accounting services. We have no connection with the Canada Revenue Agency, Revenu Québec or any provincial government. Your real amounts depend on details this tool cannot see, so confirm them with an official source or a qualified professional before you act.