How Much Does Probate Cost in BC?
The probate fee itself is set by statute and easy to calculate: nothing on the first $25,000, then $6 per $1,000 up to $50,000, then $14 per $1,000 above that. The fee is rarely the biggest cost, though — this page covers the whole picture, including what an executor may be paid.
What are BC probate fees and how are they calculated?
BC probate fees come from the Probate Fee Act, section 2(3). There are only two rates, and each applies to a slice of the estate rather than to the whole value — which is the single most common misunderstanding about this fee.
$25,000 or less
No probate fee at all, and no $200 filing fee.
$25,001 – $50,000
$6 for every $1,000 (or part of $1,000) of the amount above $25,000. This band can never exceed $150.
Above $50,000
$150 for the band below, plus $14 for every $1,000 (or part) of the amount above $50,000. Any estate holding a Lower Mainland home lands here.
Two details that change the number materially:
- “Or part of $1,000” rounds up. An estate of $500,001 is charged as though the last partial thousand were whole.
- The fee is on gross value. It is calculated on the assets reported in the application, not on what beneficiaries receive once debts are settled.
- A $200 court filing fee applies to estates over $25,000, on top of the probate fee.
- Out-of-province real estate is excluded. For someone ordinarily resident in BC, the calculation covers real and tangible property in BC plus intangible property (accounts, investments) wherever held — but not land outside BC.
Worked examples
| Gross estate value | Probate fee | Filing fee | Total to the court |
|---|---|---|---|
| $25,000 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| $50,000 | $150 | $200 | $350 |
| $250,000 | $2,950 | $200 | $3,150 |
| $500,000 | $6,450 | $200 | $6,650 |
| $750,000 | $9,950 | $200 | $10,150 |
| $1,000,000 | $13,450 | $200 | $13,650 |
| $1,500,000 | $20,450 | $200 | $20,650 |
| $2,500,000 | $34,450 | $200 | $34,650 |
Source: Probate Fee Act (BC), s.2(3). Run your own figure on the probate fee calculator.
What does an executor get paid in BC?
Section 88 of the BC Trustee Act sets the ceiling. An executor may claim a “fair and reasonable allowance” of up to 5% of the gross aggregate value of the estate, capital and income included, plus a care and management fee of up to 0.4% of the average market value of the assets per year where property is managed over an extended period.
The 5% is a cap, not an entitlement. The amount has to be approved by all beneficiaries, or fixed by the court on a passing of accounts, and it is judged against the work actually done — the size of the estate, the complexity, the time spent, the skill required, and the results achieved. A straightforward estate settled in eight months will not attract the maximum.
Executors are also entitled to recover out-of-pocket expenses (travel, postage, property insurance and maintenance, professional fees) separately from compensation. Those are estate costs, not payment for the executor’s time.
What happens after probate is granted?
The Grant of Probate is the court’s confirmation of the executor’s authority. It is the point at which title can move and assets can be sold — not the end of the process.
Take control of the assets
Produce the grant to banks and the Land Title Office. Accounts can now be consolidated into an estate account, and real property can be transferred to beneficiaries or listed for sale.
Pay the debts
Settle the deceased’s liabilities before distributing anything. An executor who distributes early and leaves a creditor or the CRA unpaid can be held personally liable for the shortfall.
File the tax returns
The final (terminal) T1 for the year of death, plus T3 estate returns for income earned during administration. A deemed disposition of capital property applies at death, which can create a tax bill even where nothing was sold.
Get a clearance certificate
Request one from the CRA confirming all amounts are paid before distributing. This is usually the longest single wait in the whole administration, and skipping it is the most common way executors expose themselves personally.
Account, then distribute
Prepare a final accounting for the beneficiaries showing every receipt and disbursement, obtain their approval (or the court’s), and distribute the residue.
Most BC estates run 6 to 18 months from death to final distribution. Where an estate holds real property, the sale timeline usually sets the pace — see the step-by-step probate guide for how that fits together, or work with a probate real estate agent who has done it before.
The probate fee is not the main cost
On a $750,000 estate the statutory fees come to $9,950 plus the $200 filing fee. The costs that usually exceed it:
- Legal fees for preparing and filing the estate grant application, and for advice through the administration.
- Executor compensation, up to the 5% ceiling above — on a $750,000 estate that is a larger number than the probate fee by a wide margin.
- Appraisals, which the court expects for real property and which are worth having anyway to establish the date-of-death value for tax.
- Accounting for the terminal and estate returns and the clearance certificate.
- Carrying costs on real property held through administration: insurance (notify the insurer — an unoccupied home often needs a different policy), utilities, property tax, maintenance.
Frequently asked questions
The BC probate fee is $6 for every $1,000 (or part of $1,000) of estate value between $25,000 and $50,000, plus $14 for every $1,000 (or part) above $50,000. Estates of $25,000 or less pay no probate fee. There is also a $200 court filing fee on estates over $25,000. A $700,000 estate pays $9,250 in probate fees plus the $200 filing fee. Legal fees, appraisals and executor compensation are separate and are usually the larger part of the total cost.
Gross. The fee is calculated on the gross value of the assets reported in the estate grant application, not on what beneficiaries eventually receive after debts are paid. For someone ordinarily resident in BC, that means real and tangible personal property located in BC plus intangible personal property (bank accounts, investments, shares) wherever it is held. Real estate located outside BC is not included in the BC calculation.
Under section 88 of the BC Trustee Act an executor may claim a fair and reasonable allowance of up to 5% of the gross aggregate value of the estate, including both capital and income, plus a care and management fee of up to 0.4% of the average market value of the assets per year where property is managed over time. Five percent is a ceiling, not an entitlement -- the amount must be approved by all beneficiaries or fixed by the court, and it is assessed against the work actually done. Executors who are also beneficiaries often waive it, since compensation is taxable income while an inheritance generally is not.
The Grant of Probate confirms the executor's authority. From that point the executor can transfer title to or sell real estate, collect and consolidate accounts, pay the deceased's debts, file the final (terminal) T1 return and any estate T3 returns, request a clearance certificate from the CRA before distributing, prepare a final accounting for the beneficiaries, and then distribute what remains. Most BC estates take 6 to 18 months from death to final distribution, and the clearance certificate is usually the longest single wait.
Assets that pass outside the estate are not counted: property held in joint tenancy with a right of survivorship, registered plans (RRSP, RRIF, TFSA) and life insurance with a valid named beneficiary, and assets already held in a properly constituted trust. Structuring around probate has real tax and family-law consequences, so it is worth advice before making changes -- a joint tenancy added late in life is one of the most commonly litigated arrangements in BC estate law.
A will is a separate, earlier expense and is not part of probate. A straightforward lawyer-drafted will in BC commonly runs a few hundred dollars, with more for multiple beneficiaries, blended families, business interests or trust provisions. It is unrelated to the probate fee, which is set by statute and charged on the estate after death -- though a clearly drafted will typically reduces the legal cost of administering the estate later.