Key Takeaways
- 1.BC probate fees are $0 for estates under $25K, 0.6% on $25K–$50K, and 1.4% on everything above $50K — plus a flat $200 court filing fee.
- 2.Total probate fees: $5,710 on a $400K estate, $11,910 on $850K, and $22,210 on $1.6M.
- 3.Executor compensation of up to 5% of gross estate dwarfs probate fees — $20,000 on a $400K estate, $42,500 on $850K, $80,000 on $1.6M.
- 4.RRSPs, TFSAs, and life insurance with named beneficiaries bypass probate entirely. Removing $300K in registered accounts from a $1.6M estate saves $4,200 in probate fees alone.
- 5.BC fees are lower than Ontario's at every estate size above $400K — but Alberta charges essentially nothing, making provincial comparison critical for multi-province estates.
BC Probate Fee Act: The Three-Tier Schedule
British Columbia's probate fees are governed by the Probate Fee Act (SBC 1999, c. 4). Unlike Ontario's percentage-based Estate Administration Tax, BC uses a tiered rate schedule that applies to the gross value of estate assets requiring a grant of probate:
| Estate Value | Rate | Fee per $1,000 |
|---|---|---|
| $0 – $25,000 | 0% | $0 |
| $25,001 – $50,000 | 0.6% | $6 |
| Over $50,000 | 1.4% | $14 |
An additional $200 court filing fee is payable when submitting the probate application to the BC Supreme Court, regardless of estate size.
What “Gross Value” Means
Probate fees are calculated on the gross value of assets passing through the estate — not net of debts. If a deceased person owned a $600,000 condo with a $200,000 mortgage, the probate fee is calculated on $600,000. Debts reduce the estate for distribution purposes but do not reduce probate fees. This is one of the most misunderstood aspects of BC probate.
Worked Example 1: $400,000 Estate
A straightforward estate: a 72-year-old BC resident with a paid-off condo, a non-registered investment account, and personal property. No surviving spouse — assets pass to two adult children.
Assets in the estate:
Condo (Victoria): $310,000
Non-registered investment account: $65,000
Bank accounts: $18,000
Vehicle + personal property: $7,000
Total gross estate: $400,000
Probate Fee Calculation
First $25,000: $0
$25,001 – $50,000 ($25,000 × 0.6%): $150
$50,001 – $400,000 ($350,000 × 1.4%): $4,900
Subtotal probate fee: $5,050 + filing: $200
Total probate fee: $5,250
Effective rate: 1.31% of gross estate
Full Estate Administration Cost
| Cost Item | Low Estimate | High Estimate |
|---|---|---|
| Probate fee + court filing | $5,250 | $5,250 |
| Executor compensation (3–5%) | $12,000 | $20,000 |
| Legal fees ($300–$500/hr, 10–20 hrs) | $3,000 | $10,000 |
| Accounting (final tax return) | $1,500 | $3,000 |
| Total administration cost | $21,750 | $38,250 |
| As % of gross estate | 5.4% | 9.6% |
Probate fees are the smallest component. Executor compensation and legal fees together account for 70–80% of total administration costs. For more on how estates are divided among beneficiaries, see our adult child beneficiary split calculator.
Worked Example 2: $850,000 Estate
A more typical Metro Vancouver estate: a single-family home, registered accounts, and non-registered savings. Surviving spouse inherits everything.
Assets subject to probate:
House (Burnaby, sole ownership): $620,000
Non-registered investments: $95,000
Bank accounts: $35,000
Vehicle + personal property: $15,000
Subtotal probate assets: $765,000
Assets bypassing probate (named beneficiary):
RRSP (spouse as beneficiary): $55,000
TFSA (spouse as beneficiary): $30,000
Subtotal non-probate: $85,000
Total estate: $850,000
Probate estate: $765,000
Probate Fee Calculation (on $765,000)
First $25,000: $0
$25,001 – $50,000 ($25,000 × 0.6%): $150
$50,001 – $765,000 ($715,000 × 1.4%): $10,010
Subtotal probate fee: $10,160 + filing: $200
Total probate fee: $10,360
Effective rate: 1.35% of probate estate
What the Beneficiary Designations Saved
Without beneficiary designations, the full $850,000 would flow through probate. Fee on $850,000: $150 + $11,200 + $200 = $11,550. With RRSP and TFSA designated to the spouse, the probate estate drops to $765,000 and the fee drops to $10,360. Savings: $1,190 — from a 5-minute form at the bank. On larger registered account balances, the savings scale proportionally.
Worked Example 3: $1.6M Estate
A larger BC estate with multiple asset classes: real property, registered accounts, non-registered investments, and life insurance. Two adult children as beneficiaries.
Assets subject to probate:
Primary residence (Vancouver): $1,050,000
Non-registered investment portfolio: $220,000
Bank accounts: $45,000
Business interest (small corp shares): $80,000
Vehicle + personal property: $25,000
Subtotal probate assets: $1,420,000
Assets bypassing probate:
RRSP (children as beneficiaries): $85,000
TFSA (children as beneficiaries): $45,000
Life insurance (children as beneficiaries): $50,000
Subtotal non-probate: $180,000
Total estate: $1,600,000
Probate estate: $1,420,000
Probate Fee Calculation (on $1,420,000)
First $25,000: $0
$25,001 – $50,000 ($25,000 × 0.6%): $150
$50,001 – $1,420,000 ($1,370,000 × 1.4%): $19,180
Subtotal probate fee: $19,330 + filing: $200
Total probate fee: $19,530
Effective rate: 1.38% of probate estate
Full Administration Cost at $1.6M
| Cost Item | Low Estimate | High Estimate |
|---|---|---|
| Probate fee + court filing | $19,530 | $19,530 |
| Executor compensation (3–5%) | $48,000 | $80,000 |
| Legal fees ($300–$500/hr, 20–40 hrs) | $6,000 | $20,000 |
| Accounting (final + estate returns) | $3,000 | $6,000 |
| Property appraisals (2 assets) | $600 | $1,500 |
| Total administration cost | $77,130 | $127,030 |
| As % of gross estate | 4.8% | 7.9% |
At $1.6M, executor compensation alone can reach $80,000 — more than four times the probate fee. Estates with business interests, real property in multiple jurisdictions, or contested claims will trend toward the high estimate. For estate planning strategies involving holding companies, see our estate freeze and holding company calculator.
The Hard-Dollar Cost of Missing Beneficiary Designations
The single most impactful probate planning action in BC costs nothing: naming beneficiaries on your registered accounts and life insurance policies. Assets with named beneficiaries pass directly to the recipient outside the estate — no probate required, no probate fees paid.
| Asset | Value | Probate Fee If in Estate | Fee with Beneficiary |
|---|---|---|---|
| RRSP | $200,000 | $2,800 | $0 |
| TFSA | $95,000 | $1,330 | $0 |
| Life insurance | $250,000 | $3,500 | $0 |
| RRIF | $150,000 | $2,100 | $0 |
| Total | $695,000 | $9,730 | $0 |
Probate fee calculated at the 1.4% rate (all amounts above $50K). These are assets where a single beneficiary designation form saves thousands in fees — and weeks of probate delay. Note: even with a named beneficiary, RRSP/RRIF assets are still taxable on the deceased's final return unless rolled to a spouse. For the full inheritance tax picture, see our inheritance tax calculator.
The lesson: $9,730 in probate fees on $695,000 of registered accounts and life insurance is entirely avoidable. If you hold an RRSP, TFSA, RRIF, or life insurance policy without a named beneficiary (or with “estate” as the beneficiary), you are paying a 1.4% tax on those assets for no reason.
BC vs Ontario Probate Fee Comparison
Ontario's Estate Administration Tax uses a simpler two-tier schedule: 0.5% on the first $50,000, then 1.5% on everything above. Here is how the two provinces compare on the same three estate sizes (total gross estate, before beneficiary designations):
| Estate Value | BC Fee (incl. $200 filing) | Ontario EAT | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| $400,000 | $5,250 | $5,500 | BC saves $250 |
| $850,000 | $11,510 | $12,250 | BC saves $740 |
| $1,600,000 | $21,960 | $23,500 | BC saves $1,540 |
| $3,000,000 | $41,560 | $44,500 | BC saves $2,940 |
BC probate fees: $0 up to $25K, 0.6% on $25K–$50K, 1.4% above $50K + $200 filing. Ontario EAT: 0.5% on first $50K, 1.5% above $50K, no separate filing fee. Alberta charges only a flat court fee ($35–$525), making it the lowest-cost province for probate. Quebec does not have probate fees for notarial wills. For how BC income tax compares at the provincial level, see our BC income tax calculator.
Which Assets Bypass Probate in BC
Not every asset owned by a deceased person flows through the estate. The following assets transfer directly to the named beneficiary or surviving joint owner — outside probate:
| Asset Type | Bypasses Probate? | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| RRSP / RRIF | Yes | Named beneficiary (not “estate”) |
| TFSA | Yes | Named beneficiary or successor holder |
| Life insurance | Yes | Named beneficiary (not “estate”) |
| Joint tenancy property | Yes | Right of survivorship applies |
| Pension death benefits | Yes | Named beneficiary under plan terms |
| Real property (sole ownership) | No | Requires probate to transfer title |
| Non-registered investments | No | Most brokerages require grant of probate |
| Bank accounts (sole) | No | Banks typically require probate over $25K–$50K |
Joint bank accounts may bypass probate if the surviving account holder has a right of survivorship — but CRA may challenge whether the account was truly joint or held for convenience. Document the intent clearly. For how spousal beneficiary designations interact with estate distribution, see our spousal beneficiary inheritance calculator.
Executor Compensation: The Fee That Dwarfs Probate
BC courts follow the guideline of up to 5% of gross estate value for executor compensation, based on the Trustee Act and the Supreme Court's discretion. The actual amount depends on the complexity, time, and skill involved:
| Estate Value | Probate Fee | Executor @ 3% | Executor @ 5% | Executor as Multiple of Probate Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $400,000 | $5,250 | $12,000 | $20,000 | 2.3–3.8× |
| $850,000 | $11,510 | $25,500 | $42,500 | 2.2–3.7× |
| $1,600,000 | $21,960 | $48,000 | $80,000 | 2.2–3.6× |
Professional trust companies in BC typically charge 3–5% of gross estate plus disbursements and annual management fees if the administration extends beyond one year. Family executors can claim the same compensation but often waive it. Executor compensation is taxable income reported on the executor's T1 return.
Legal Fees: What $300–$500 Per Hour Buys
BC estate lawyers typically charge $300–$500 per hour for probate work. A straightforward estate (clear will, cooperative beneficiaries, no litigation) takes 10–20 hours of legal work. Contested estates, missing beneficiaries, or real property complications can push this to 40–80+ hours.
Typical legal fee ranges in BC (2025):
Simple estate (clear will, 1–2 beneficiaries): $3,000–$6,000
Moderate estate (real property + investments): $6,000–$12,000
Complex estate (business interests, multiple properties): $12,000–$25,000
Contested estate (WESA variation claim): $25,000–$100,000+
Some BC law firms offer flat-fee probate packages for simple estates starting at $2,500–$3,500 plus disbursements.
Side-by-Side: All Three Estate Sizes
| Item | $400K Estate | $850K Estate | $1.6M Estate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Probate fee + filing | $5,250 | $10,360* | $19,530* |
| Executor (5% max) | $20,000 | $42,500 | $80,000 |
| Legal fees (mid-range) | $5,000 | $8,000 | $15,000 |
| Accounting | $2,000 | $3,000 | $4,500 |
| Total (mid-range) | $32,250 | $63,860 | $119,030 |
| As % of estate | 8.1% | 7.5% | 7.4% |
*$850K and $1.6M estates include beneficiary designations that reduce the probate estate. Probate fee calculated on the probate estate only. Executor compensation calculated on gross estate value. For estates with assets in multiple provinces, see our common-law beneficiary calculator.
The Bottom Line: Three Actions to Reduce BC Estate Costs
- Name beneficiaries on every registered account and insurance policy: This is the single highest-ROI estate planning action. It costs nothing, takes minutes, and saves 1.4% of the account value in probate fees. On $300K of registered accounts, that is $4,200 saved.
- Understand the full cost stack, not just probate fees: Probate fees are 15–25% of total estate administration costs. Executor compensation (up to 5%) and legal fees ($3,000–$25,000) are the larger line items. Simplifying the estate structure — fewer accounts, clear will, cooperative beneficiaries — reduces all three.
- Consider joint tenancy for real property, but carefully: Adding a child as joint tenant on a property can bypass probate but triggers potential capital gains tax, loss of the principal residence exemption on the child's portion, and exposure to the child's creditors. Get legal advice before adding anyone to title solely to avoid probate fees.
Important Disclaimer
This article provides general information about probate fees and estate administration costs in British Columbia. It is not legal, tax, or financial advice. BC probate fees are calculated under the Probate Fee Act (SBC 1999, c. 4) and the $200 court filing fee is set by the Supreme Court Civil Rules. Executor compensation guidelines are based on BC case law and the Trustee Act. Actual estate administration costs depend on estate complexity, whether the will is contested, the number and location of assets, and whether beneficiaries are cooperative. Legal fee estimates reflect typical 2025 rates in Metro Vancouver and may vary by region and firm. Assets that bypass probate may still have income tax consequences (e.g., deemed disposition on death for RRSPs/RRIFs). Consult a qualified estate lawyer and tax professional for guidance specific to your situation.