BC Probate Fee Calculator | Lime Law, Vancouver

Gross estate value passing through probate *

The fair market value (at date of death) of property situated in BC that passes through the estate. Excludes joint-tenancy property, RRSPs/RRIFs/TFSAs with named beneficiaries, and life insurance with named beneficiaries — those don't go through probate.

+ What counts as estate value for probate fees?

Generally included: real estate in BC owned in sole name or as tenant-in-common; bank accounts in sole name; investment accounts without a named beneficiary; private company shares; vehicles, household goods, and other personal property of the deceased.

Generally excluded: property held in joint tenancy with right of survivorship; RRSPs, RRIFs, and TFSAs with a named beneficiary other than the estate; life insurance proceeds with a named beneficiary; property held in a properly constituted trust; property situated outside BC (those assets are subject to the probate fees of the jurisdiction where they are located).

The fee is calculated on the gross value — debts and liabilities of the deceased are not deducted before applying the bracket math. Final administration of the estate handles those obligations separately.

Disclaimer. This calculator is for general information purposes only and is not a quote, legal advice, or a substitute for advice on your file. The probate fee depends on facts specific to your estate — including which assets actually pass through probate, the jurisdiction of each asset, valuation choices, and the application of any deductions or exemptions. For a precise calculation on a specific estate, please contact us.

The brackets

How BC probate fees are calculated.

Set out in the Probate Fee Act, RSBC 1996, c. 4. The fee is the sum of:

First $25,000 of estate value No fee
Application fee (estates over $25,000) $200
Estate value between $25,000 and $50,000 0.6%
Estate value above $50,000 1.4%

The fee is calculated only on the slice of value that falls in each bracket — the same way income tax brackets work. The first $25,000 is exempt for every estate; only the part above $50,000 is taxed at 1.4%, not the whole estate.

BC Probate Fee calculator.

How BC probate fees are calculated.

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