How Much Does Probate Cost in Manitoba?
Last updated 2026-06 · Manitoba
Manitoba has the simplest answer in the country: probate fees are zero. On November 6, 2020, Manitoba abolished probate fees entirely, so the province no longer charges a percentage or flat fee to probate an estate. A $100,000 estate and a $5,000,000 estate both pay $0 in probate fees.
What changed in 2020
Before the change, Manitoba charged a percentage-based probate fee similar to other provinces. That fee is gone. There may still be minor administrative or filing costs in some circumstances, but the headline probate tax has been eliminated.
What this means for your estate plan
In Ontario, people restructure ownership to dodge a 1.5% probate tax; in Manitoba there's nothing to dodge. The elaborate probate-avoidance strategies — multiple wills, aggressive joint ownership — simply aren't needed here for fee reasons. That removes a whole category of risk (creditor exposure, loss of control, family disputes over joint accounts) that those strategies can create.
What probate still does
Eliminating the fee doesn't eliminate probate itself. Your executor may still need a grant of probate to deal with banks, investment firms, and the land titles office — it's the fee, not the process, that's gone. Probate confirms the will and the executor's authority.
What still passes outside the estate
Named-beneficiary assets and joint property still bypass the will — registered accounts (RRSP, RRIF, TFSA) and life insurance with named beneficiaries, and joint-tenancy property by survivorship. In Manitoba the reason to use these is clean, fast succession, not fee savings.
How long does it take?
An uncomplicated Manitoba probate typically takes a few weeks to a few months, depending on the court's workload and whether anything is contested.
Frequently asked questions
How are probate fees calculated in Manitoba? They aren't — Manitoba abolished probate fees in 2020. The cost is $0. How long does probate take in Manitoba? Usually several weeks to a few months for a simple estate. How do I avoid probate fees in Manitoba? There are no probate fees to avoid. Do all estates have to go through probate in Manitoba? Not always; small estates or assets passing by designation or survivorship may not need it.
Not legal advice. General information about Manitoba law as of 2026. Confirm current rules with a Manitoba estate lawyer.
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