How Much Does Probate Cost in Ontario?

Probate is the court process that validates your will and gives your executor (called an estate trustee in Ontario) the authority to act. Ontario's probate fee is officially the Estate Administration Tax (EAT) — and at roughly 1.5%, it's among the highest in Canada.

The Ontario fee math

• $0 on the first $50,000 of the estate.
• $15 per $1,000 (1.5%) on everything above $50,000.

Worked examples:

Estate value	Estate Administration Tax
$250,000	~$3,000
$500,000	~$6,750
$1,000,000	~$14,250
$2,000,000	~$29,250

Ontario also requires an Estate Information Return disclosing the estate's assets, filed within 180 days of receiving the Certificate of Appointment of Estate Trustee.

Why it matters — and what bypasses it

The tax applies to assets that pass through your will. Anything that passes outside the will is not counted: named-beneficiary accounts (RRSPs, RRIFs, TFSAs, and life insurance go straight to the beneficiary) and joint tenancy with right of survivorship (jointly owned property or accounts pass to the surviving owner). So a person worth $1,000,000 whose home passes to a spouse by survivorship and whose registered accounts have named beneficiaries may probate a much smaller estate — dramatically cutting the tax.

Legal ways Ontarians reduce probate fees

• Name beneficiaries on every registered account and insurance policy (free, simple, effective).
• Hold the home or accounts in joint tenancy where appropriate (with caution — joint ownership has creditor and control risks).
• For business owners, a multiple-wills (Granovsky) strategy keeps private-company shares out of the probated will.
• Larger estates sometimes use trusts.

How long does it take?

A straightforward Ontario probate often takes several weeks to a few months; Ontario tends to be slower than some provinces, and disputes extend it further.

Frequently asked questions

How are probate fees calculated in Ontario? $0 on the first $50,000, then $15 per $1,000 (1.5%) on the value above $50,000. How long does probate take in Ontario? Typically several weeks to a few months for a simple estate; longer if contested. How do I avoid probate fees in Ontario? Use named beneficiaries, joint ownership where appropriate, and (for businesses) multiple wills. Do all estates have to go through probate in Ontario? Not always — estates where everything passes by beneficiary designation or survivorship may need little or no probate.

Not legal advice. General information about Ontario law as of 2026. Fee figures should be confirmed with current Ontario rules or an estate lawyer.