How Much Does Probate (Will Verification) Cost in Quebec?
Last updated 2026-06 · Quebec
If you're dreading a probate bill, Quebec is the place to relax. Quebec has no percentage-based probate tax like Ontario's or B.C.'s. What it has instead is a small, flat verification fee — and notarial wills avoid even that.
Verification, not a probate tax
Quebec doesn't "probate" wills the way common-law provinces do. Instead, a non-notarial will must be verified to confirm it's authentic before the liquidator acts. The cost depends on the will form:
- Notarial will: no verification required at all. The notary already received and registered it, so your liquidator can act immediately. Effective cost: $0.
- Holograph or witnessed will: must be verified by the Superior Court or a notary. The fee is nominal — on the order of $65 to $110 — not a percentage of the estate.
What this means on a $1,000,000 estate
Where a $1M estate would pay roughly $14,250 in Ontario or $13,650 in B.C., in Quebec it pays effectively nothing (notarial will) or about $100 (holograph/witnessed will, for verification). Estate value barely affects the cost.
Why the notarial will still wins
The modest verification fee isn't the only consideration — verification also takes time. A notarial will lets the liquidator begin immediately, while a holograph or witnessed will sits in the verification queue first. For many Quebecers, that speed is the real reason to choose a notarial will.
Other estate costs
While probate is cheap, the estate may still face liquidator fees, professional fees, and the work of settling the family patrimony and matrimonial regime — so "cheap probate" doesn't mean "free administration."
Frequently asked questions
How are probate fees calculated in Quebec? There's no percentage tax — only a flat verification fee (about $65–$110) for non-notarial wills. How long does probate take in Quebec? Notarial wills need no verification; verifying a holograph or witnessed will adds weeks before the liquidator can act. How do I avoid probate fees in Quebec? Use a notarial will, which requires no verification at all. Do all estates have to go through probate in Quebec? No — estates with a notarial will skip verification entirely.
Not legal advice. General information about Quebec law as of 2026. Confirm fee figures with current Quebec rules, a notary, or a lawyer.
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