How much does probate cost in Ontario?

The tax has an official name, Estate Administration Tax, but everyone calls it probate fees. It is paid when the estate trustee files the application for a Certificate of Appointment of Estate Trustee, and it is calculated on the fair market value of the assets that flow through the will, including the home. The calculator below gives you the number in seconds. Rates per Ontario.ca; confirm with the estate’s lawyer before filing.

Three things executors miss about probate costs

The home is valued at fair market value, and the number is checked. After the certificate issues, an Estate Information Return is due to the Ministry of Finance within 180 days, and declared values are cross-referenced against MPAC assessments. Guessing low is not a strategy; it is an audit risk. A documented valuation protects the estate trustee.

The tax is small next to the carrying costs. On an $800,000 estate the tax is about $11,250, paid once. A vacant home’s insurance, utilities, maintenance, and property tax run every month of a probate wait that commonly lasts 2 to 6 months, and a settlement that often takes 8 to 12. The waiting months, not the tax, are usually the bigger number.

Small estates have a shorter path. Estates valued at $150,000 or less may qualify for the Small Estate Certificate, a simplified application. If the estate is anywhere near that line, ask the lawyer whether it applies before paying for the full process.