Probate in Alberta: Fees, When You Need It and How the Process Works
Alberta's probate fees run from $35 to a maximum of $525, based on the estate's net value in Alberta. When a grant of probate is needed, what counts, the steps for a personal representative, and how it compares with BC and Ontario.
By Jonathan Kennedy · Last reviewed October 2026
Photo: jeans_Photos, CC BY 2.0
On this page (5 sections)
Alberta's probate fee (the surrogate grant fee) is based on the net value of the estate's property in Alberta and tops out at $525 for any estate over $250,000 (Government of Alberta court fees, checked October 2026). That makes Alberta one of the least expensive provinces for probate: a $1 million estate pays the same $525 as a $300,000 one.
Maybe a parent in Calgary or Edmonton has died, or you've been named personal representative (Alberta's term for executor) and the bank wants a grant. The fee won't be the hard part. The work is in the paperwork, and knowing when a grant is needed at all.
Do this next:
- Find the original will and list what your parent owned in Alberta, less the debts.
- Ask each bank and the land titles office what they need to release or transfer the asset.
- Talk to an Alberta estate lawyer about whether a grant is needed.
How much is probate in Alberta?
| Net value of property in Alberta | Fee |
|---|---|
| $10,000 or less | $35 |
| Over $10,000 up to $25,000 | $135 |
| Over $25,000 up to $125,000 | $275 |
| Over $125,000 up to $250,000 | $400 |
| Over $250,000 | $525 |
Other court filing fees can apply, such as for opening a court file or later applications. Unlike Ontario and BC, Alberta uses the net value, after debts.
How does Alberta compare with BC and Ontario?
The BC and Ontario figures are our arithmetic from each province's rates.
Our take: Because the fee is so low, Alberta families rarely need probate-avoidance planning for cost reasons. Joint ownership and beneficiary designations still help speed things up, but don't restructure a parent's assets just to dodge a $525 fee.
When do you need probate in Alberta?
Usually when a bank, investment firm or the land titles office won't release or transfer an asset without a grant: often for real estate in the deceased's name alone or larger accounts. Assets held jointly with a right of survivorship, and RRSPs, RRIFs, TFSAs and insurance with a named beneficiary, usually pass without one.
What are the steps?
- Find the will and confirm who the personal representative is.
- Value the assets and debts in Alberta at the date of death.
- Apply to the Court of King's Bench for a grant of probate (or administration, if there's no will), with the surrogate forms and the fee.
- Notify beneficiaries and, where required, family members.
- Collect assets, pay debts, and file the final tax return (inheritance tax in Canada).
- Get a CRA clearance certificate before the final distribution.
What else should Alberta families plan for?
A will, an enduring power of attorney and personal directive while your parent is alive, beneficiaries on registered plans, and a plan for paying for care.
Frequently asked questions
How much does probate cost in Alberta?
The surrogate grant fee runs from $35 for estates of $10,000 or less up to $525 for estates over $250,000, based on the net value of property in Alberta. Other filing fees can apply.
Is probate in Alberta based on gross or net value?
Net value: the value of the property in Alberta after debts. Ontario and BC calculate their fees differently.
Do you always need probate in Alberta?
No. It's usually needed when a bank or the land titles office requires a grant to release or transfer an asset. Joint assets with survivorship and accounts with named beneficiaries usually pass without it.
What is a personal representative in Alberta?
Alberta's term for the person who administers an estate: the executor named in a will, or an administrator appointed by the court if there's no will.
Is probate cheaper in Alberta than Ontario?
Much cheaper for larger estates. Alberta's fee is capped at $525, while Ontario charges $15 per $1,000 above $50,000, about $6,750 on a $500,000 estate.
Last reviewed October 2026. We keep our guides current as costs, programs, and options change.
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