Same Estate, Same Will, $33,000 Difference

Terrence and Yolanda moved from Calgary to a bungalow outside Halifax with their wills in a folder in the moving truck. Same estate, same wills, same executor. In Alberta the probate fee would have been $525. In Nova Scotia it's closer to $16,000.Nothing about the family had changed. The documents were current. What changed was the address.Probate isn't federal. Thirteen provinces and territories, thirteen sets of rules. Some cap the fee at a few hundred dollars no matter how large the estate gets. Others charge a percentage that climbs with every dollar.In this episode:How the capped and percentage systems work, and where each province sitsWhy Quebec runs on a different process, with a liquidator instead of an executorWhat happens when someone owns property in two provinces, and why that can mean two applicationsWhy the court fee usually isn't the biggest bill the estate facesRead the full article.Disclaimer: This content is for general information only and is not legal, financial, medical, or tax advice.