Probating the Will

This information applies to British Columbia, Canada. Last reviewed for legal accuracy by Stephen Hsia in March 2019.

The executor of a will may need to apply to the court to probate the will in order to distribute the estate. If everything is in order, the court issues a grant of probate. The executor can then show a notarized copy of the grant of probate to banks and other asset holders, confirming that the executor has the authority to act for the estate.

The probate procedure

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The probate procedure involves several steps and considerable attention to detail. Many documents must be filed with the probate registry of the Supreme Court of BC.

The timeframe for the probate registry to approve probate applications varies, but generally the review process takes two to three months.

If your application is rejected, the registry staff will tell you the reason. You can correct the problem and re-apply. Once you’re granted probate, you can proceed with the remaining steps to administer the estate.

You must notify certain people that you intend to apply for probate

To provide notice, complete a copy of the court form P1, notice of proposed application in relation to estate. Together with a copy of the will, mail or deliver the court form to:

• Each person named in the will as executor or alternate executor.
• Each beneficiary named in the will.
• The will-maker’s spouse and children (because they are entitled to challenge the will under the Wills, Estates and Succession Act).
• Each person who would be entitled to a share in the estate if there had been no will. The Wills, Estates and Succession Act lists the people who are entitled to a share in an estate if someone dies without a will.
• If any of the people you’re required to send notice to above is a minor or mentally incapable adult, you need to send notice to the Public Guardian and Trustee.

You must deliver this notice at least 21 days before submitting the probate application to court.

You need to file probate documents with the registry

A typical probate application will include these documents, which you must file with the probate registry:

• A submission for estate grant (Form P2): This form gives details about your application for probate.
• An affidavit of the applicant (Form P3 or P4): This form identifies you and your relationship to the will-maker.
• Affidavits of delivery (Form P9): These affidavits confirm that notice of the application was delivered to everyone who you had to give notice to.
• An affidavit of assets and liabilities (Form P10 or P11): This form sets out all the will-maker’s estate assets and liabilities.
• The originally signed version of the will. If the original doesn’t exist, you can file a copy of the will. You’ll also need to file evidence that supports that it’s a copy of the valid will. The court may or may not accept the copy as the last valid will of the deceased.
• Two copies of a certificate of wills search, and any accompanying wills notices, obtained by doing a search of the Wills Registry.
• Payment of the court filing fee: Currently $200, unless the estate has a value of less than $25,000, in which case there is no fee payable.

Additional documents will be required to deal with: issues relating to the will, dispensing with notice, the executor renouncing their executorship, and various other unusual applications.

To find the probate registry closest to you, contact Enquiry BC:

Lower Mainland: 604-660-2421

Toll-free: 1-800-663-7867

Signing the probate forms

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When you sign a probate form, it means you’re swearing or affirming that the information you’re providing in the document is true. You’ll need to sign some of the probate forms in front of a lawyer, notary public, or a commissioner for taking affidavits. All court registries have a commissioner for taking affidavits, and some community groups do as well.

Listing assets and liabilities

The affidavit of assets and liabilities includes a statement that has three parts:

• Real property (Part I): List the will-maker’s home and any other land or investment properties.
• Personal property (Part II): List the will-maker’s personal property, such as cash, jewelry, furniture, vehicle, and the Canada Pension Plan death benefit.
• Liabilities (Part III): List any debts or amounts owing. Don’t list any expenses incurred after the deceased died, such as funeral expenses or lawyer’s fees.

Don’t list assets that are owned jointly (such as a house owned in joint tenancy) or that name a specific beneficiary, such as a life insurance policy.

Parts I and II ask the value of the assets at death. Provide a value, or if the asset has no value, put “nil.”

If you can’t get information about all of the deceased’s assets you can still apply for probate. However, you should disclose as much information on the the affidavit of assets and liabilities as possible. There’s a form (Form P18) you can file with the court to compel third parties to give you information about estate assets (for example, the balance of a bank account). Consider speaking to a lawyer who can help you obtain estate information. As you find new assets, you’ll need to prepare a new affidavit and pay further probate fees based on their value.

Probate fees are based on the gross value of the estate

Once the application is reviewed, the probate registry will assess the probate fees payable. Probate fees are based on the gross value of the estate assets that were located in British Columbia when the will-maker died. This is the value of estate assets before subtracting debts.

$0 to $25,000	0
For the first $25,000 to $50,000	$6 for every $1,000 (or part of $1,000)
For any part of the value $50,000 or more	$14 for every $1,000 (or part of $1,000)

For example, if the gross value of an estate is $125,000, the probate fees will be $1,200. This fee is in addition to the court filing fee of $200.

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