Probate Lawyer in British Columbia

We guide families and executors through probate and estate administration with clarity, efficiency and compassion — from applying for probate to distributing inheritances.

Do I need probate in British Columbia? What is probate?

Probate is the British Columbia Supreme Court process that confirms who has the authority to manage and distribute a deceased person’s estate.

You may need a court-issued representation grant/estate grant (often just called probate or a Grant of Probate if there is a Will and Grant of Administration if there isn’t a Will) when assets are in the deceased’s name alone, such as:

  • a home or land in British Columbia
  • bank or investment accounts
  • vehicles or other significant assets

Some assets may not require probate such as joint assets and accounts with named beneficiaries (e.g. life insurance or registered plans).

But when real property, manufactured home or accounts are solely in the deceased’s name, probate is often required before the Land Title Office, Manufactured Home Registry, or financial institutions will release or transfer them.

Three ways we help

Executor Coach — A Clear Plan in 60 Minutes

  • Reduced flat-rate $300 consult (60 minutes)
  • We confirm whether you need probate and map your next steps
  • Already started we can guide you with the next steps

Intake to Probate — The Fast Path Through Probate

  • We manage the court process from intake to the issued Grant of Probate
  • Document sharing and clear communication through our secure client portal
  • Realistic estimate of timeline until court issuance of the Grant of Probate
  • Flat fixed fee
  • Will and title searches
  • Financial disclosure requests
  • Notices to beneficiaries and anyone entitled to notice
  • Build asset and liability list and prepare court application
  • Filing and follow-up with the court registry
  • Ongoing updates as the file progresses and next-step guidance

Probate Concierge — From Loss to Lawful Distribution

  • White glove, start-to-finish estate administration
  • Ideal for out-of-province executors or families wanting complete support
  • Flat fixed fee
  • Includes everything in Intake to Probate plus:
  • Real property and manufactured home transmissions, transfers or sales
  • Financial institution and insurance coordination
  • Coordination with estate accountant
  • Exectutor/administrator accounts
  • Interim and final distributions
Request an Estate Consultation

How Probate works with Aspiring Law

We start with a clear, step-by-step roadmap from day one — so you know what’s needed, what comes next, and what to expect for timing and costs.

We conduct will searches, searches at the Land Title Office and Manufactured Home Registry, and request financial disclosure from financial institutions.

We send required notices to beneficiaries (or next-of-kin if there is no Will) and anyone else entitled to inherit.

We build the asset and liability list and prepare your complete court application, including the required affidavits and supporting documents.

We file your court application as soon as the notice period has expired and all required financial or valuation information is complete. We keep you updated at each milestone through your preference of secure portal, text or call.

We monitor the court file regularly and notify you promptly of probate fee requests or updates so there is no delay in the Grant of Probate being issued.

We arrange certified copies as soon as the court issues the Grant of Probate and provide these to you.

Included in our Probate Concierge service and available as a flat fee add (per transmission or transfer) for Intake to Probate service. Real property, manufactured homes, boats are transmitted to the executor/administrator in order to sell. Transmission of financial accounts and insurance policies to estate account. Transfers of real property, manufactured homes and boats to the beneficiary(ies) gifted these in the Will.

Probate fees in British Columbia

Probate fees are court fees paid to the British Columbia government when applying for a Grant of Probate or resealing a foreign Grant of Probate. They are calculated based on the gross value of the estate, and they are separate from legal fees or other estate administration costs.

Use the BC Probate Fee Calculator to estimate both the probate fee and court filing fee.

BC Probate Fee Calculator

Executor outside of British Columbia? Grant of Probate from another province or country?

We regularly assist executors in other provinces, territories and countries. Whether you need to apply for a British Columbia Grant of Probate or reseal an existing Grant of Probate — so you can deal with British Columbia assets clearly, efficiently, and entirely remote-friendly.

  • Remote-friendly from anywhere: virtual appointments, secure client portal, and we can coordinate with notaries where you live.
  • Authority recognized in British Columbia: resealing confirms your authority here so you can deal with British Columbia situated assets like real property.
  • Similar to a British Columbia probate filing: we handle notices, prepare the court application, file and guide you through the next steps once the resealed Grant of Probate is issued.
Learn More about Resealing here Request an Estate Consultation

Frequently asked questions

If someone passes away without a Will, a someone (typically a family member) can apply to the court to be appointed the administrator and receive a Grant of Administration. The law sets out the order of who can apply and who inherits.

Read More: What happens when someone dies without a Will in British Columbia

Once your court application is filed, uncontested applications typically take 6 – 8 weeks for the court to issue the Estate Grant in Probate, depending on the registry’s workload. When you add the required 21-day notice period, many files with Aspiring Law move from intake to Estate Grant in Probate in approximately three months if the information and estate valuations are ready.

Not always. You’ll need probate if the deceased owned real property in their name alone, or if a financial institution requires an Estate Grant in Probate before releasing assets. Generally, if assets held solely in the deceased’s name are over $25,000.00, probate is more likely to be required.

Some assets, like insurance policies or registered plans with named beneficiaries, may pass directly to the survivor or beneficiary and don’t require probate.

Before filing a probate application, the executor (or administrator) must give a formal Notice of Proposed Application to beneficiaries or next-of-kin if there is no Will. The court requires that this notice is delivered at least 21 day before the application is filed.

This notice period is one reason probate timelines often include a built-in minimum delay, even when everything is ready to file.

In most BC estates, executors wait at least 210 days after the estate grant in probate before making a final distribution, and many also wait until tax filings are complete (often including a CRA Clearance Certificate) to reduce personal risk to the executor. Timelines vary depending on the complexity of the estate and whether there are claims to vary the Will or other complications.

Read more: When can an executor distribute the estate in British Columbia?

Ready for the next step?

Whether you need our full-service probate concierge, Intake to Estate Grant, or the Estate Grant plus a property transmission, we’ll guide you through your role as executor or administrator and every step of the probate process with clarity, confidence and care.

Request an Estate Consultation
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Aspiring Law — Probate lawyer in British Columbia

We guide families and executors through probate and estate administration with speed, clarity, and compassion — from applying for an Estate Grant in Probate to distributing inheritances.

Serving executors, administrators and families across Northwestern British Columbia — including Terrace, Kitimat, Prince Rupert, Hazelton, Haida Gwaii, Stewart, Dease Lake, Atlin and Smithers — as well as remote clients throughout British Columbia, Canada and in other countries.

Virtual appointments available.