Probate is the court process that confirms a will and the executor’s authority to settle the estate. Assets that pass through the will can take months to settle, may attract probate fees in some provinces, and become a public record. Life insurance and segregated funds with a named beneficiary pay out directly, outside the will and probate. Probate rules and fees vary by province.
What is probate and how can it affect an estate?
Reviewed by Garrett Agencies Ltd., October 2026. How we write
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