What does an estate bond cost?
An estate bond premium is a small percentage of the bond amount, paid once a year until the estate closes. The bond amount is set by the court, and in some places it is larger than the estate itself, which raises the premium. Your credit, the size of the bond, and the complexity of the estate set your exact rate.
Reviewed by Dustin SanVido, Estates Program Lead
Estimate your premium in under a minute
Use the estate's personal property value, or the asset value for a guardianship or waiver of probate bond.
Choose a bond type, a state or province, and enter the estate value to see an estimated bond amount and annual premium.
What drives your rate
Credit.
The biggest lever. Every carrier's rate structure is credit-underwritten, and crossing into a fuller review specifically requires a credit report. Strong credit means the lowest rate.
Bond amount.
A percentage of a bigger number is a bigger premium, and in provinces like Ontario the bond itself can be set at double the estate value before the percentage is even applied.
Complexity.
Multiple properties, a business, litigation, or foreign assets raise the rate.
Residency.
A non-resident applicant is a higher risk in both countries and may pay more, or may trigger the bond requirement in the first place.
Who pays for the bond?
The person posting the bond pays the premium. It is generally reimbursed from the estate as an administration expense in both countries, so it is usually a cost of the estate, not a personal cost.
Is it a one-time cost, and is it refundable?
The premium is paid each year the bond stays open, until the estate is settled and the bond is released. Whether any unearned premium is refunded if the estate closes early depends on the specific carrier and the terms of that bond.
Ready to move?
See your estimate, then apply. Most smaller bonds issue fast.
Estate bond cost questions
How much does a probate bond cost?
- Typically 0.3% to 1% of the court-set bond amount per year in the US, with most bonds landing between 0.5% and 0.7%. In Canada, the standard rate is a flat 1% (with discounts considered). Clean, smaller files sit at the low end of either range; weak credit or large bonds cost more.
Is a probate bond refundable?
- This depends on the carrier and the specific bond terms. We're confirming exact policies as we finalize carrier agreements; ask your specialist about your specific file.
Do I pay every year?
- Yes, until the estate closes and the bond is released.
Who pays, me or the estate?
- You arrange and pay it, and it is generally reimbursed from the estate.
A court deadline does not have to be a crisis
Tell us the bond you were ordered to post. We get it issued and filed, so the estate can move forward.