Do RRSPs and TFSAs Go Through Probate in BC?

Short answer: with a named beneficiary, RRSPs, RRIFs, and TFSAs pass directly outside the estate — no probate, no probate fee. If the estate is the beneficiary (or none is named), they go through probate.

The tax trap executors miss: skipping probate is not skipping tax. An RRSP/RRIF's full value is generally taxable income on the deceased's final return — the estate pays the tax even though the beneficiary received the money, unless a rollover applies (spouse/common-law partner, or certain dependants). A large RRSP paid to one child as beneficiary can quietly gut the residue the will leaves to others.

TFSAs are gentler: the value at death passes tax-free; only growth after death is taxable. A spouse named as successor holder takes over the TFSA seamlessly — the cleanest outcome.

What to actually do:

1. Executor: get beneficiary designations for every registered account from each institution; map who receives vs. who bears the tax before distributing anything.
2. Spouse: ask about rollover (RRSP) / successor-holder (TFSA) treatment — usually the best tax outcome.
3. Talk to an estate-experienced accountant before final distributions — this is the classic final-return surprise. Accountant vs lawyer: who does what →

Find help: vetted BC estate accountants →

Foxglove is a guide, not a law firm. General information, not legal advice; forms and rules change — confirm current requirements with the Supreme Court of BC, the official BC government forms page, or a qualified BC professional. Find vetted BC help →