Yes. Beneficiaries are entitled to see the parts of the will affecting them, and once probated a will becomes a public court record.
The Canadian position
An executor who refuses to share the will invites an application for disclosure.
After probate anyone can obtain a copy from the court file.
The Islamic position
Transparency among heirs reduces the disputes the tradition consistently discourages.
Withholding the document is almost always counterproductive.
The four Sunni schools are not recorded as differing materially on this point in the sources reviewed. Where your own case turns on it, put it to a scholar of your school.
General information, not legal or religious advice. Inheritance depends entirely on the exact family circumstances. Confirm the Canadian position with a lawyer in your province and any religious ruling with a qualified scholar.
Citations & sources
Every factual claim on this page traces to one of the references below. Legislation and dollar thresholds change — verify against the primary source before relying on any figure.
- Research Papers — Cambridge Muslim College
- Research — Cambridge Muslim College
- Academics — Islamic law and theology curriculum — Zaytuna College
- Encyclopaedia of Islam — Brill
- Apply for probate of an estate — Government of Ontario
- Estate Administration Tax — Government of Ontario
- Estates Act, RSO 1990, c E.21 — Government of Ontario
- Administering estates — Government of Ontario
- Can executor be paid ontario — Treadstone Law
- Pre paid funeral contract executor obligations ontario — Treadstone Law
- Sole executor dies before estate distributed — Treadstone Law
- Executor duty keep estate open disputes — Treadstone Law
- Executor passing accounts dispute ontario — Treadstone Law
- Executor dealing with rrsp estate ontario — Treadstone Law
- Wills & estates practice — Treadstone Law