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Can I appoint more than one executor?

Yes. Co-executors must generally act unanimously unless the will says otherwise, which can either provide balance or produce deadlock.

Draft — pending review. This page has been prepared but has not yet been reviewed by a Canadian estates lawyer or a qualified scholar. Treat it as a starting point for questions, not as advice you should act on.

Yes. Co-executors must generally act unanimously unless the will says otherwise, which can either provide balance or produce deadlock.

The Canadian position

Give co-executors an express power to act by majority if you appoint three, or accept that two must agree on everything.

The Islamic position

Multiple wasis are permissible. Classical texts discuss how they act together, and the same practical concern about deadlock arises.

Across the madhahib

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.

Before you act on this

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.

Scholarly & institutional references
  1. Research Papers — Cambridge Muslim College
  2. Research — Cambridge Muslim College
  3. Academics — Islamic law and theology curriculum — Zaytuna College
  4. Encyclopaedia of Islam — Brill
Canadian legislation & government
  1. Administering estates — Government of Ontario
  2. Estates Act, RSO 1990, c E.21 — Government of Ontario
Canadian legal commentary
  1. Sole executor dies before estate distributed — Treadstone Law
  2. Executor invest estate assets ontario — Treadstone Law
  3. Estate bank account ontario executor — Treadstone Law
  4. Trustee duty to invest ontario — Treadstone Law
  5. Executor conflict of interest ontario — Treadstone Law
  6. Who pays for passing of accounts ontario — Treadstone Law
  7. Wills & estates practice — Treadstone Law