You are not obliged to, but telling them prevents most disputes. Surprise is the fuel of estate litigation.
The Canadian position
Nothing requires disclosure during your lifetime.
Executors and guardians should be told they have been named, and asked whether they will act.
The Islamic position
Where a distribution follows faraid, explaining it in advance removes the sense of arbitrariness that drives challenges.
Families that discuss it beforehand litigate far less.
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.
This is legal information only. For advice on your own circumstances, speak to a lawyer.
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
- Succession Law Reform Act, RSO 1990, c S.26 — Government of Ontario
- Administering estates — Government of Ontario
- Grewal v. Litt, 2019 BCSC 1154 — CanLII
- Wills, Estates and Succession Act, SBC 2009, c 13 — BC Laws
- Canadian Legal Information Institute — CanLII
- Testamentary trust ontario will estate planning — Treadstone Law
- Selling estate property no will intestate authority ontario — Treadstone Law
- How many executors should you name ontario will — Treadstone Law
- Naming an alternate executor ontario will — Treadstone Law
- Can registered nurse home care worker be witness ontario will — Treadstone Law
- Recovering expert witness fees costs ontario — Treadstone Law
- Wills & estates practice — Treadstone Law