Enough to consume a meaningful share of the estate. Costs are frequently paid out of the estate, so everyone loses.
The Canadian position
Contested estate matters routinely run into tens of thousands of dollars and take years. Mediation is mandatory in some Ontario jurisdictions before a matter proceeds.
The Islamic position
Settlement among heirs is closer to the classical preference than litigation. Takharuj exists precisely so families can resolve without a court.
Yes, and the classical name for it is takharuj. All four schools allow it, because after the death the shares already belong to the heirs and what they do next is a fresh transaction between owners — a sale, a partition or a gift — not an amendment of the faraid. Where they part company is on the conditions, and those conditions are not decorative: the Malikis void a payment in cash out of the settling heirs’ own pockets where the estate holds both gold and silver as well as goods, the Hanafis void a settlement on one of two currencies unless it exceeds the withdrawing heir’s share of that same currency, and the Shafi’is only allow the version done over a denial if the payment comes out of the estate itself.
All four Sunni schools researched and sourced. Reviewed 2026-09-01. Full positions, evidence and sources — Can the heirs agree to divide differently from the faraid?.
Making an Islamic will in Canada — province by province, and what makes one valid where you live →
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 a source below. Details change — check the original source before relying on any figure, fee or legal position. Anything under “further reading” is related material, not a source for what is stated here.
- Grewal v. Litt, 2019 BCSC 1154 — CanLII
- Wills, Estates and Succession Act, SBC 2009, c 13 — BC Laws
- Canadian Legal Information Institute — CanLII
- Canadian Legal Information Institute — CanLII
- Mandatory mediation estate litigation ontario — Treadstone Law
- What is mandatory mediation ontario civil litigation — Treadstone Law
- What is cost of litigation in ontario — Treadstone Law
- Estate litigation costs ontario — Treadstone Law
- Wills & estates practice — Treadstone Law