A straightforward will from a lawyer typically runs a few hundred dollars; a plan involving trusts, a business or cross-border property costs more. Compared with the cost of an estate dispute it is trivial.
The Canadian position
Flat-fee wills are widely available. Firms offering flat-fee estate work will usually quote before starting.
Online will services cost less but are not built to express conditional fractional shares.
The Islamic position
The expense is part of discharging the obligation to have your affairs in order. Scholars treat delay in making a will as the thing to avoid, not the fee.
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
- Succession Law Reform Act, RSO 1990, c S.26 — Government of Ontario
- Administering estates — Government of Ontario
- Locating wills and documents — Law Society of Ontario
- Contestant dies during will challenge ontario — Treadstone Law
- What evidence do you need to challenge a will ontario — Treadstone Law
- Multiple wills ontario — Treadstone Law
- Can you designate beneficiary in a will ontario — Treadstone Law
- Capacity to marry vs capacity to make a will ontario — Treadstone Law
- Pgt involvement will validity dispute ontario — Treadstone Law
- Wills & estates practice — Treadstone Law