British Columbia applies the Wills, Estates and Succession Act, which distributes to the spouse and children first. Parents typically receive nothing, and sons and daughters take equally.
The Canadian position
Under the Wills, Estates and Succession Act a surviving spouse takes a preferential share of $300,000 where all children are the spouse's, with the residue divided with the children.
Probate in British Columbia means probate fees of roughly 1.4% on larger estates, and the province has a government Wills Registry costing about $17 to file.
The Islamic position
Faraid gives each parent one sixth where the deceased left children, and a son twice a daughter's share. Neither feature appears in any provincial formula.
Nothing about intention changes an intestacy. Only a valid will that can be found produces the intended distribution.
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.
What to do about it
- Make a will valid under the Wills, Estates and Succession Act.
- Review every beneficiary designation.
- Check how the family home is held.
- Record where the original will is kept.
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.
- Surah an-Nisa 4:11 — shares of children and parents — Quran.com
- Surah an-Nisa 4:12 — shares of spouses and uterine siblings — Quran.com
- Surah an-Nisa 4:176 — the kalalah verse — Quran.com
- Sahih al-Bukhari, Book 85: Laws of Inheritance (Faraid) — Sunnah.com
- Sahih Muslim, Book of Inheritance — Sunnah.com
- Research Papers — Cambridge Muslim College
- Research — Cambridge Muslim College
- Academics — Islamic law and theology curriculum — Zaytuna College
- Encyclopaedia of Islam — Brill
- Wills, Estates and Succession Act, SBC 2009, c 13 — BC Laws
- Succession Law Reform Act, RSO 1990, c S.26 — Government of Ontario
- Administering estates — Government of Ontario
- What happens to digital assets intestacy ontario — Treadstone Law
- What happens if you die without a will ontario — Treadstone Law
- Selling estate property no will intestate authority ontario — Treadstone Law
- Dying without a will intestacy ontario — Treadstone Law
- Intestacy spouse one child ontario — Treadstone Law
- Stepchildren inheritance rights intestacy ontario — Treadstone Law
- Wills & estates practice — Treadstone Law