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What is a letter of wishes?

A non-binding note kept with the will explaining your reasoning, your religious intentions, and practical guidance for your executor.

This is legal information only. For advice on your own circumstances, speak to a lawyer.

A non-binding note kept with the will explaining your reasoning, your religious intentions, and practical guidance for your executor.

The Canadian position

It has no legal force, but it is evidence a court may consider — particularly where a distribution might otherwise look arbitrary.

The Islamic position

Useful for recording that the distribution follows faraid, which school you follow, and who you consulted. That context can matter if the will is ever challenged.

Note

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.

Canadian legislation & government
  1. Succession Law Reform Act, RSO 1990, c S.26 — Government of Ontario
  2. Administering estates — Government of Ontario
  3. Grewal v. Litt, 2019 BCSC 1154 — CanLII
  4. Wills, Estates and Succession Act, SBC 2009, c 13 — BC Laws
  5. Canadian Legal Information Institute — CanLII
Further reading — Treadstone Law
  1. Letter of wishes ontario trust — Treadstone Law
  2. Funeral wishes in will legally binding ontario — Treadstone Law
  3. Out of province executor practical challenges ontario — Treadstone Law
  4. Executor release from beneficiaries before distribution ontario — Treadstone Law
  5. Wills & estates practice — Treadstone Law