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What is an affidavit of diligent search?

Sworn evidence describing the search made for a will, required before a court will treat an estate as intestate.

Draft — pending review. This page has been prepared but has not yet been reviewed by a Canadian estates lawyer or a qualified scholar. Treat it as a starting point for questions, not as advice you should act on.

Sworn evidence describing the search made for a will, required before a court will treat an estate as intestate.

The Canadian position

Sworn evidence describing the search made for a will, required before a court will treat an estate as intestate.

Provincial law governs administration, so confirm the position where the estate will actually be administered.

The Islamic position

The fixed shares apply to the net estate after funeral expenses, debts and any bequest capped at one third.

Where a Canadian mechanism has no classical counterpart, treat it as a contemporary question for a qualified scholar.

Across the madhahib

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.

Before you act on this

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.

Scholarly & institutional references
  1. Research Papers — Cambridge Muslim College
  2. Research — Cambridge Muslim College
  3. Academics — Islamic law and theology curriculum — Zaytuna College
  4. Encyclopaedia of Islam — Brill
Canadian legislation & government
  1. Locating wills and documents — Law Society of Ontario
  2. Apply for probate of an estate — Government of Ontario
  3. Estate Administration Tax — Government of Ontario
  4. Estates Act, RSO 1990, c E.21 — Government of Ontario
Canadian legal commentary
  1. Contested probate applications ontario estate trustee — Treadstone Law
  2. Probate avoidance family conflict risk ontario — Treadstone Law
  3. Private company shares valuation estate administration tax ontario — Treadstone Law
  4. Loans owed to deceased estate administration tax ontario — Treadstone Law
  5. Administration bond requirement ontario estate trustee — Treadstone Law
  6. Probate ontario explained — Treadstone Law
  7. Wills & estates practice — Treadstone Law