A named recipient on a registered account or insurance policy — which passes outside the will.
In Islamic law
A designation that sends the largest asset in an estate to one person can defeat a faraid distribution completely, even where the will is drafted perfectly. Anyone intending Islamic shares needs designations reviewed alongside the will, not after it.
In Canadian law
RRSPs, RRIFs, TFSAs, pensions and life insurance with a named beneficiary pass directly to that person, outside the estate and outside probate. The will does not control them. This is among the most common and consequential estate-planning errors.
We have not yet researched whether the four Sunni schools differ on this term, so we are not going to tell you either way. Where a specific case turns on it, ask a qualified scholar rather than relying on a general summary.
Canadian legal detail
Treadstone Law, an Ontario firm with a wills and estates practice, covers the Canadian side of this in more depth:
- Life insurance beneficiary designation ontario estate planning
- Group life insurance no named beneficiary ontario
- Common law couples life insurance beneficiary ontario
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.
- Life insurance beneficiary designation ontario estate planning — Treadstone Law
- Group life insurance no named beneficiary ontario — Treadstone Law
- Common law couples life insurance beneficiary ontario — Treadstone Law
- Beneficiary designation vs will which controls — Treadstone Law
- Wills & estates practice — Treadstone Law