A Canadian Inheritance Agreement, also known as an Heir’s Agreement or Deed of Family Arrangement, is a legally binding contract between the heirs or beneficiaries of a deceased person’s estate that establishes how the estate assets and liabilities will be distributed among them. This agreement is particularly useful when the heirs wish to agree on a distribution that differs from the terms of the Decedent’s Will or the provincial intestacy rules, when there are disputes about the interpretation of the Will, or when the heirs want to simplify the estate administration process by reaching a consensus on distribution without court intervention.

In Canada, estate distribution is governed by provincial succession legislation. Ontario’s Succession Law Reform Act (R.S.O. 1990, c. S.26) governs both testate (with a Will) and intestate (without a Will) succession, including the surviving spouse’s preferential share of $350,000 under intestacy. British Columbia’s Wills, Estates and Succession Act (S.B.C. 2009, c. 13, “WESA”) provides a comprehensive framework including the Wills variation provisions (Part 4), which allow spouses and children to apply to vary the terms of a Will if it does not make adequate provision for them. Alberta’s Wills and Succession Act (S.A. 2010, c. W-12.2) similarly governs succession in that province.

From a tax perspective, an Inheritance Agreement must account for the deemed disposition of capital property at fair market value immediately before death under Income Tax Act (Canada) s. 70(5), which may trigger significant capital gains tax. The agreement should address how this tax liability is allocated among the heirs, whether the spousal rollover under s. 70(6) will be utilized, and how registered accounts (RRSPs, RRIFs, TFSAs) with named beneficiaries are treated relative to the overall estate distribution. Probate fees (Estate Administration Tax in Ontario) also reduce the net estate and should be accounted for in the agreement.

An Inheritance Agreement is needed when the heirs or beneficiaries of a deceased person’s estate wish to establish a mutually agreed distribution of estate assets. This situation arises most commonly when the Decedent died intestate (without a valid Will) and the provincial intestacy rules do not reflect what the heirs believe would have been the Decedent’s wishes. In Ontario, the intestacy rules under the Succession Law Reform Act (Part II) provide a fixed formula: the surviving spouse receives the first $350,000 (preferential share), and the remainder is divided between the spouse and children. If this allocation does not suit the family’s circumstances, an Inheritance Agreement allows the heirs to redistribute the estate.

An Inheritance Agreement is also needed when the Decedent’s Will is ambiguous or incomplete, when the heirs wish to avoid the cost and delay of a formal estate dispute or Will interpretation application, or when there are specific items of personal property (such as family heirlooms, jewellery, or artwork) that the heirs wish to allocate by mutual agreement rather than through the Estate Trustee’s discretion. The agreement is particularly important in blended families where step-children, multiple spouses from different marriages, and common-law partners may have competing claims.

Additionally, an Inheritance Agreement is essential when heirs need to address the tax implications of the estate distribution, particularly the allocation of capital gains tax arising from the deemed disposition under ITA s. 70(5), the handling of registered account benefits that pass outside the estate, and the allocation of probate fees. The agreement provides a clear, documented consensus that reduces the risk of future disputes and provides the Estate Trustee with clear instructions for distribution.

A valid Canadian Inheritance Agreement must identify all parties with their full legal names, addresses, and relationships to the Decedent, along with the Decedent’s name, date of death, last known address, and province of domicile. The agreement must specify whether the Decedent died testate (with a Will) or intestate (without a Will), and the current probate status (Certificate of Appointment of Estate Trustee in Ontario, Grant of Probate in other provinces, or Letters of Administration for intestate estates).

The agreement must include a comprehensive inventory of estate assets valued in Canadian dollars, distinguishing between assets that pass through the estate (subject to probate) and assets that pass outside the estate by beneficiary designation (RRSPs, TFSAs, life insurance). All known debts, liabilities, and tax obligations must be disclosed, including the estimated income tax liability on the terminal T1 return arising from the deemed disposition under ITA s. 70(5). The distribution provisions must clearly state each heir’s share, whether expressed as a percentage of the net estate or as specific assets.

The agreement should include mutual representations and warranties that each heir is a lawful beneficiary, has not assigned their interest, and enters the agreement voluntarily. A mutual release clause should discharge each heir from further claims against the other related to the estate. Optional provisions may include a mediation or dispute resolution clause (referencing providers such as the ADR Institute of Canada), a personal property distribution schedule, a mutual indemnification clause, and a tax allocation provision. The agreement must specify the governing province and should be signed by all heirs, witnessed by two independent adults, and copies provided to the Estate Trustee and each heir’s legal counsel.