A wife's share of inheritance is fixed by the Quran and cannot be reduced by anyone.
One quarter or one eighth
| Situation | Wife's share |
|---|---|
| The husband left no descendants (children or sons' children) | One quarter (1/4) |
| The husband left descendants, from her or another wife | One eighth (1/8) |
| More than one wife | They share the quarter or eighth equally |
Example: a husband leaves a wife, a son and a daughter and a net estate of SAR 800,000: the wife takes one eighth (100,000), and 700,000 goes to the son and daughter, the male twice the female. Try the inheritance calculator.
What comes off first
- Funeral costs.
- Debts, including the wife's unpaid deferred dowry, which she takes before inheriting.
- Bequests up to one third to non-heirs.
- The rest is divided. Read estate inventory.
Other rights
- A wife inherits if the marriage existed at death, and so does a revocably divorced wife during her waiting period.
- Her own gold, money and property in her name are not part of the estate.
- Guardianship of minors' property is set by deed. Read guardianship deed.
Frequently asked questions
Can heirs exclude a second wife?
No. Every wife married at the time of death shares equally.
Does a non-Muslim wife inherit?
As a rule there is no inheritance across religions, but the husband may leave her a bequest within one third.
An estate dispute?
Usus Law Firm handles inheritance and estates, with female lawyers, in Riyadh and Tabuk, and advises in English.
This article is general legal information and is not a substitute for advice on your specific case. Court proceedings in Saudi Arabia are in Arabic; the official Arabic text of each law prevails.
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