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How is an inherited house—whose construction and development were contributed to by some of the heirs—divided among the legal heirs?

1 min readAlso available in العربية

Ownership of the inheritance transfers to the heirs immediately upon the death of the deceased, and it is divided according to the prescribed Sharia shares. In the case of a wife, sons, and daughters, the wife receives one-eighth due to the existence of a lineal descendant heir. The remainder is divided among the sons and daughters, with the male receiving the share of two females. If the heirs agree on a specific division, a consensual division is permissible. If they disagree, the path to resolution is through the Sharia courts. The property can be appraised, and the amounts spent by those who financed the construction or finishing can be reimbursed before dividing the remaining value of the property among the heirs. Alternatively, the property can be sold, and the inheritance, along with what each heir spent, can be distributed. Another option is for each heir to remain in their apartment while paying what they owe to the other heirs.

Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026

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