Distribution of your estate will be governed by legislation: the Succession Law Reform Act:
- Spouse gets preferential share in the amount of the first $200,000 in value of the estate; then the residue is divided between the spouse and surviving children, as follows:
- If only one child, then the residue is divided 50-50
- If more than one child, then spouse is entitled to one third, and the remaining two-thirds is divided equally among the children
- If there is no spouse and no children, then in the order of priority to:
- the surviving parents;
- to siblings;
- nieces and nephews
- “next-of-kin” as defined in the Succession Law Reform Act