If your spouse dies leaving a valid will, you can choose to get either an equalization payment or what was left to you in their will.<\/p>\n
If your spouse dies without leaving a valid will, you can choose to get an equalization payment or your share according to the intestacy rules<\/strong>. These rules give married spouses and children the right to inherit property when there is no valid will.<\/p>\n In both situations, you must usually take legal steps within 6 months<\/strong> of your spouse’s death if you want to claim the equalization payment.<\/p>\n If you’re married but separated from your spouse when they die, you get nothing from their estate if one of the following is true:<\/p>\n If your spouse dies, you usually become the sole owner of any money or property that you both owned jointly. Joint property is not affected by a will or the intestacy rules.<\/p>\n You also inherit life insurance money and registered investments if those assets list you as a beneficiary<\/strong>.<\/p>\n There are some government benefits<\/strong> like CPP survivor’s pension and CPP funeral and death expenses that you may be able to get if your spouse dies.<\/p>\n There may be other payments that depend on the cause of your spouse’s death. For example, if your spouse was killed while working, you can apply for workers\u2019 compensation benefits.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"template":"","class_list":["post-57306","publications-page","type-publications-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"\nSeparated spouses<\/h3>\n
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Joint property<\/h2>\n
Other benefits<\/h2>\n