Best Probate Attorneys in Whitby, ON

What if my common-law partner dies without a will? Does this sound familiar? You and your partner have built a life together. You might own property together and you might have children together. But you never got legally married. You live as common-law partners. According to the law, common-law relationships are not treated the same as married couples in Ontario. If your common-law partner dies without a will and has not named the surviving partner a beneficiary on their assets, the survivor will be omitted from the estate and all assets will be divided amongst children and the deceased’s family. What happens when your common-law partner dies without a will? Anything that was jointly owned together, the survivor will become the sole owner. Any assets that omit the survivor’s name, do not automatically transfer to the survivor unless clearly set out in a legal and valid will. Any assets where only the deceased partner’s name is present will go into the deceased’s estate. This estate will be distributed to the next-of-kin. Anything that the survivor brought into the relationship or that was purchased solely by the survivor will remain untouched by the deceased’s estate. Please contact us if you have any questions.