5. Learn what happens if you have other dependants
Question & Answer
I’m married. What happens if I die without a will?A dependant is a person you were supporting financially before you died or a person the law says you must support.
For example, you might have been supporting:
- a partner
- a stepchild
- a sister, brother, or any sibling who could not work outside the home and relied on you to pay the bills
- a parent
A dependent can also be your partner, married partner you're from, divorced partner, child, grandchild, or grandparent.
Ontario law says you must financially support your dependants if you can. So, dependants who get nothing under the might be able to go to court and make a claim for a share of your .
This is called making a dependant's support claim.
But this type of claim can be costly and very hard to prove.
If you want dependents who are not your married partner or children to get property from your estate after you die, you must make a will.
Designated beneficiaries
The rules about designated beneficiaries still apply.
