Difference between revisions of "When Your Common-Law Spouse Dies"
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==What are your rights if your spouse left a will?== | ==What are your rights if your spouse left a will?== | ||
If your spouse left you a fair share of his or her estate in the will, you just have to go through the regular legal steps to inherit. To receive your inheritance, the will go through a procedure called “probate” if the value of the estate is more than $25,000 or contains an interest in real estate. Refer to script [[Your Duties | If your spouse left you a fair share of his or her estate in the will, you just have to go through the regular legal steps to inherit. To receive your inheritance, the will go through a procedure called “probate” if the value of the estate is more than $25,000 or contains an interest in real estate. Refer to script [[Your Duties As Executor (Script 178)|178]] on “Your Duties as Executor” to learn more about probating a will. | ||
But if your spouse left you nothing or too little, you should talk to a lawyer right away. Under the ''Wills, Estates and Successions Act'', a court can vary the will to provide something for a common-law spouse. To be eligible: | But if your spouse left you nothing or too little, you should talk to a lawyer right away. Under the ''Wills, Estates and Successions Act'', a court can vary the will to provide something for a common-law spouse. To be eligible: | ||