Marriage and Wills

In some provinces and territories, when you get married, your previous Will is automatically revoked or cancelled, unless it clearly states you were about to get married and that you want the Will to stay valid after the marriage.

As a married couple, you can minimize the cost and time to administer your estate by naming each other as beneficiary on your various plans and insurance policies. Keep in mind that if you divorce, the beneficiary designation will not change automatically. Be sure to update these plans if you want the beneficiary updated.

Divorce itself does not cancel your Will, but, in some provinces and territories, divorce or separation will automatically revoke the workplace/employment/company benefits for your former spouse unless your Will states otherwise.

Tip: If you’re a business owner, it’s especially important to make sure your Will is up to date to ensure your business can continue uninterrupted.

In some provinces and territories, if you have appointed a former spouse as executor, your divorce will revoke or cancel this appointment. If you want your ex-spouse to be your executor, talk to your legal advisor about updating your Will to say so.