01/27/2026
"Does No Ring mean No Rights? Exploring the Intersection of Spousal Rights and Estates Law in Ontario"
When a person dies, the legal consequences extend far beyond distributing assets. In particular, close attention must be made to the intersection between Estates Law and Family Law with respect to spousal rights since the concept of spouse remains an ever expanding one with more persons today cohabitating in marriage like relationships outside the traditional model and whether a person is married, separated, or in a common-law relationship can significantly affect what they would be entitled to receive from their deceased spouse’s estate. The distinction between “married spouses” and “common-law spouses” matters because they do not have the same rights under Ontario estates legislation.
Click below to read the full article:
https://desantislaw.ca/blog-posts/does-no-ring-mean-no-rights/