When a person fails to craft a Will, their wealth and personal property are distributed by the rules under the Succession Law Reform Act. Often called “intestate,” the government has a hard set of regulations it follows. These include the following.
The first $200,000 goes to the spouse unless a financially dependent heir makes a claim.
After $200,000, the remainder is divided between the surviving spouse and direct heirs.
If unmarried, the children or grandchildren may inherit the estate.
In the absence of a spouse, children or grandchildren, the court will reach out to extended family members such as siblings, cousin, and others. Although this seems like a logical method, it likely differs from the subtle differences you might make. For instance, items such as family heirlooms and things that hold great personal value would merely be assigned a monetary value.