This literature sets out how your estate would be distributed under Saskatchewan laws should you fail to make a Will. Most of spend a good part of our lifetime building up an estate. We should also take a few minutes to direct, by our Wills, to whom our estate is to pass, how it is to be distributed, and in what proportions.

Even though you may be satisfied with the distribution that would take place by law in your own circumstances should you leave no Will, there are other important considerations that must not be overlooked:

Added expense of higher administration fees to your family, because you have no Will. Higher taxes, because of lack of planning, that your family may have to pay. Protecting your minor children by planning thoroughly what is to happen to them upon your death. Protecting your family by ensuring there are no extra delays, inconvenience, and expense in the settlement of your estate. The anxious search by your family for a Will. The acrimony that may arise between family members due to disagreements on how to divide your estate. Finally, your Will is your only opportunity to select and appoint an executor(s) to settle your estate.

The time and effort involved in arranging to have your Will drawn are so little, to accomplish so much.

Living in Saskatchewan, your estate will be distributed as follows:

1. If you leave a spouse and no children: All to spouse

2. If you leave a spouse and one child:
First $100,000.00 to spouse
1/2 of remainder to spouse and
1/2 of remainder to child*

3. If you leave a spouse and two or more children:
First $100,000.00 to spouse
1/3 of remainder to spouse and
2/3 of remainder divided equally among children*

4. If you leave a child or children, but no spouse:
All to child or equally divided among children*

5. If you leave no spouse or children:
a) To father and mother, or survivor of them
b) If neither parent survives, to brothers and sisters
c) Children of a deceased brother or sister take the share of their deceased parent
d) Or if none of the above survive, then to nieces and nephews without representation

6. If you leave no lawful heirs:
All to Provincial Crown

*Children of a deceased child (grandchildren), take that child’s share

Our knowledgeable and experienced solicitors would be happy to help you analyze your needs and make helpful suggestions prior to drafting your Will.

Visit our office about drafting your Will and also obtain more information about the following:

How to Make a Will
Estate Planning
Tax-Planned Wills
Wills With Multiple Family Trusts
Choosing an Executor
Power of Attorney
Living Will - Health Care Directives
Family Trusts
Multiple Trusts
Income Splitting With Estate
Joint Tenancy Property
Transfer to a Joint Transfer

This has been created to outline sample estate distributions in certain typical situations and is not a complete digest of the applicable laws for Saskatchewan.