After they separate from a spouse or partner, most people expend considerable effort protecting their financial situation.  People want to protect what they have, either for themselves or for their children.   They also do not their exes to get more than necessary.  Everyone wants their own money that they can use, or give away, free from interference.   After separation, nearly everyone is very careful in organizing finances.  But, often they are NOT careful in planning for their finances if they die.  Unfortunately,  that can mean that, even after a long fight, a former spouse can get take much more from the estate than he or she would have gotten through family court - just because the other spouse dies without doing the proper things.  En ex-spouse can even take money from the estate at the expense of the children.

In this episode of the Ontario Family Law Podcast, Certified Specialist in Family Law, John Schuman, explains what you have to do keep your ex from getting everything if you die after separation and to ensure your inheritance goes where you want it to go.   With concrete examples he sets out the precise steps that every separated spouse should take to preserve his or her estate for loved ones.

This episode is also available in video format on YouTube.

To get more information about the topics covered in this episode, check out these other episodes:

9 - How is Property Divided After a Marriage in Ontario?

10 - Child Support in Ontario/Canada: Who Pays and How Much?

23 - Why You Need a Will

29 - Common Law Separation and Property Division

30 - Spousal Support Entitlement

40 - How to Keep Your Money in Separation and Divorce

42 - How to Get a "Legal Separation" in Ontario

44 - Can You Be Better Office Financially If You Divorce?

The Ontario Family Law Podcast is a companion to the book, Guide to the Basics of Ontario Family Law, which is available  as a $9.99 Kindle eBook, Kobo eBook, or iBook for your iPad or iPhone and as a paperback from Amazon and better bookstores.