Ontario uses the Succession Law Reform Act to distribute your estate if you die without a will. This is typically the order of distribution:
If you have a surviving spouse but no children, the spouse gets your entire estate.
If you have a spouse and children, the spouse will get the first $200,000 and the remainder will be divided equally between the children and spouse.
If you don’t have a spouse but have children, your estate is divided equally between your children. If any of your children have died, their children (your grandchildren) get their share.
If you don’t have a spouse, children or grandchildren, your estate is divided equally between your parents. If only one is alive, they get your entire estate.
If you don’t have surviving parents, your siblings will get your estate. If they’re not surviving either, their children (your nieces and nephews) get their share.