Does getting divorced cancel my beneficiary designations in Ontario?

In Ontario, divorce revokes gifts and executor appointments to a former spouse under a will — but it does not automatically revoke beneficiary designations on registered accounts or life insurance policies. This is a critical distinction that surprises many people.

If you divorce and do not update your RRSP, RRIF, TFSA, or life insurance beneficiary designations, your former spouse may still receive those assets on your death. Updating these designations is entirely separate from the will and must be done directly with each financial institution or insurance company.

The Succession Law Reform Act provides for automatic revocation of will provisions in favour of a former spouse upon divorce, but this protection does not extend to account-level designations. Some insurance legislation in Ontario has similar revocation rules for insurance, but the scope varies — you should not rely on automatic revocation without confirming the rule that applies to each specific account or policy.

The safest approach after any separation or divorce is to immediately review and update all beneficiary designations on every account and policy, and simultaneously update your will. Doing one without the other leaves gaps.