Does getting married automatically update my beneficiary designations in Ontario?
No. Getting married in Ontario does not automatically update your beneficiary designations on registered accounts or insurance policies. You must update each account and policy individually with your financial institution or insurer to reflect your new spouse as the beneficiary.
Ontario's Succession Law Reform Act used to provide that marriage revoked a previously made will. That rule was repealed effective January 1, 2022, so a will made before your marriage now stays valid afterward. But will revocation was never the mechanism for beneficiary designations — those live outside the will and have always needed to be updated directly with the institution.
This means that if you had named an ex-partner, a parent, or a sibling as your RRSP beneficiary before your marriage and you do not update the designation, that person will still receive your RRSP on your death — your new spouse will receive nothing from that account.
Updating your beneficiary designations is one of the most important things to do immediately upon marriage (or any major relationship change). It is also still worth reviewing your will to make sure it reflects your new spouse. A lawyer can help you review your complete estate plan as a new couple.
Key takeaways
- Marriage does not automatically update beneficiary designations on accounts or insurance
- Marriage no longer revokes a will in Ontario either (that rule was repealed in 2022) — designations are separate from the will regardless
- Update every account and insurance policy directly with the institution after you marry
- Review your complete estate plan — will and designations — together as a couple