Nunavut Intestacy Calculator: Dying Without a Will
Calculate estate distribution in Nunavut under the Intestate Succession Act. See who inherits with NU's Atlantic-style sliding formula.
Your Situation
Federal Indian Act rules apply instead of provincial laws
Nunavut Rules:
• Preferential amount: $50,000
• Common-law recognized: Yes (2 years)
Intestate Succession Act (similar to Nova Scotia)
Total Estate Value
$500,000
Number of Beneficiaries
3
Province
Nunavut
Distribution Breakdown
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View on a tablet or desktop to see the visualization
Who Inherits Your Estate
| Beneficiary | Relationship | Share % | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Surviving Spouse | Spouse | 40.0% | $199,985 | Preferential $50,000 + 33% of remainder |
| Child 1 | Child | 30.0% | $150,008 | Share of 67% remainder divided equally |
| Child 2 | Child | 30.0% | $150,008 | Share of 67% remainder divided equally |
How the Distribution is Calculated
Nunavut Intestacy Formula:
1. Spouse receives preferential amount: $50,000
2. Remainder: $500,000 - $50,000 = $450,000
3. Spouse receives 33% of remainder: $149,985
4. Spouse total: $50,000 + $149,985 = $199,985
5. Children split 67% of remainder: $300,015 ÷ 2 = $150,008 each
Legislation: Intestate Succession Act (similar to Nova Scotia)
About Nunavut Intestacy Laws
Preferential Share
$50,000
Spouse's first inheritance
Common-law Status
Common-law partners recognized after 2 years of continuous cohabitation
Recognition threshold
Distribution Split
Spouse receives first $50,000, then 50% with one child or 1/3 with multiple children.
Between spouse & children
Overview
Nunavut's intestacy laws are governed by the Intestate Succession Act, which was inherited from the Northwest Territories when Nunavut became a separate territory in 1999. Unlike NWT, Nunavut DOES recognize common-law partners after two years of continuous cohabitation. The preferential share is $50,000, which is on the lower end among Canadian jurisdictions. Nunavut uses the Atlantic-style sliding-scale distribution formula where the spousal share varies based on the number of children - 50% of remainder with one child, but only 1/3 with multiple children. This formula is similar to Nova Scotia's.
Key Intestacy Rules
- •Preferential share of $50,000
- •Common-law partners recognized after 2 years
- •Distribution varies: 50% with one child, 1/3 with multiple
- •Uses Atlantic-style sliding-scale formula
- •Inherited laws similar to Nova Scotia
- •All children inherit equally
Distribution Rules
Nunavut's distribution hierarchy: First, the married spouse or common-law partner (after 2 years) receives the first $50,000. Then, if there is one child, the spouse receives 50% of the remainder and the child receives 50%. If there are two or more children, the spouse receives 1/3 of the remainder and children share 2/3 equally. If there's no spouse, children inherit everything equally. If no descendants, parents take the entire estate. If no parents, siblings share equally. Then more distant relatives. Finally, if no heirs exist, the estate goes to the Nunavut government. The sliding-scale formula recognizes that family size affects fair distribution.
Common-law Partner Recognition
Nunavut recognizes common-law partners after two years of continuous cohabitation in a conjugal relationship. This is a moderate recognition period, the same as BC, Saskatchewan, Nova Scotia, PEI, and Yukon, and shorter than Ontario's 3 years. Once the two-year threshold is met, common-law partners have identical intestacy rights to married spouses. If your relationship is under 2 years, your partner will NOT inherit unless you have a will. This recognition of common-law partners distinguishes Nunavut from the Northwest Territories, which does not recognize common-law relationships for intestacy purposes.
Special Considerations
Nunavut's system includes several unique considerations: (1) Laws were inherited from NWT in 1999 but diverge in recognizing common-law partners. (2) The sliding-scale distribution (50/50 with one child, 33/67 with multiple) reflects Atlantic practice. (3) Preferential share of $50,000 is lower than many jurisdictions. (4) Indigenous customs and traditional Inuit laws may be considered in certain circumstances, particularly for Inuit people. (5) Stepchildren do NOT inherit unless legally adopted. (6) Adopted children have identical rights to biological children. (7) Half-siblings inherit equally with full siblings. (8) Nunavut uses "per stirpes" distribution for grandchildren. (9) The Public Administrator handles estates with no heirs. (10) For Indigenous people with Indian status dying on reserve land, federal Indian Act provisions may apply. (11) Nunavut's unique cultural context means traditional practices may influence how estates are managed informally, even if the formal legal rules follow the Intestate Succession Act.
Unique Features
- ✓Nunavut inherited its intestacy laws from the Northwest Territories when it separated in 1999
- ✓Uses the Atlantic sliding-scale formula (similar to Nova Scotia)
- ✓Common-law recognition after 2 years is moderate
- ✓Preferential share of $50,000 is on the lower end
- ✓Indigenous customs and traditional laws may be considered
Governing Legislation
Intestate Succession Act (similar to Nova Scotia)
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Frequently Asked Questions
About This Calculator
When a Canadian dies without a valid will, they die "intestate." This intestate succession calculator shows exactly how your estate would be distributed according to Canadian provincial laws if you die without a will. Understanding intestacy laws is crucial for estate planning because provincial legislation determines who inherits your assets—often in ways that don't align with your wishes. Each Canadian province has different intestate succession rules, and the differences can be dramatic. For example, Ontario's Succession Law Reform Act gives a surviving spouse a $350,000 preferential share before children inherit, while Manitoba's threshold is only $50,000. Quebec operates under civil law and does NOT recognize common-law partners at all for intestate succession—only legally married spouses inherit automatically. Our free intestate succession calculator models all 10 provinces' intestacy laws and shows you the exact distribution based on your family situation. You can compare how different provinces treat estates, see how common-law relationships affect inheritance, and understand why having a will is essential. The calculator handles complex scenarios including multiple children, parents, siblings, and extended family, applying the correct provincial formulas to show who inherits what percentage and dollar amount. The results may surprise you. Did you know that in Quebec, your spouse only gets 1/3 of your estate if you have children? Or that in most provinces, your common-law partner must have lived with you for 2-3 years to inherit? Without a will, you have NO CONTROL over who receives your assets—provincial law decides for you. This calculator demonstrates the urgent importance of estate planning and creating a legally valid will that reflects your true wishes.
Key Features
- Calculate intestate distribution for all 10 Canadian provinces
- Model any family situation: spouse, children, parents, siblings
- See exact dollar amounts each beneficiary would receive
- Visual pie chart showing distribution percentages
- Provincial comparison mode to see how rules differ
- Common-law partner recognition by province
- Step-by-step math explanation of intestacy formulas
- Warning alerts for surprising outcomes
When to Use This Calculator
- Understanding who inherits if you die without a will
- Comparing intestate distribution vs your desired distribution
- Learning how common-law relationships affect inheritance
- Seeing how different provinces treat estates differently
- Educating family members about importance of estate planning
- Estate planning preparation before meeting with lawyer
- Teaching children about Canadian succession law