Update Beneficiaries After Divorce in Saskatchewan

Most people assume that once a divorce is final, their former spouse is automatically removed from everything. That's partly true for wills — Section 19 of The Wills Act, 1996 revokes bequests and executor appointments to a former spouse. But that protection stops at the will.

Your RRSP, TFSA, life insurance, and workplace pension are governed by private contracts, not your will. If your former spouse is still named as beneficiary on those accounts, they remain the legal beneficiary — and the financial institution is legally obligated to pay them if you die, regardless of what your divorce judgment or will says.

What the Wills Act Does (and Doesn't) Protect

Saskatchewan's Wills Act, 1996 automatically revokes:

• Gifts to your former spouse in your will
• Appointment of your former spouse as executor

Saskatchewan's Wills Act, 1996 does not revoke:

• RRSP beneficiary designations
• TFSA beneficiary designations
• Life insurance policy beneficiaries
• Workplace group life and health plan beneficiaries
• Pension plan survivor benefit designations
• Gifts to your former spouse's family members in your will

This distinction catches people off guard. The will is updated automatically by law, but every financial contract designation requires a separate manual change.

RRSPs and TFSAs

Contact each financial institution where you hold registered accounts and submit a new beneficiary designation form. Most institutions provide these forms online or at the branch.

If you transferred RRSP or TFSA assets to your former spouse as part of the property division (using CRA Form T2220 for RRSPs or a qualifying transfer for TFSAs), confirm that the transfer is complete and that your remaining accounts reflect only your chosen beneficiaries.

There is no deadline for updating beneficiary designations, but there is a practical one: if you die with your former spouse still named, the money goes to them. No court order, no will, no separation agreement will override the designation on file with the financial institution.

Life Insurance

Individual life insurance policies and workplace group life insurance operate the same way — the named beneficiary on file controls who gets the payout. Contact your insurance provider and your employer's HR department to submit updated beneficiary forms.

For workplace benefits, also update your group health and dental beneficiary designations and change your emergency contact information. HR departments do not monitor divorces — they process whatever forms are on file.

Home and Auto Insurance

Update your home and auto insurance policies to reflect a single-owner household. Remove your former spouse from the policy or transfer the policy to your name only. If you've moved out of the marital home, update your address and coverage limits to match your new living situation.

Joint auto insurance policies should be separated. Contact SGI or your private insurer to ensure each vehicle is insured under the appropriate individual owner.

The Beneficiary Checklist

The Saskatchewan After-Divorce Checklist includes a dedicated beneficiary tracking worksheet covering every account type — RRSPs, TFSAs, life insurance, group benefits, pensions, and more — so nothing gets missed.

See more Saskatchewan guides →