In estate law, having the status of a spouse entitles you to a share of estate of a deceased one. If there is a will, the spouse can claim to vary the will if it does not provide adequately. If there is no will, then the spouse is entitled to a preferential share of the estate.
In this case, the deceased had children with five different women. One of these women, Mother 1, appealed the decision by the B.C. Supreme Court that she was not a spouse and was dismissed as she did no have marriage-like relationship with the deceased.
Read the full commentary: Plaintiff not a “Spouse” of the Deceased Entitled to a Share of his Estate – Appeal Dismissed