What to Do When Someone Dies in Canada

The practical steps after a death can feel impossible to navigate when you are grieving. While some processes vary by province, this guide covers the key actions and timelines that apply across Canada. If you'd rather have a plan built around your situation, answer a few questions and we'll put one together →

In the first hours

If the death was expected — at home with palliative or hospice care — call the attending physician or nurse practitioner to certify the death. In most provinces, registered nurses and nurse practitioners can now certify expected deaths at home.

If the death was sudden or unexpected, call 911. Police will attend and the coroner or medical examiner will be notified. The body may not be released immediately if an investigation is needed.

Once death is certified, contact a funeral home. They will arrange transportation and guide you through the registration process. You do not need to make all arrangements right away.

Registering the death

Each province and territory has its own Vital Statistics office. The funeral home typically registers the death on your behalf using the medical certificate from the physician. You then apply separately for an official Death Certificate from the Vital Statistics office — this is different from the “Proof of Death” the funeral home provides.

Order at least 7 to 10 certified Death Certificates. Banks, pension providers, insurers, and government agencies each require their own copy.

In the first days

Notify close family and friends. Locate the will and identify the executor (or liquidator in Québec), who has legal authority to administer the estate. If there is no will, the estate is distributed according to the intestacy laws of the province where the deceased lived.

If the deceased was employed, contact their HR department to ask about unpaid wages, group life insurance, and any employer pension plan.

In the first week

Service Canada

Call 1-800-277-9914 to report the death and stop any Canada Pension Plan (CPP) or Old Age Security (OAS) payments. Apply for the CPP Death Benefit — a lump sum of $2,500 — and ask about the CPP Survivor’s Pension. Overpayments made after the date of death must be returned.

Canada Revenue Agency

Call 1-800-959-8281 to notify the CRA of the death. A final (“terminal”) T1 income tax return must be filed for the year of death — due by April 30 of the following year, or six months after the date of death, whichever is later. If the estate earns income during administration, a T3 trust return will also be required.

Veterans Affairs Canada

If the deceased was a veteran or receiving Veterans Affairs benefits, call 1-866-522-2122. Stop any VAC payments and ask about the funeral and burial benefit and any survivor entitlements.

Documents you will need

• Certified Death Certificates (7–10)
• Social Insurance Number (SIN) of the deceased
• Will and any codicils
• Recent tax returns and Notices of Assessment
• Bank and investment account information
• Pension and insurance policy documents
• Property title or deed (if applicable)

Probate

Probate — the court process that validates the will and grants the executor authority to act — is typically required when the estate includes real property or significant financial assets. The process and thresholds vary by province.

In Québec, wills made before a notary do not require probate. Holograph wills (handwritten) and wills signed before witnesses must go through the Superior Court. A probate lawyer or notary can advise on whether probate is needed and handle the process for you.