About You We'll use this to tailor the guidance to your specific relationship and role.
About The Deceased Basic details needed to identify the correct provincial forms and procedures.
Immediate Circumstances Understanding how the death occurred helps us determine the immediate legal steps (e.g. Coroner involvement).
Medical Certificate of Death: Before a funeral home can move the deceased or issue a death certificate, a doctor or coroner must officially sign off on the cause of death. If this happened in a hospital, it's likely done. If at home unexpectedly, this is your first priority (call 911).
The Coroner (or Medical Examiner) investigates deaths that are sudden, unexpected, or non-natural. If they are involved, they may temporarily take possession of the body for an autopsy. Funeral arrangements may be delayed until they release the body.
Funeral & Burial
Save Money: Many people pre-pay for their funeral to lock in prices. If a contract exists, you should not pay for a new service elsewhere. Look for contracts in their important papers.
Time Critical: If you know they wished to donate organs, you must inform hospital staff immediately. Check for a donor card or driver's license sticker.
Legal Documents
Note: Powers of Attorney become void immediately upon death. The named Attorney can no longer access accounts unless they are also the Executor. However, knowing who this person was is useful for finding financial information.
If they received disability (ODSP, AISH, etc.) or income support, you must notify the government immediately to stop payments. The estate will have to repay any money received after the date of death.
Financial Snapshot
Accounts with "named beneficiaries" (like many RRSPs and TFSAs) bypass the estate and probate fees, going directly to that person. This simplifies the estate significantly.
If spouses own a home as "Joint Tenants," the house automatically belongs to the survivor. It does not go through the Will or Probate. If owned as "Tenants in Common," the deceased's share goes to their estate.
You must notify Service Canada to stop payments. Any money received after the month of death must be paid back. There is often a $2,500 CPP Death Benefit available to the estate.
Business Ownership
If they had a private corporation, a simple Will might not be enough. You need to find the Shareholder Agreement immediately, as it dictates what happens to the business and if partners have the right to buy out the shares.
Service History
Veterans are often eligible for special funeral benefits via the Last Post Fund, including headstones and military funeral honours. You must notify Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC).
Digital Assets
Caregiving

Getting Started

This survey is designed to be gentle but thorough. We will identify the immediate legal, financial, and logistical steps you need to take based on your specific situation.