Skip to content
Justin's Digital Garden

Death Plan in Family

Source: Telus Health Arrangements and Wills advice and articles

A Death in the Family Resource Toolkit

Section titled “A Death in the Family Resource Toolkit”

See Toolkit files.

Section titled “Checklist of Legal, Financial, and Practical Steps to Take After a Loved One Dies”
  • Steps to take in the first hours after a death
  • Steps to take in the first days after a death
  • Steps to take in the first weeks and months after a death
  • Final steps to take after a death

  1. Documents to gather

    After someone you love dies, there are many matters to take care of. At the same time, the emotional impact of your loss may make it hard to concentrate on all the practical, financial, and legal steps you’ll need to take in the near future. Having a checklist of your responsibilities will help you stay focused in the coming days, weeks, and months. It will also make it easier to divide up the tasks among friends and relatives. And if you are entitled to any benefits, working from a checklist will ensure that you get them without unnecessary delays.

    The following checklist will remind you of some of the most important things to do after a loss. If you are the executor of an estate, you will be responsible for many of these steps. If you aren’t, you may find it helpful to know what’s involved. Taking these steps will be easier if, as soon as possible, you gather documents that can help. You’ll find these listed at the end of this article.

  2. Steps to take in the first hours after a death

    ► Get a legal “pronouncement” of death. A doctor or hospice nurse can provide one. If the person has died at home and neither a doctor nor hospice nurse is present, call 911. Paramedics will transport the body to a hospital where a doctor can pronounce the death.

    ► Arrange for any requested organ donations. You may need to act immediately to ensure that an organ is viable for transplant.

    ► Make a list of immediate family members and anyone else who should be notified right away. Call immediate family members and close friends. Ask them to help you notify others.

    ► Arrange for transportation of the body. Most people ask a funeral home or crematorium to do this.

    ► If the deceased has children or pets, plan for their immediate and longer-term care.

    ► Secure the property of the person who died. If he or she lived alone, lock doors and windows. Consider changing the locks if other people have keys.

    ► Contact the person’s employer. Talk with his or her supervisor about what to tell co-workers about the death. Ask about any pay and benefits that may be due, including life insurance.

  3. Steps to take in the first days after a death

    ► Set up a filing system for documents related to the death. You may also want to create a folder on your computer for electronic records.

    ► Write down the name and contact information of everyone who offers to help. Let people know what they can do, whether you need help now or in the future.

    ► Arrange for a funeral or memorial service if you are choosing to have one. Before making the arrangements, determine whether the person had a prepaid burial plan to cover expenses. You may need to search the person’s personal papers to confirm this.

    ► If the person served in the military, consult the Veterans Affairs Canada website (http://www.veterans.gc.ca) for important information about potential benefits – particularly if the decedent was killed while in service or injured while in service and died within 30 days. Search the website for “Death benefit.”

    ► If the decedent belonged to a religious or fraternal organization, contact that group. As if they offer funeral or burial benefits or can help in other ways – for example, by providing pallbearers if you need them.

    ► Write an obituary or death notice for newspapers. Call newspapers or check their online obituaries to find out how to submit one. Or, ask a funeral home to prepare and submit an obituary for you.

    ► Locate the person’s will or trust. You might find this in a file at home, in a safe deposit box, with the person’s attorney or notary, or elsewhere.

    ► Arrange for the post office to forward mail if you can’t collect it. This will keep uncollected mail from signaling that a home is empty. The mail may also make you aware of accounts and subscriptions that need to be cancelled, or assets and liabilities, including debts, that you didn’t know about.

    ► Cancel any personal appointments that the person had made, such as doctor’s visits and social engagements.

    ► Start gathering information about debts, bills, and unexpired service contracts. Make a list of what’s owed, but don’t pay the bills until you speak with an attorney about them. They may need to be paid from the money in the estate.

    ► Cancel credit cards. Call the customer service number for the card and cancel the card. This can help to prevent unauthorized use.

    ► If the person rented a home or lived in an apartment, notify the person’s landlord, building management, or condo or co-op board of the death.

    ► Consider asking someone you trust to check on the person’s home every day, to collect newspapers until deliveries stop, to watch for signs of a leaking roof or leaking pipes, and to turn lights on and off if they aren’t on timers.

  4. Steps to take in the first weeks and months after a death

    ► Get copies of the death certificate. Ask the funeral home to request these and give you as many copies as you need, or get them from the office of vital statistics or records in your province/territory. You will probably need at least 10 death certificates to apply for benefits, file tax returns, and gain access to bank accounts.

    ► Talk with an attorney about how to meet any legal responsibilities. A lawyer can advise you on the next steps you may need to take, such as how to probate the estate (if necessary), how to follow the terms of a will, and whether you need to file a tax return for the estate. Be sure to talk with an attorney before you pay any debts, collect any life insurance, and retitle or distribute any assets. Any of these could have legal consequences.

    ► Keep a record of any financial transactions involving the estate, such as receipts for purchases, appraisals, and repairs or services needed to prepare a home for a sale.

    ►Cancel subscriptions and services that are no longer needed, such as magazines, cable TV, cell phone, Internet, and home-delivered meals. Cancel memberships to gyms and social or professional clubs and organizations.

    ► If the person was receiving government benefits, such as Canada Pension Plan (CPP), Old Age Security (OAS), disability, or veterans benefits, contact the appropriate agencies to discontinue benefits and to ask about survivor’s benefits. You can visit the Government of Canada’s benefits website (http://www.canadabenefits.gc.ca) to locate the appropriate agencies.

    ► Cancel any health or other insurance plans that are no longer necessary. You may also need to cancel auto or other insurance.

    ► Notify life insurance companies and others that may provide benefits. Besides life insurance, these may include accident insurance, mortgage insurance, or other policies.

    ► Find out about employment benefits if the person was working. Ask about pension, union, credit union, or other death benefits.

    ► Cancel the person’s driver’s license. This can help to prevent identity theft. Contact the motor vehicles department about the procedure in your province/territory. You may also need to cancel hunting, fishing, professional, or other licenses.

    ► Close email and social media accounts and online payment services, such as PayPal. Check the websites for instructions on how to do this. You may want to keep one social media account active for a period of time so that people can post tributes. You may want to keep the person’s primary email account active for a month or two and monitor it for notifications from financial or other institutions where the person may have had accounts or other business.

    ► Watch out for leases or contracts with penalties for early termination, such as car leases. A death may not cancel these penalties. However, if your contract permits, you may be able to avoid them by transferring the lease to someone else. Talk with an attorney if you have questions about any contract.

  5. Final steps to take after a death

    If you are the executor of the deceased person’s estate, you will need to take additional steps to settle the estate.

    ► Read and understand the will. If a will doesn’t exist, follow the rules in your province/territory for distributing property in the absence of a will. If the deceased person had a trust, the trustee is charged with following the instructions in the trust.

    ► Take appropriate legal steps if anyone challenges the will.

    ► Continue to keep records of financial transactions that involve the deceased person until the estate is settled.

    ► Open a bank account for the estate if required.

    ► Pay debts as required by law.

    ► File any required tax returns for the estate.

    ► Distribute the remaining assets to beneficiaries.

    ► Close the estate.

    Before or after you settle the estate, you and your family may also want to create a permanent memorial to the person who died, such as planting a tree at their favourite spot or donating to a charity the person supported.

  6. Documents to gather

    You may need the following information and documents in addition to the person’s will or trust:

    ► Social Insurance Number (SIN), which you can find on the person’s Social Insurance card and on the death certificate

    ► Credit and debit card statements

    ► Savings bonds (or their numbers if electronic)

    ► Retirement plans such as pensions, RRSPs

    ► Records of financial accounts and investments, such as stocks and bonds

    ► Real estate leases or deeds and mortgage papers

    ► Contracts in force when the death occurred, such as car-leasing agreements or agreements with nursing homes or assisted living facilities

    ► Loan agreements (whether the deceased was the debtor or creditor)

    ► Driver’s license and motor vehicle registration

    ► Federal income tax return

    ► Marriage license (if you are a surviving spouse and want to claim related benefits)

    ► Prenuptial or postnuptial agreements

    ► Divorce papers

    ► Birth certificates for dependent children

    ► Record of child support payments

    ► Military discharge papers (if needed to apply for survivor’s benefits)

    ► Any other proof of or information about the assets or income of the person who died, such as annuities, disability benefits, unemployment or workers’ compensation, and a list of valuable jewelry, art, or antiques.

    Other steps to take You may want to take other steps after a death that relate to your particular circumstances. You can list them here:

Making Funeral Arrangements

Section titled “Making Funeral Arrangements”
  • Understanding your options
  • Your rights and responsibilities
  • Purchasing services at a funeral home
  • Alternatives to funeral homes
  • Paying for the arrangements
  • Helpful resources

Making funeral arrangements is never easy. In addition to dealing with the death of someone you love, you need to make many practical decisions that take into account your family’s emotional and financial concerns.

Funeral costs can be among the largest expenses you will ever face. It is common for funerals to cost between $7,000 and $10,000—not counting fees for such “extras” as flowers, vaults, or death notices. For financial or other reasons, you may want to consider alternatives to the traditional funeral arrangement, including one of the newer “green,” or “natural,” burials. These alternatives are becoming more common among people seeking simple and lower-cost arrangements. Knowing your options can help you make the right decisions at a difficult time for you and your family.

  1. Understanding your options

    Funeral arrangements are usually easier to make when you know the wishes of the person who died. The ideal time to talk about your preferences is when you and someone you love are both healthy and able to view the issues objectively. If you find it hard to bring up your concerns, you might ask an attorney or financial adviser to help by raising questions during a discussion of other matters, such as a will or insurance.

    Whether or not you’ve talked about the funeral plans in advance, here are some of your options:

    A traditional funeral service. A religious service is led by a member of the clergy and can be held at a house of worship, funeral home, or other location. At the end of the service, there can be an optional procession to the cemetery for a short committal service as the casket is put in place.

    A memorial service. The most common kind of memorial service takes place in a house of worship or a funeral home (where a formal viewing may also be held). Some families prefer to hold a simple service without the body, often at a place beloved by the person who died, such as a vacation or retirement home. A friend, relative, or clergy member may preside over this kind of gathering. No matter where it is held, a memorial service often includes a selection of the deceased’s favou rite music or readings.

    A graveside service. Instead of a formal memorial service, some families choose a simple graveside or committal service with a closed casket. This kind of service is sometimes used when the death occurred elsewhere and the casket is brought to the cemetery. A family may also hold a private graveside service before or after a more formal or public memorial service.

    Cremation. Cremation is becoming much more common because of the simplicity of arrangements and lower cost (typically, $1,000 to $2,000), and sometimes because of personal preference. The National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA), an industry group, reports that the rate of cremation surpassed the rate of burial for the first time in 2015 and has continued to rise since then. Cremation does not rule out having a viewing or memorial service. Funeral homes usually offer rental caskets or unfinished wooden boxes to use for viewing before cremation. After cremation, ashes are stored in a modest container and returned to the family. The ashes may be kept in an urn or similar container in a cemetery or memorial garden that the family can visit. Some families choose to scatter the ashes at a favourite spot of the person who died.

    A traditional casket burial. Many people choose a casket burial in a cemetery. Cemeteries are run by municipalities, churches, or other religious groups or by private organizations. Veterans can be buried, if space allows, in a government cemetery. If your family does not have a plot or preferred cemetery, you’ll need to research convenient cemeteries. Call the cemetery’s office to ask about prices and available plots. Plots are normally purchased directly from cemeteries, and their costs are not usually included in the fees charged by the funeral home.

    A “green,” or “natural,” burial. For this type of burial, the body is prepared in an environmentally friendly way—often without preservatives such as formaldehyde-containing embalming fluid—and may be placed in a biodegradable shroud or coffin. Green burials may take place in some traditional cemeteries or in special nature preserves, often called “green cemeteries,” and they are becoming more popular both for environmental reasons and because they may cost as little as $1,000. In a 2015 survey of green burial cemeteries, 72.4 percent of respondents reported that demand for ecofriendly burials was increasing.

    A casket. Burial involves a casket, usually the most expensive item on the bill for the funeral. A casket can cost anywhere from a few hundred dollars for a simple box to thousands of dollars for a fancy coffin. Avoid sealed or “protective” coffins that are very expensive and often fail to preserve the body as promised. If the person who died asked for a simple casket, request a pine box. You can save on a casket by buying one at a casket retail store or online or by renting one if cremation is planned. Some cemeteries require a liner under the coffin to prevent the ground from sinking over time.

    Embalming. Embalming is an expensive procedure that preserves the body for an open-casket viewing. No state requires embalming as a matter of course, though some states require it in certain circumstances, such as in the case of a communicable disease, a delay in disposal, or the need to transport the body across state lines. An alternative to embalming is refrigeration or a prompt viewing. If no viewing is planned, embalming is not necessary. Another option is cosmetic restoration, which creates a lifelike look for viewing.

    Body donation. Many people want to leave their bodies to hospitals or medical schools for research or teaching purposes. If this is a possibility, check first with the institution about its requirements for age, embalming, transportation, and physical requirements. Your friend or relative will need to make an agreement with the medical institution and file it with his or her papers. The body may not be accepted at the time of death because of age, disease, or lack of need by the institution, so the person will need to make a backup arrangement.

    Organ donation. A growing number of people are making arrangements to bequeath parts of their bodies for transplant. They usually fill out an organ donor card and keep it in their wallet, or their preference may be noted on their driver’s license. Organs must be removed promptly after death, and the donor must meet age and health requirements that vary depending on the organ. Be sure other family members know about and agree with a relative’s decisions about organ donation to ensure that the donor’s wishes will be honoured.

  2. Your rights and responsibilities

    When you pay for funeral services, you have certain rights and responsibilities. It’s a good idea to:

    Talk with your family members about their concerns. You and your siblings or children may have very different ideas about the kind of funeral you want. If that’s the case, you may be able to work out a compromise. For example, if you want a very simple service for a parent but your siblings would prefer something more elaborate, you might have a private graveside service just for the family and close friends, followed by a large memorial service open to everybody.

    Compare prices. Many people select a funeral home based on location, convenience, or family tradition. This approach often makes sense, especially if you have an unlimited budget. But if you’re worried about costs, it pays to shop around for the best prices and service. Funeral homes (though not cemeteries) must disclose prices over the phone and offer you detailed price lists when you visit. Many funeral homes will also mail you price lists.

    Try to visit more than one funeral home. Speak with the staff, get a tour of the facilities, and ask for printed price lists of items such as caskets and liners. You have a right to expect clear, helpful, and courteous answers to your questions. If you have concerns, call your local Better Business Bureau or consumer protection agency to find out if it has received complaints about the funeral homes you visit.

    Know your rights. When purchasing funeral services, you are protected by the Funeral Rule, or Funeral Law, enforced by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). This rule requires funeral homes to publish price lists, to allow you to refuse to buy items that you don’t want (with certain exceptions), and to take other steps that protect people at a vulnerable time. To learn more about your rights, visit the FTC website or call 202-326-2222.

  3. Purchasing services at a funeral home

    Funeral arrangements are most frequently made through a funeral home. Funeral directors, also called morticians or undertakers, oversee all aspects of the funeral and burial. A funeral director can be a calming presence during an emotional event, but it’s important to choose carefully. Look for someone who will take the time to explain your options to you without using high-pressure sales tactics.

    A funeral home typically can provide you with or arrange for such things as a casket, vault, flowers, music, death notices, embalming, transportation of the body, information about death benefits, rooms for the visitation, and a guest book and thank-you cards. If the deceased or family members belong to a church or other religious institution, the funeral director can contact the clergy there to see what options are available for a service. Even if there is no religious membership or affiliation, the funeral director can recommend and contact area clergy who can provide a religious funeral, memorial, or graveside service.

    Some families make arrangements for a luncheon following the funeral service for all in attendance. Often, a religious group, V.F.W., or other organization can provide this at a low price. The funeral director generally does not make these arrangements, but can give you contact information. A luncheon after the funeral or service can provide an opportunity for socializing, healing, and sharing memories of the deceased.

    The casket is usually the largest single expense for a funeral. Most traditional caskets cost about $2,500 to $4,500, and elaborate coffins can cost much more than that. Here are some things to know before you make a decision:

    You can choose from many styles and prices. Although wood is the most traditional material, caskets also come in metal, plastic, and fiberglass.

    You can buy caskets at other places besides a funeral home. Caskets are available from many cemeteries and online. By law, a funeral home cannot refuse to handle a casket that you bought elsewhere or charge you an extra fee for the service.

    You may not need a casket. You will not have to buy a casket if the person who died has chosen cremation or immediate burial or is donating his or her body to science.

  4. Alternatives to funeral homes

    If you want a simple service that avoids many of the usual funeral home costs, you may want to look into a memorial society or a direct-burial firm.

    Memorial societies. These are groups that negotiate contracts with local mortuaries for low-cost services. A small fee provides lifetime membership and access to the legal and other information needed to have a no-frills burial or cremation. Society members prefer to avoid embalming, make-up, open-casket viewing, and expensive coffins. Many members have memorial services in a religious setting. To find a society, search the Internet for “Memorial Society” or “Memorial Association.”

    Direct burial. Also called “direct disposal,” direct burial is a one-price service for the removal of the body and burial or cremation. Firms that specialize in direct disposal collect the body from the place of death and transport it to the chosen cemetery or crematorium. This way, they eliminate many of the services provided by a funeral home. This low-cost alternative is often used by families that prefer a memorial service without a viewing or casket. If you can’t find a firm that offers direct burial, you can request that your funeral home provide direct burial or minimal service.

    If you use one of these alternatives, be sure to plan a memorial service that will meet the emotional needs of your family, including younger members. Seeing a casket or attending a visitation may help children or teenagers accept the finality of death, so if you dispense with these traditions, plan an appropriate way for young mourners to say goodbye to someone they loved. They might light candles, share their reminiscences, or pay special tribute at a memorial service.

  5. Paying for the arrangements

    There are many ways to pay for a funeral. You may decide to put money in a special account, pay the costs out of the estate, or buy a prepaid package. Here are some of the pros and cons:

    Paying at the time of the funeral. If you choose to do this, costs can be taken out of the estate or paid directly by you or other relatives. You may want to set up a savings or investment account earmarked for the expense. Setting up an irrevocable, or non-revocable, account or trust will protect the money if someone enters a nursing home. In this way, you earn all the interest, you can’t lose the money by cancellation of a plan, and the funds will be available when needed.

    Paying through a commercial prepayment plan. Many funeral homes offer prepaid funeral plans that cover the cost of a casket, transportation of the body, the services of a funeral director, and other related expenses. If you are prepaying, be sure your agreement clearly states the cost of each item and a description of each item or service you will receive. The agreement should also list any restrictions, including geographic limitations. Some prepaid funerals are guaranteed, meaning that your family will not have to pay additional money to the provider at the time of death. Avoid plans that are nonrefundable, which can leave you without coverage if unforeseen circumstances occur. It’s also a good idea to have an attorney or accountant read the prepayment contract, which should answer these questions:

    • What goods and services are included?
    • What kind of account will be used to fund the funeral?
    • What happens to the interest income?
    • Are my payments guaranteed to cover all desired expenses?
    • Can I change my mind about the use of the funds?
    • What penalties will I have to pay if I miss an installment payment?
    • If I move, can the plan be transferred at no additional cost?
    • What happens in the case of a shortfall or excess of money in the account?
    • If you haven’t made advance payment arrangements and the estate cannot pay for the funeral, you - may want to consider signing any Social Security or death benefits over to the funeral director.

  6. Helpful resources

    Cremation Association of North America

    www.cremationassociation.org

    This industry group provides information about cremation.

    Green Burial Society of Canada (GBSC)

    greenburialcanada.ca

    This website provides information about natural burials.

    Funeral Consumers Alliance

    www.funerals.org

    The Funeral Consumers Alliance is a nonprofit education and advocacy group. Its website has many free articles about the legal and other rights of consumers and ways to avoid funeral scams.

    Funeral Service Association of Canada (FSAC)

    www.fsac.ca

    The FSAC is an advocacy and resource group who represents Funeral Directors and Cemeteries in Canada.

    Canadian Department of Veterans Affairs

    http://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/services/financial/funeral-burial

    This government agency ensures that eligible Veterans receive dignified funeral and burial services.

    Learning More About Buying Funeral Arrangements

    www.consumerinformation.ca

    The Canadian Consumer Handbook provides tips, contacts, and other information for consumers, including information on funeral services and arrangements.

Selecting or Serving as an Executor of an Estate

Section titled “Selecting or Serving as an Executor of an Estate”
  • Duties and responsibilities of the executor
  • Choosing an executor
  • Serving as an executor

The executor of an estate is the person nominated in a will or appointed by a judge to manage and distribute the property of a person who has died. Sometimes executors are referred to as “personal representatives” or “administrators.”

Although laws vary from province to province or territory, in general, executors must be over the age of 18, must be mentally competent, and must have no felony convictions on their record. In addition, provincial and or territorial laws may impose conditions on out-of-province or territory executors, such as requiring that they be related to the deceased. The executor may be one of the heirs or beneficiaries of the estate. (Heirs are people who inherit money or other assets from an estate if someone dies without a will. Beneficiaries are people who inherit because they are named in a will.) Many people choose a beneficiary to be the executor because they believe that someone with a personal stake may be most conscientious in carrying out their wishes and managing the affairs of the estate.

  1. Duties and responsibilities of the executor

    The duties of the executor begin with taking inventory of all of the estate’s assets. To do this, he or she will need to determine what assets make up the estate. An executor typically identifies the assets partly by looking at chequebooks, bank statements, personal mail, insurance policies, and other important papers. Locating the assets may also involve checking computer files or other electronic records and tracking down any required passwords and personal identification numbers (PINs).

    From there, the executor must determine whether the probate court will need to be involved in the distribution of the estate. Each province or territory has its own laws that determine when a will or an estate must be filed with the probate court. Typically, this decision is based on the value of the estate and what kinds of assets the decedent possessed. The executor can contact the local clerk of the court or an attorney to find out whether the will or estate needs to be probated.

    The executor commonly performs the following tasks:

    Compile a list of the assets and debts of the estate.

    File the will and other legal documents with the probate court. The executor may be able to do this without a lawyer, depending on the complexity of the estate and on the legal process in the province or territory. The executor can contact the clerk of the probate court to find out if the court offers any help in filing the paperwork (such as standard forms that can serve as a petition).

    If the will is not self-proving, the executor may need to find witnesses to the will and have them sign a statement, under oath, about the validity of their original signatures. A self-proving will is one that includes, as attachments, sworn, notarized statements by the witnesses.

    Notify creditors or other interested parties of the death.

    Notify heirs and beneficiaries.

    Secure the home of the person who died so that people can’t take what they aren’t entitled to.

    Pay debts from the value of the estate. Certain types of debts have priority over others under the law, and the law varies by province or territory. If the person who has died owes money to the government or owes money for child support, alimony, a student loan, or for property that was held as a security interest (such as a home mortgage or an automobile loan), the executor should consult with an attorney before paying other debts or distributing assets.

    Manage the assets of the estate. This may include deciding whether to sell property, paying bills and expenses related to maintenance of the property, and setting up a bank account for the estate.

    Distribute or supervise the distribution of any assets that remain after all debts have been paid.

    Prepare and file tax returns. This includes making any payments due, and, for large estates, filing any applicable state and federal inheritance or estate tax returns along with any payments due. Before filing, consult an accountant to find out what expenses (for example, funeral expenses and attorney and accountant fees) may be deductible.

    Prepare an accounting of the estate, a summary of everything the executor has done.

  2. Choosing an executor

    If you are writing a will, it’s important to name an executor. Otherwise, a judge will appoint someone, typically a relative of the decedent. If there’s someone you think would be best suited to the task, be sure to name your choice in your will.

    Choose someone you trust, but don’t let your emotions alone guide you. Look for someone who is detail-oriented, able to organize and manage complicated information, and good at communicating with others. Also make sure that the person you choose is eligible under state law to serve as your executor.

    Talk with the person you choose to be your executor to make sure he or she is willing to take on this task. And once you’ve gotten the person’s OK, make your executor’s job easier by letting him or her know where to find necessary documents, starting with your will.

  3. Serving as an executor

    If you are serving as an executor, you have the right to hire any help that you reasonably need to fulfill your responsibilities, such as a probate lawyer, a financial consultant, or an accountant. The fees for these services can be paid out of the estate’s assets. You also have the right to be reimbursed out of the value of the estate for reasonable expenses, such as the cost of long-distance phone calls or travel required by your duties as an executor.

    You might also consider obtaining a bond, a form of insurance that would compensate the estate for any losses caused by fraud, embezzlement, or negligence. A bond protects you against lawsuits filed by disgruntled beneficiaries. It remains in place until the estate is settled and closed.

    Executors are also entitled to a fee for their services. The fee is set by provincial or territorial law or can be established in the will. In reality, executors often waive the fee, especially if they inherit a portion of the estate.

    You can find more information on the rights and responsibilities of an executor in /The Executor’s Guide: Settling a Loved One’s Estate or Trust /(7th edition), by attorney Mary Randolph.

    It’s an honour to be named as an executor, but be aware that it’s also a responsibility that may turn out to be a job that lasts for many months. Be sure to gather all the assistance and documentation you need, both to protect yourself and to best pay your respects to the person who entrusted you with this task.

Taking Care of Forms, Finances, and Paperwork After a Death: What documents will you need?

Section titled “Taking Care of Forms, Finances, and Paperwork After a Death: What documents will you need?”

The emotional impact of a death often makes it hard to concentrate on all the paperwork you have to do after someone close to you has died. You can avoid becoming overwhelmed by the details if you understand which documents you will need following a death and where to get help with them. Keeping careful track of the paperwork can also help to ensure that if you are entitled to any benefits, you will receive them without unnecessary delays.

➤ This is the first in a five-part series of articles on taking care of forms, finances, and paperwork after a death.

  1. What documents will you need?

    Settling the affairs of someone who has died begins with gathering certain documents. You may find some of these in a safe deposit box or in the paper or computer files of the person who died. If you can’t find what you need, check with a family attorney or financial adviser. You may need to locate:

    Death certificates. You will probably need several copies of the death certificate, for example to apply for survivor benefits, make a life insurance claim, sell the deceased’s property, and gain access to bank accounts. You can get copies from the vital statistics office of the province or territory where the death occurred. A death certificate may cost $30 or more, and the price may vary depending on whether you order online (typically less expensive) or by mail or in person.

    Insurance policies. If you can’t find copies of insurance policies, you can get them from the deceased’s insurance agent or broker. You can also contact the insurance company directly to request copies.

    Social Insurance Numbers (SINs) for the person who died, the spouse, and any dependent children. If you don’t know the SIN of the person who died, the executor of the estate can request it from Service Canada. Another way to find the SIN is to get a copy of a recent tax return. The SIN is on the first page of the return.

    A copy of the will. You may find the will with the family attorney, in a safe deposit box, or among personal belongings. You might need to check the files of an attorney who was consulted in a place where the person used to live. Many people make more than one will during a lifetime, altering their bequests as their circumstances change, so be sure you have the most current will.

    Birth certificates for dependent children. It’s a good idea to have or get these. Birth certificates can be obtained from the Vital Statistics Office or website of the Province where the child/children are born. Typically need a notarized request form from Vital Statistics and payment of a fee.

    A list of all property and other assets, such as homes, cars, boats, investments, financial accounts, pension funds, insurance policies, and personal property. The list should note how the property is titled (the exact name of the official owner).

    The most recent federal and provincial income tax returns filed by the person who died. If the returns were prepared by a professional, such as an attorney or a tax accountant, the tax preparer will probably have copies of the tax returns. If the deceased person prepared the returns using software, look on his or her computer. Contact the software vendor if you need assistance getting access to the records.

    Marriage certificate. A surviving spouse will need a marriage certificate to apply for OAS, Canada Pension Plan, and other benefits. A copy of the marriage certificate can be obtained from the vital statistics office or website of the province where the marriage took place.

    Military service files. To obtain military service records, visit the Government of Canada site and make a request for military service files. Contact 1-866-578-7777 for more information

    A credit report of the person who died. A credit report can help to identify creditors of the person who died. Creditors are usually paid out of the assets of the estate of the decedent. Credit reports from the two major credit-reporting bureaus (Equifax Canada, and TransUnion Canada) can be obtained by mail. Instructions can be found at the credit-reporting bureaus’ websites.

    A resume. A written summary of a career can help to ensure the accuracy of newspaper death notices or tributes in other places, such as club or company newsletters. It may also provide leads to former employers who may have pensions or death benefits in place for the deceased person.

    You may also need to find computer, phone, and website passwords and personal identification numbers (PINs) to gain access to records that relate to the estate.

    ➤ This is the first in a five-part series of articles on taking care of forms, finances and paperwork after a death. Read the next in the series, “What Insurance Benefits will you get?”