What to do when a loved one dies

First 24 to 72 hours

Who to call, and in what order

1. 01Call 911 only if the death was unexpected or happened at home without hospice. If hospice was involved, call the hospice line first — they handle the pronouncement.
2. 02A doctor, nurse, or coroner must legally pronounce the death. Nothing else can move until that happens.
3. 03Call a funeral home or crematory. They can collect your loved one at any hour, and you can decide on the service later.
4. 04Tell close family and one or two friends who can help you make calls.
5. 05Find out if there were written wishes — a will, a prepaid funeral plan, or a note about burial or cremation.
6. 06Secure the home, pets, medications, and any vehicle. Don't rush to give belongings away.
7. 07Order 10 to 12 certified copies of the death certificate. Banks, insurers, and government offices each keep one.

First two weeks

The paperwork that actually matters

1. 01Notify Service Canada — Canada Pension Plan (or Régie des rentes du Québec), Old Age Security, and the death benefit. The funeral home often reports the death, but confirm it.
2. 02Contact life insurance companies and any pension or employer benefits office.
3. 03Notify banks, credit unions, and credit card companies. Ask them to freeze, not close, joint accounts until you understand what's owed.
4. 04Tell the mortgage servicer and homeowner's insurer that the owner has died. Keep paying the premium.
5. 05Locate the will and find out who the named executor is. Only the executor can act for the estate.
6. 06Ask an estate lawyer (or a notary in Quebec) whether the estate needs probate at all — rules and fees differ by province, and many small estates don't.
7. 07Stop automatic payments and subscriptions, but keep utilities on if anyone still lives in the home.

First few months

Settling the estate

1. 01If probate is required, the executor files the will with the local court and receives authority to act.
2. 02Open an estate bank account so estate money never mixes with personal money.
3. 03Make a list of everything owned and everything owed. Debts are paid from the estate before anything is distributed.
4. 04File the final T1 income tax return with the CRA (and Revenu Québec if applicable), then ask for a clearance certificate before distributing anything.
5. 05Decide what happens to the home — keep, sell, or transfer. Talk this through as a family before anyone commits.
6. 06Distribute what's left according to the will, and keep written records of every transfer.

The first year

Looking after each other

1. 01Watch for scams. Obituaries are public, and fraud calls often start within days.
2. 02Review the surviving spouse's income — survivor benefits, pensions, and whether the household budget still works.
3. 03Update wills, beneficiaries, and powers of attorney for everyone still living.
4. 04Close or memorialize online accounts when you're ready. There is no deadline.

Questions families ask

How many death certificates do we need?

Most families need 10 to 12. Each bank, insurer, and government office keeps its own certified copy, and ordering more later costs more.

Do we have to go through probate?

Not always. Jointly owned property and accounts with a named beneficiary usually pass directly. Small estates often qualify for a simplified process.

Are we responsible for our parent's debts?

Generally no. Debts are paid from the estate. Family members are only on the hook for debt they personally co-signed.

Can we hold the funeral later?

Yes. A cremation or burial can happen first and a memorial can be held weeks or months later, when everyone can travel.