- In Short: The First Things to Do After a Death
- 1. Have the Death Certified Based on Location and Circumstances
- 2. Check Whether Funeral Prearrangements Exist
- 3. Contact a Funeral Home to Take Charge
- 4. Choose Funeral Arrangements Without Deciding Everything at Once
- 5. What Documents Do You Need to Provide or Request After a Death?
- 6. Practical Timeline: Today, the Coming Days, the Following Weeks
- Who Can You Turn to for Help If You Don't Know Where to Start?
- FAQ
Key Takeaways
- The first steps depend on where the death occurred: at home, in a hospital or CHSLD, or outside Quebec. In each situation, you'll need to contact different people first.
- Checking for prearrangements spares the family from paying twice for the same services.
- Certain documents (certificate, copy of an act of death) can only be obtained once the death has been registered in the civil status register.
- Not every step is urgent: several can wait days or even weeks after the death.
In Short: The First Things to Do After a Death
In the first few hours, the main priorities are: confirming the circumstances and location of the death, having the death certified by the appropriate person, checking whether funeral prearrangements exist, choosing or contacting a funeral home, and gathering basic information (the deceased's identity, people to notify, and available documents).
1. Have the Death Certified Based on Location and Circumstances
If the Death Occurs at Home
A distinction must be made between an expected death, under the care of a healthcare team, and an unexpected or unusual death, which may require emergency services or the coroner to step in.
If the Death Occurs at a Hospital or CHSLD
The institution first handles the certification of death; the family then chooses the funeral home that will take charge of the deceased.
If the Death Occurs Outside Quebec or Requires a Coroner
These situations follow their own official procedures. It's best to consult dedicated government resources rather than rely on a general rule, since each case has its own requirements.
|
Place of Death |
Who to Call / Who Is Involved First |
Transportation of the Deceased |
First Decision |
|---|---|---|---|
|
At home — expected death |
The care team or healthcare professional responsible for the person's care |
A funeral home can then arrange transportation |
Check for prearrangements and contact the funeral home |
|
At home — unexpected death |
Emergency services; the coroner may also need to become involved depending on the circumstances |
Transportation is arranged once the required procedures have been completed |
Follow the authorities' instructions before contacting the funeral home |
|
At a hospital/ At a CHSLD |
The hospital first handles the certification of death |
The funeral home chosen by the family then arranges transportation |
Choose or contact a funeral home |
2. Check Whether Funeral Prearrangements Exist
Before doing anything else, it's worth checking whether the deceased had made funeral prearrangements. This spares the family from paying twice for services already planned and paid for in advance. The registry of prearranged funeral service contracts can help confirm whether such a contract exists.
3. Contact a Funeral Home to Take Charge
Once the death has been certified, contacting a funeral home allows the funeral home to arrange transportation of the deceased and begin coordinating the next steps. For this initial call, it helps to have on hand the deceased's full name, their current location, and whether prearrangements exist. More detailed decisions (type of ceremony, choice of products) can generally wait until you meet with an advisor.
4. Choose Funeral Arrangements Without Deciding Everything at Once
Cremation or burial, ceremony, urn or casket, obituary: several choices will need to be made, though not necessarily all within the first few hours. Some decisions are urgent (how the deceased will be cared for), while others can be discussed calmly with the family in the days that follow.
5. What Documents Do You Need to Provide or Request After a Death?
|
Type of Document |
Who Handles It |
|---|---|
|
Documents coordinated with the funeral home |
Depends on the services confirmed by the chosen provider (for example, submitting certain information to the Registrar of Civil Status) |
|
Certificate of death / copy of an act of death |
Issued by the Registrar of Civil Status, once the death has been recorded in the register |
|
Documents requested by banks, insurers, public programs, and the estate |
Generally provided by the family or the liquidator: proof of death, identification, contract information, and the will, depending on the organization |
Important: A certificate or copy of an act of death cannot be obtained immediately after death; the death must first be recorded with the Registrar of Civil Status. Processing times can vary, so current timelines should be confirmed with the official source.
Don't confuse these 4 documents:
- Certification of death: confirms that the person has died, generally completed by a healthcare professional.
- Declaration of death: the information submitted to the Registrar of Civil Status to record the death.
- Certificate of death: an official document confirming the death, issued after it has been recorded in the register.
- Copy of an act of death: an official copy of the act recorded in the register, often required by financial institutions.
For the full list of documents to gather, see our administrative checklist.
6. Practical Timeline: Today, the Coming Days, the Following Weeks
|
Period |
What to Do |
|---|---|
|
Today |
Certification of death, choosing a funeral home, checking for prearrangements, gathering basic information |
|
Coming days |
Detailed funeral arrangements, declaration/registration of the death, obituary, organizing the ceremony |
|
Following weeks |
Obtaining official documents, dealing with banks and insurers, public programs, and estate matters |
Indicative timeline: actual timelines vary depending on the circumstances and are not guaranteed.
Who Can You Turn to for Help If You Don't Know Where to Start?
You don't have to navigate these steps on your own. Our team can support you from your very first call and guide you toward the right resources for your situation.
FAQ
Who should I call first when someone dies in Quebec?
It depends on where the death occurred: at a hospital or CHSLD, the institution handles the initial certification; at home, a distinction must be made between an expected and an unexpected death, the latter of which may require emergency services.
Who transports the deceased to the funeral home?
Transport must be carried out by a licensed funeral services provider, once the necessary initial steps have been completed and the deceased can be transferred.
What's the difference between certification, declaration, certificate, and act of death?
Certification confirms the death, the declaration submits the information to the Registrar of Civil Status, while the certificate and copy of the act are official documents issued after the death has been recorded in the register.
Which steps can wait until after the funeral?
Several administrative and estate-related steps, such as certain communications with banks, insurers, or public programs, can generally be handled in the weeks after the funeral and do not need to be dealt with immediately.
