This post is a simplified checklist for Ontario residents who need a “bereavement checklist”, to follow when someone has passed away. Naturally there may be additional specifics you need to cover in your unique scenario. The below is the minimum that needs to be completed, as far as I am aware. Any costs listed below were those posted in 2020. This post is not legal advice, and you should contact a lawyer to obtain advice or assistance.
In this list, I included one extra step for Canadians who are also receiving social security payments from the United States. With regards to the specifics of your scenario, you may need to add steps to this “bereavement checklist”, as it’s quite natural for your situation to include issues that are not listed below. Again, it is important to contact a lawyer, to obtain professional advice as well as help.
BEREAVEMENT CHECKLIST:
- Notify attending family doctor
- Obtain Medical Death Certificate
The attending doctor or a coroner completes this form, outlining the cause of death. - Obtain Statement of Death
A family member completes this form. It includes personal information about the deceased (family history, age at death, place of death).
http://webinar.frontrunnerpro.com/15.pdf - Register a death
Requires: Medical Certificate of Death, and Statement of Death. Obtain this from clerks office of your local community. Contact your municipal government office. - Obtain a Death Certificate
Next of kin, an executor, or estate administrator. Online: https://www.orgforms.gov.on.ca/eForms/start.do
Certified Death Certificate cost $22 (Long form). - Follow up on Last Will and Testament.
Will include instructions for property, bank accounts, personal property, etc. - Cancel Old Age Security, and Canada Pension Plan benefits
Cancel Old Age Security and Canada Pension Plan benefits – Canada.ca - CRA – GST / HST Credit
RC4111 Canada Revenue Agency – What to Do Following a Death – Canada.ca
https://www.canada.ca/content/dam/cra-arc/formspubs/pub/rc4111/rc4111-20e.pdf - Cancel USA Social Security pension benefits (if the person collects Social Security benefits from the United States).
6540 Niagara Falls, NY, 14304
1 877 480 4992
Fax: 1 716 283 1774
https://www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10008.pdf - Basic Funerals and Cremation Choices Inc. (this is a matter of choice, and it’s also more cost effective).
https://www.basicfunerals.ca
Cremation: $1500 (Basic Cremation). - Cancel all credit cards.
Usually there will be a phone number on the back of the credit card, where you can obtain assistance. - Cancel OHIP health card.
https://www.ontario.ca/page/replace-cancel-or-change-information-your-health-card#section-1
I did not add the reading of the Last Will and Testament as I assume this would be a natural inclusion for many people. Wills are commonly completed with the assistance of a lawyer and the Executor. The above “bereavement checklist” (as I mentioned above) is simply the minimum steps that I am aware of, and was something to help people who quickly need the basics of “what to do”.
In addition to obtaining help from a lawyer, you might find that you need to add or remove steps – This checklist (I hope) gives you a good starting point to move forward with.
Some of the helpful resources I’ve seen are:
- What to do when someone dies
- How to manage the taxes of someone who has died
- Preparing Returns for Deceased Persons
- What to Do Following a Death
Finally from the Ontario government website, they list who we should call first, based on the circumstances of someone’s death:
An expected death: call the doctor who was caring for the deceased person.
An unexpected death: call emergency services first.
No available doctor / emergency services in the area: contact the local coroner’s office.
Unsure about the circumstances: contact the local coroner’s office or the Chief Coroner of Ontario.
Do not be surprised if the Coroner’s office phones you after the death (even if you did not contact them). Sometimes they want some additional information, and will ask you questions.
If you think something needs to be corrected (or possibly added) in this (basic) Ontario Bereavement Checklist , please feel free to reach out and send a contact message!
Without question the death of a family member or of a friend is not easy. Hopefully in some small way, all this information (and links to more) will be helpful.