What to do when someone dies in Canada
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Losing someone is hard enough. This guide covers the practical, administrative tasks that need to happen in the weeks that follow, organized by what to do first, and by province.
This is an administrative checklist only, not legal, estate, or tax advice. For estate administration and the final tax return, work with a lawyer (or notary in Quebec) and an accountant.
1
Select your province
Open this section ↓Each province guide has a free downloadable checklist tailored to your answers.
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Ontario
ServiceOntario, Vital Statistics
BC
British Columbia
BC Vital Statistics Agency
AB
Alberta
Alberta Vital Statistics (via registry agents)
SK
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan Vital Statistics
MB
Manitoba
Manitoba Vital Statistics
QC
Quebec
Directeur de l'état civil (DEC)
NB
New Brunswick
Service New Brunswick, Vital Statistics
NS
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia Vital Statistics
PE
Prince Edward Island
PEI Vital Statistics (Health PEI)
NL
Newfoundland & Labrador
NL Vital Statistics
2
Federal steps: same for every province
These apply regardless of which province the person lived in.Open this section ↓These apply regardless of which province the person lived in.
↑ Close this section1Do firstStop government benefit payments: Service Canada
Notify Service Canada as soon as possible to stop CPP, OAS, and GIS payments. Payments received after the date of death must be returned by the estate. Call 1-800-277-9914 or use My Service Canada Account online.
My Service Canada Account2Apply for the CPP Death Benefit
A one-time payment of up to $5,000 for deaths on/after Jan 1, 2025 ($2,500 basic, plus a $2,500 top-up in some cases, verify eligibility at canada.ca). Apply using Form ISP-1200 or online via My Service Canada Account. The estate representative should apply within 60 days of the death. Apply as soon as possible.
CPP death benefit: canada.ca3CPP Survivor’s Pension and Children’s Benefit
If the deceased had a surviving spouse, common-law partner, or dependent children, they may be eligible for ongoing CPP survivor payments. Apply through Service Canada at the same time as the death benefit application.
CPP Survivor’s Pension: canada.ca4Notify banks and open an estate account
Notify each bank, investment account, and credit card issuer. Most will freeze accounts until probate is granted. Ask the deceased’s bank about releasing funds for funeral expenses before probate. Many banks will do this on presentation of a Death Certificate and invoices. Open a separate estate bank account to manage estate income and expenses.
5Cancel the Social Insurance Number (SIN)
Notify Service Canada to cancel the SIN. Destroy the SIN card.
6Notify the CRA and file the final tax return
Notify the CRA of the death (call 1-800-959-8281 or through My Account). A final (terminal) T1 return must be filed for the year of death. The deadline is generally April 30 of the following year, or 6 months after the date of death, whichever is later. Quebec residents also require a Revenu Quebec provincial return. Work with an accountant.
CRA: what to do when someone dies7Cancel the Canadian passport
Notify Passport Canada to cancel the passport. The passport should be returned or destroyed.
Passport Canada: after a death3
Province-specific steps
In addition to the federal steps above, each province has its own vital statistics office, health card program, and estate process.Open this section ↓In addition to the federal steps above, each province has its own vital statistics office, health card program, and estate process. Select your province above for the full guide.
Every province requires these steps:
- ✓Register the death and order certified Death Certificates (funeral home handles registration; you order copies)
- ✓Cancel the provincial health card
- ✓Cancel the driver’s licence and transfer any vehicles
- ✓Contact the provincial estate / probate authority if needed (rules vary by province)
Quebec note: Quebec uses civil law. The estate is managed by a liquidator (not an executor). A notarized will does not require probate. Consult a Quebec notary.
When to get professional help
If the estate is contested, or you are unsure whether probate is required, confirm with a lawyer (or a notary in Quebec) before proceeding.
Guidepost is not a law firm. If your situation matches this, consult a lawyer or notary (a Quebec notary in Quebec) before you act.
If you would rather keep all of this in one place, the Home File is a document organizer made for Canadian paperwork.
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Common questions
Open this section ↓What are the first steps after someone dies in Canada?
Register the death and order Death Certificates (the funeral home handles registration). Then immediately notify Service Canada to stop CPP, OAS, and GIS payments. Next, apply for the CPP Death Benefit, notify the CRA, and cancel the provincial health card and driver’s licence.How do I notify Service Canada after a death?
Call 1-800-277-9914 or log in to My Service Canada Account online. Do this as soon as possible to stop benefit payments. Overpayments received after the date of death must be repaid by the estate.What is the CPP Death Benefit and how do I apply?
The CPP Death Benefit is a one-time lump-sum payment of up to $5,000 for deaths on/after Jan 1, 2025 ($2,500 basic, plus a $2,500 top-up if the deceased never received CPP/QPP retirement or disability benefits and has no eligible surviving spouse). Apply using Form ISP-1200 or online via My Service Canada Account. The estate representative should apply within 60 days of the death; after that, payment may go to other eligible people. Apply as soon as possible.What happens to taxes when someone dies in Canada?
A final (terminal) T1 tax return must be filed for the year of death. The deadline is generally April 30 of the following year, or 6 months after the date of death, whichever is later. Quebec residents also require a Revenu Quebec return. An accountant can help with the final return and the CRA clearance certificate process.Do I need probate after someone dies in Canada?
Not always. Probate is required when financial institutions or land registries require it before releasing assets. Assets held jointly, life insurance and RRSP proceeds with named beneficiaries, and small estates may bypass probate. Rules vary by province. Confirm with a lawyer (or notary in Quebec).Now the executor?
The executor guide covers your ongoing duties over the coming months: probate, estate inventory, tax returns, CRA Clearance Certificate (TX19), compensation, and distributing the estate, with province-specific details.
Executor Guide for Canada →Working out the dates?
Enter the date of death and the deadline calculator composes the windows this site tracks, including the CPP death benefit, with the rule and source beside each date.
Paperwork deadline calculator →Where Everything Is: the binder a family wishes existed →
Executor workbook: your task list, deadlines and letters, by province →
For funeral homes: hand families this checklist with your name on it →
Hit a specific problem?
Straight answers to the questions that come up first: what probate costs, whether you even need it, why the bank froze the account, declining to be the executor, and what happens when there is no will.
After a death: common problems →Plan ahead: Wills & Power of Attorney Guide
Make sure your own documents are in order: will, enduring power of attorney for property, and personal-care directive. Instrument names and rules differ by province.
Wills & POA Guide for Canada →Facts checked September 2026
Guidepost is not a law firm. This guide is for general administrative information only. Full disclaimer
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