A phase-by-phase checklist for the administration that follows a death — registering it, claiming what's owed, notifying the right agencies, and the estate steps after that. Plain English, sourced from Canada.ca and the CRA.
📅 October 2026⏱ 10 min read
There is no single place that lays this out in order. Canada.ca spreads it across more than a dozen separate pages, and the process that actually registers a death is provincial, not federal — so the first steps depend on where your family member died. This page pulls the pieces together in the order most families actually need them, with a link to the official source for every step.
This is a navigation guide, not legal or financial advice. It tells you what exists and where to go — not what to decide. For anything specific to your situation, the right person is a lawyer, accountant, or the agency itself.
If this has just happened: you don't need to do all of this today. The only things that are genuinely urgent in the first 24–48 hours are below. Everything else can wait until you're ready.
The checklist, in order
1First 24–48 hours
Get the medical certification of death. A doctor, nurse practitioner, or coroner completes this — it's what everything else depends on. (In BC, for example, it must be signed within 48 hours.)
Call a funeral home. In every province, the funeral director is the one who registers the death with the provincial Vital Statistics agency and issues the death certificate — there's no separate "register the death yourself" step in most of Canada.
Tell your bank. Most banks have a dedicated deceased-estate process; a joint account with a surviving spouse usually keeps operating, but a sole account is typically frozen until the estate is dealt with.
Notify immediate family. No official process for this one — just whoever needs to know first.
2First 2 weeks
Order extra death certificates. You'll need more than one — banks, pension providers, and insurers each want their own copy. Order through the funeral director or directly from your province's Vital Statistics agency.
The SIN is usually reported automatically — if the death happened in a Canadian province, Service Canada is notified through the provincial vital-statistics system. If it happened in a territory or outside Canada, you need to report it yourself, by mail or at a Service Canada Centre.
Cancel CPP and OAS payments as soon as possible — overpayments have to be repaid, and the longer it runs, the bigger the amount owing.
Apply for the CPP death benefit if the deceased contributed to CPP — a one-time payment, maximum $2,500, paid to the estate or in some cases directly to whoever paid for the funeral. There is a time limit to apply, so don't leave this for the "ongoing estate" pile.
Check CPP survivor's pension and children's benefit if there's a spouse, common-law partner, or dependent children under 25 — separate from the death benefit, paid monthly.
Check the OAS Allowance for the Survivor if the spouse or common-law partner is 60–64.
Notify credit bureaus — Equifax and TransUnion, both — to reduce the risk of identity fraud using the deceased's name.
3First month
Call the CRA to report the date of death and establish who's acting as the legal representative (usually the named executor).
Forward the mail through Canada Post, and work through subscriptions, utilities, and other recurring accounts.
Return the passport if it's still valid — mail it to the Passport Program in Gatineau with a copy of the death certificate. Expired passports don't need to be returned.
Federal and provincial student loans — contact the National Student Loans Service Centre (federal) or your province's student aid office to have them forgiven.
Vehicle, property, and tenancy — transfer or sell the vehicle through your provincial registry; notify the landlord or strata if renting.
Notify the employer for any final pay, group insurance, or pension-plan next steps.
Firearms licence or owned firearms — notify the Canadian Firearms Program if this applies.
4Ongoing estate
File the final tax return. Due April 30 of the year after death if the death occurred between January and October. If the death occurred in November or December, it's due six months after the date of death instead. (A different rule applies if the deceased was running a business — see the sources box.)
Deal with RRSPs and TFSAs as part of the final return — these have their own transfer and reporting rules.
Get a clearance certificate from the CRA before distributing the estate. Skip this and the executor can become personally liable for tax the estate still owes.
Probate — this is where it varies most by province. There's no single national system. In Ontario, for example, estates over $50,000 pay Estate Administration Tax at $15 per $1,000 above that threshold, and an Estate Information Return is due within 180 days of the certificate being issued. Other provinces set their own rates and thresholds — check directly with your provincial court or a local estate lawyer.
5Looking after yourself
You don't have to do this alone.MyGrief.ca (Canadian Virtual Hospice) offers free, Canada-specific grief support and courses.
If you're struggling, not just grieving — the national Suicide Crisis Helpline is 988, free and available 24/7 by call or text.
There is no "right" pace for any of this list. Administration can wait; you generally cannot be penalised for taking the time you need, beyond the specific deadlines noted above.
"None of this has to happen today. The only genuinely time-limited steps are the medical certification, the CPP death benefit application, and the tax deadlines above — everything else can wait until you're ready."
Frequently asked
Who registers a death in Canada?
A funeral director usually registers the death with the provincial or territorial Vital Statistics agency, using the medical certificate signed by a doctor, nurse practitioner, or coroner, plus details from a family informant. The exact process varies by province — there is no single national death registry.
How much is the CPP death benefit?
The maximum is a one-time payment of $2,500, paid to the estate or, in some cases, directly to the person who paid for the funeral. The amount depends on the deceased's CPP contributions — not everyone qualifies for the full amount.
When is the final tax return due?
April 30 of the following year if the death occurred between January 1 and October 31. Six months after the date of death if it occurred in November or December. A different rule applies if the deceased was running a business — see the CRA source link below.
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Last verified: October 2026. This is a national overview — probate, death registration, and some benefit details vary by province and territory. Government programme details, amounts, and deadlines change. Verify current information directly with the relevant agency, or a local lawyer or accountant, before acting.