The First 48 Hours: What to Do When Someone Dies in Ontario

When someone dies, the first two days can feel like a blur of phone calls at the worst possible moment. Very little actually has to happen immediately. This step-by-step guide covers what does — in the order it usually comes up in Ontario.

Step 1: Get a legal pronouncement of death

Before anything else can happen, a qualified professional must pronounce the death. If your loved one was under hospice or home care, call the nurse or doctor involved — do not call 911 unless the death was unexpected. If the death was unexpected, call 911; police will attend and a coroner may become involved, which is routine in sudden deaths. A funeral home cannot transfer your loved one until the pronouncement is made.

Step 2: Arrange the transfer

Call the funeral home or transfer service of your choice. In Ontario, funeral providers are licensed and regulated by the Bereavement Authority of Ontario (thebao.ca), and you are entitled to a full price list before you commit to anything. The provider will arrange the transfer, help you plan the service or cremation, and handle most of the paperwork below. If the deceased had a prepaid funeral contract, call that provider first.

Step 3: Register the death and get proof of death

Two documents register a death in Ontario: the Statement of Death (Form 15), which the funeral director completes with family information and files with the municipality, and the Medical Certificate of Death (Form 16), completed by the doctor or coroner. Your funeral director will also give you funeral director’s proof of death certificates — order several copies, because banks, insurers and pension plans will each ask for one. The provincial death certificate from ServiceOntario takes much longer and is not needed for most first steps.

Step 4: Make the key notifications

In the first days, notify: Service Canada (to stop benefits and start survivor claims — see our guide to the CPP death benefit at funeralcanada.com/cpp-death-benefit-canada/), the deceased’s employer, and any life insurance company. The Canada Revenue Agency should be informed of the date of death; there is no need to file anything immediately. If the deceased received CPP or OAS, payments received after the month of death may have to be repaid, so do not spend them.

Step 5: Find the will and the executor

Locate the original will if there is one. The person named as executor (estate trustee) is the one with authority to act for the estate. If there is no will, a family member may need to apply to the court for a certificate of appointment. A lawyer is helpful but not required in the first 48 hours — the urgent tasks are the ones above, plus securing the home, caring for pets, and notifying close family.

What can wait

Almost everything financial can wait a week or two: closing accounts, selling assets, and distributing belongings should never be rushed while arrangements are being made. For a sense of what the funeral itself typically costs, see our guide at funeralcanada.com/funeral-costs-canada-2026/. The first 48 hours are for pronouncement, transfer, registration, and family — the paperwork will still be there next week, and the people helping you have done this many times before.