checklist

A checklist for when a death occurs

Notify as soon as possible:
• The doctor
• The cemetery
• The funeral director
• Relatives and friends
• Employers (both of the deceased and those relatives not going to work)
• Insurance agents (life, health and accident)
• Religious, fraternal, civic and veterans' organizations, and unions
• Executor, lawyer and accountant

Secure vital statistics of deceased:
• Name (including religious name, if any), home address and telephone number
• Length of residence at present address
• Name of business or employer's name, address and telephone number
• Occupation and title
• Social insurance number
• Military-service serial number (if applicable)
• Date and place of birth
• Citizenship
• Father's name and birthplace
• Mother's maiden name and birthplace

Decide and arrange within a few hours:
• Cemetery lot location; which space to open (if applicable)
• Casket type; cremation urn type
• Vault or sectional crypt (if applicable)
• Which funeral home to use
• Place and time of service
• Type of service (religious, military, fraternal)
• Officiating clergy
• Pallbearers, music, flowers, scripture or other readings
• Clothing for the deceased
• Charity to receive donations in lieu of flowers, if preferred

You will need to pay for:
• Cemetery services
• Funeral arrangements, including clergy, florist and transportation
• Ambulance services, if any
• Current and urgent bills (i.e. mortgage, rent, taxes, telephone, etc.)

Collect documents:
(required to establish rights for insurance, pensions, survivor benefits, ownership, etc.)
• Will
• Legal proof of age or birth certificate
• Social insurance card
• Marriage license
• Citizenship papers
• Insurance policies
• Bank books
• Deeds
• Car-ownership papers
• Income-tax returns, recent receipts or cancelled cheques
• Military discharge papers (if applicable)
• Cemetery interment rights certificate of ownership (if applicable)
• Funeral service pre-arrangement certificate (if applicable)

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