After the Service

With the death of a loved one comes the realization that important matters need to be settled, including financial, legal and business decisions. Often, those who must take charge are the least prepared to do so. Please realize the following information is only a general guide that may or may not apply to your particular situation.

Certificates of Death

Provincial Death Certificates can be obtained from your Funeral Director or FSP and are required for Land Titles when property is in the deceased’s name.

Life Insurance

Have all the Life Insurance policies on the deceased been found and beneficiary requests completed?

Change the beneficiary information on current Life Insurance policies that name the deceased as beneficiary

Probate

If the will has to be probated a lawyer can explain the various steps that are required. Probate refers to the legal procedure that obtains Court approval to officially recognize the named Executor as the proper legal representative of the estate. If probate is necessary, the following information is required.

  • The original of the will
  • Names and addresses of all the benificiaries
  • Location of all assets, including Bank Accounts, Stocks, Debentures, Mortgages, Land titles and any other valuable personal household effects, automobiles, and other property.
  • Place and date of filing last tax return.
  • Birth and marriage certificates of the surviving spouse.

Government Affairs

Notify Canada Pension and Old Age Security (1-800-277-9914) if:

  • The estate is to keep OAS and CPP pensions for the month that the death occurred.
  • Apply for Lump sum death benefit
  • If the deceased contributed to the Canadian Pension Plan for at least 3 years, a lump sum death benefit may be available to the estate

The application form is to be completed, then mailed or taken down to one of the Human Resources Canada locations within 60 days.
*See list of locations below.

Apply for Survivors benefit (Widows or Orphans)
Vital stats 1-888-876-1633 or www.vs.gov.bc.ca to get a replacement marriage certificate by phone using a credit card, must have complete names, dates.

  • Form to be completed and sent to Human Resources Canada

Employment Insurance to be notified if deceased was in receipt of EI 
Cancel SIN #   (1-800-206-7218)

  • Dropped off or mailed to any Human Resource Canada location

Current Passport to be returned (1-800- 567 6868)

H.S.T cheque issued after the date of death is to be returned
Revenue Canada (1-800-959-1953)

Veterans Affairs

  • If the deceased was a war veteran a benefit may be available
  • Last Post Fund National Office (1-800-465-7113)

Health Affairs

BC Health Services
(1-800-465-4911) card to be cancelled

  • A new BC Health Card will be mailed to the spouse if applicable

Medical Alert Registry

  • To be cancelled (1-800-668-1507)

Lifeline

  • To be cancelled (250-755-7691)

Home Care Program

  • To be canceled – Interior Health care 604-554-4145
  • To be canceled – Nurse Next Door 250-377-0011

Return medical equipment:

  • beds
  • chairs
  • oxygen

Private Health Insurance

  • To be cancelled – Blue Cross (1-888-275-4672)

*Notify doctor, dentist, optometrist, pharmacist, and physiotherapist etc to prevent appointment reminders

Housing

House and Property Insurance

Changed to reflect the current policy holder

Mortgage and Loans

Changed to reflect current owner

Property Tax

Changed to reflect accurate information on the property tax rolls.  Contact your city or township hall. Copy of death certificate is fine.

Land Titles Office  

Contact B.C. provincial land titles office in New Westminster  #300 88-6th. Street. New Westminster

Notify and change the following:

  • Hydro
  • Phone
  • Cable TV
  • Internet
  • Cell phone
  • Gas
  • Water

Vehicle

Vehicle Insurance

  • Change into the estate name  
  • Contact ICBC for the appropriate forms

*To change the ownership of a vehicle you will require a copy of the will, a document signed by the executor with vehicle registration number and odometer reading,

Driver’s license

Returned to any motor vehicle office or the Provincial Drivers & Vehicle Licensing Dept.

ICBC Inquiries – 250-374-5335

If a death of a BC resident is due to an automobile accident there maybe a benefit available

BCAA – 1-877-325-8888)

Financial

Bank accounts should be changed to reflect current owner

  • Take will and Funeral director’s statement of Death
  • Check the status of automatic withdrawals
  • Check for loan and mortgage insurance

Safety Deposit Box

Credit Cards

Notify and return cards (phone list attached)

Investments

  • Reviewed to reflect correct owner information
  • G.I.C’s, T-bills, mutual funds, RRSP’s, RIF’s, Bonds,
  • Advice should be obtained for future estate planning tax efficiency

*Financial Advisor…Referrals available

Final Income Tax Return

  • Revenue Canada Agency
  • A final tax return must be filed on behalf of the deceased person  
  • If the death occurred between January 1 and October 31, the deadline for filing is April 30th of the following year.  
  • If the death occurred between, November 1 – December 31, the deadline is six months after the date of death.

Company Pensions

(Canada or other countries where employment occurred) should be notified

Disability Income should be notified if applicable.

If deceased applied for disability pension before date of death, continue to correspond with any information they request.

Worker’s Compensation

  • Phone: (604-273-2266)
  • Address:  6951 Westminster Hwy., Richmond, BC.  

*If the death was job related there maybe an allowance from WCB.  Or toll free at 1-888-967-5377

Legal Affairs

Review existing Will and Powers of Attorney *Notice in newspaper to creditors is not mandatory, but protects the executor from claims after the 30 days notice. Lawyer… Referrals available

Other Personal Affairs

Cancel memberships, season tickets  

Notify hairdresser, dry cleaners

Personal effects / clothing (furniture, nick Knacks etc.)

Can be donated to a charitable organization. Some organizations will pick up donations.

Notify magazines, charitable organizations, TV Guide etc. that you wish to stop.

Canada Post will accommodate a change of address

Free for a period of time.

They will provide a form that must be notarized as well a death certificate is necessary.

Cancel or transfer customer reward programs:

  • Air miles
  • HBC
  • SDM Optima

Helpful Phone Numbers

Department of Veteran Affairs

1-800-563-2508

Revenue Canada

1-800-959-8281

Tax Returns packages and forms

1-800-959-8281

Canada Post

1-800-267-1177

Last Post Fund

1-604-572-3242

Credit Card Cancellation

American Express 1-800-387-9700

Bank of Montreal 1-800-263-2263

Canadian Tire 1-800-263-0471

CIBC Visa 1-800-493-2249

Citibank MasterCard 1-800-265-9710

Petro Canada 1-800-668-0220

Platinum Card 1-800-263-1616

Royal Bank Visa 1-800-769-2512

Sears 1-800-265-3675

Shell 1-800-661-1600

Scotia Bank Visa 1-800-387-6556

The Bay / Zellers 1-800-387-4540

Toronto Dominion Visa 1-800-268-9460

Human Resources/Canada Pension Plan Office

For further information write to:

Health and Welfare
Income Security Program
P.O. Box 1177, Federal Building Victoria, B.C.
V8W 2V2

Or telephone
1-800-277-9914 for further information.

Pre-arrangements

It is a wise and thoughtful decision to make your own funeral and cemetery pre-arrangements at this time.

The advantages of funeral and cemetery preplanning are price protection, dollar savings, tax efficiency and most importantly, peace of mind.

Funeral and cemetery pre-arranging means that your family will NOT have to make these difficult decisions!