What to Do When Someone Dies

With a Will

You will want to find out if the person left a will. The will may be with their lawyer, stored at their workplace, in their safety deposit box, or at their home. Once the will is located it may or may not go to probate in the courts to decide on its legality. The executor/executrix of the estate carries out the wishes contained in the will.

• Tips for Self Represented Litigants Self-Help Information Guides - These materials have been created to help Nova Scotians better understand court processes and how to access the services and programs offered at the courts.
• Dial-a-Law Free legal information on a taped message service 24 hours a day.
• Publications on Managing Your Affairs and Wills and Estate Law Legal Information Society of Nova Scotia
• Nova Scotia Probate Court Website

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Without a Will

If the person dies without a will (intestate), the estate will be distributed according to the Intestate Succession Act. You may want to contact a lawyer.

• Tips for Self Represented Litigants Self-Help Information Guides - These materials have been created to help Nova Scotians better understand court processes and how to access the services and programs offered at the courts.
• Publications on Managing Your Affairs and Wills and Estate Law Legal Information Society of Nova Scotia
• Where to Get Legal Information in Nova Scotia and How to Find a Lawyer [- 12.08 kb]
• Nova Scotia Probate Court Website
• Probate Court Practice, Procedure and Forms Regulations

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Death out of Country

If the person dies in another country, contact the office in that country for instructions on how to proceed.

• Canadian Representatives Abroad

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Death Certificate

The funeral director may issue copies of a Statement of Death (proof of death) that you can use in certain situations. There are some organizations, however, that may require an official Death Certificate issued by the Nova Scotia Vital Statistics Office.

• How to Obtain a Short Form or Long Form Death Certificate
• Nova Scotia Death Certificate Application Form [- 64.87 kb]
• Online Nova Scotia Death Certificate Request You may use this service to apply for a Nova Scotia death certificate and pay the required fees using a credit or debit card.

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Compensations, Pensions and Benefits

The executor/executrix should contact former employers of the deceased for company pensions. The executor/executrix should also contact the following applicable offices to either find out eligibility for or to cancel benefits:

• Insurance companies
• Cancelling Benefits Following the Death of a Pensioner/Beneficiary
• International Benefits
• Quebec Pension Plan
• Veterans Affairs Disability Program Benefits
• Veterans Affairs Funeral, Burial and Gravemarking Assistance
• Services for Persons with Disabilities
• Workers Compensation Board
• National Defence - Death, Disability & Injury
• Goods and Services Tax (GST) Credit
• Canada Child Tax Benefits (CCTB) and Universal Child Care Benefit (UCCB)

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Income Tax

The executor/executrix must still complete an income tax form for the deceased:

• What to do when someone has died Canada Revenue Agency

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Finding an Accountant

You can find an accountant by looking in the yellow pages of your local phone book or by contacting one of the following associations

• The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nova Scotia
• Certified General Accountants Association of Nova Scotia

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Finding a Financial Planner

You can find a financial planner by looking in your local yellow pages or by contacting one of the following:

• Financial Planners Standards Council
• Advocis - The Canadian Association of Financial Planners

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Banks, Financial Institutions, and Credit Cards

The executor/executrix should contact the person's banks and financial institutions:

• Banks in Canada
• Credit Unions
• Caisses populaires

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Maintenance Enforcement

The executor/executrix should contact the Department of Justice.

• Maintenance Enforcement Program processes child and spousal support payments to help ensure that support gets paid on a regular basis

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Government Cards / Registries

The executor/executrix should contact the government offices that apply:

• Citizenship Card
• Passport Canada
• Registry of Motor Vehicles - Replacement Nova Scotia Driver's Licence
• Canadian Firearms Licences and Permit
• Indian and Northern Affairs Canada - Indian and Northern Affairs Canada
• Permanent Resident Card (PR Card)
• Citizenship and Immigration Canada - Call Centre Services
• Nova Scotia Health Card (MSI)
• About the Nova Scotia Birth Certificate

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Vehicles

The executor/executrix may need to look into the following:

• Insurance companies
• Canadian Automobile Association
• Vehicle Transfer Registry of Motor Vehicles
• Accessible Parking Zone Permit or Plates Ensures that people with disabilities have a unique entitlement to designated disabled parking throughout Canada.

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Property

The executor/executrix may need to contact the telephone company, electric company or cable company for any name changes or cancellations.

The executor/executrix may also need to look into the following:

• Local Post Office - Mail to be redirected or held
• Real estate and property title deeds
• Insurance companies
• Property Taxes - please contact the municipal office
• The New Land Registration System - Changing Information in the Parcel Register

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Clubs, Organizations, Services, and Professional Associations

The following may need to be contacted:

• Frequent travelers/buyers cards
• Places where the deceased volunteered
• Professional organizations where the deceased was a member
• Post-secondary institutions where the deceased was an alumnus
• Caregivers or other health service organizations

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