The period immediately following a death is emotionally overwhelming and practically demanding at the same time. This guide outlines the key steps in roughly the order they need to happen.

In the First 24–48 Hours

Obtain a Medical Certificate of Death — a physician or nurse practitioner must certify the death. In a hospital or care facility, staff handle this. At home, call 911 or a physician.

Contact a funeral home — the funeral home takes responsibility for the body and handles the registration of death with the Nova Scotia Registry of Vital Statistics, which issues the Death Certificate.

Notify immediate family and close friends.

In the First Week

Locate the Will — search for the original Will at home, with a lawyer or Notary, or in a safety deposit box. The Executor named in the Will has authority to act, but needs the document to prove it.

Secure assets — make sure the home, vehicle, and valuables are secured.

Cancel or forward mail and notify Canada Post.

Contact Service Canada to notify of the death for CPP, OAS, and other federal programs. CPP may provide a death benefit.

Estate Administration (The Executor's Job)

Once a Grant of Probate is obtained (where required), the Executor can begin formal administration:

  • Open an estate bank account
  • Collect and value all assets
  • Pay debts and ongoing expenses (utilities, insurance, property taxes)
  • File the final tax return (and a T3 Trust return if the estate earns income)
  • Distribute the estate to beneficiaries once all liabilities are settled
  • Obtain releases from beneficiaries
  • Close the estate

Important Notes

An Executor can be held personally liable for distributing the estate before debts are paid. Do not distribute until you are confident all liabilities — including tax — have been settled. A professional accountant is often worth the cost for the final tax filings.

If there is no Will, apply to the probate court for Letters of Administration, which serve a similar function to a Grant of Probate but are issued when there is no Executor named in a Will.