If a person dies in Canada, the death must be registered with the government of the province where the death occurred. A funeral director usually oversees the process of death registration.
To register a death, the funeral director submits two completed documents to the applicable provincial authority: (1) the death certificate; and (2) a statement of death. (The title of this form varies between provinces.)
Information that is gathered from death registrations about causes of death can be used for medical/health research or statistics.
The Death Certificate
When there is a death, the attending physician, a nurse practitioner or a coroner, completes an official form indicating the cause of death. He or she gives the death certificate to the funeral director with the body of the deceased or sends it to the funeral director after the body has been collected.
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The Statement of Death
The funeral director completes this form with help from a person who knew the deceased, typically a family member. If a relative is unavailable, an adult that lived with the deceased or knew the deceased may be able to supply the required information.
The form asks personal information about the deceased, including their date of birth and birthplace, family history, occupation, age at death, place of death, and whether he or she was buried or cremated.
British Columbia
To register a death in British Columbia, contact the Vital Statistics Agency.
The two documents required to register a death in B.C. are: (1) a Medical Certificate of Death and; (2) a Death Certificate Application form.
In British Columbia, a medical practitioner must complete and sign the Death Certificate within 48 hours of the death.
Contact Details:
British Columbia Vital Statistics Agency
PO Box 9657 STN PROV GOVT
Victoria, BC V8W 9P3
Telephone: 604-660-2937 or 250-952-2681
Telephone toll free within BC: 1-888-876-1633
Website: http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/theme.page?id=E2F17E8BD56D50D8D4BAA2892C68960F
Alberta
A death in Alberta must be registered with Alberta Vital Statistics.
The two documents required to register a death in Alberta are: (1) a Medical Certificate of Death and; (2) a Registration of Death form.
In Alberta, if death registration doesn’t occur within one year from the date of death, there are additional requirements and a fee of $20 to register the death.
Contact Details:
Alberta Vital Statistics
Box 2023
Edmonton, Alberta T5J 4W7
Telephone: 780-427-7013 (Edmonton & surrounding areas)
Telephone toll free within Alberta: 310-0000 then dial 780-427-7013
E-mail: vs@gov.ab.ca
Website: http://www.servicealberta.ca/VitalStatistics.cfm
Saskatchewan
For death registration in Saskatchewan, you must submit: (1) the Medical Certificate of Death; and (2) the Registration of Death form, to the Vital Statistics Registry.
Contact Details:
eHealth Saskatchewan
Vital Statistics Registry
101 – 1445 Park Street
Regina, SK S4N 4C5
Telephone toll free within North America: 1-855-eHS-LINK (1-855-347-5465)
Fax: 306-787-2288
E-mail: VitalStatistics@eHealthsask.ca
Webite: https://www.ehealthsask.ca/Pages/default.aspx
Manitoba
If a person dies in Manitoba, the death registration is handled by the Vital Statistics Agency. Death registration is achieved by filing: (1) a Medical Certificate of Death; and (2) Registration of Death.
Contact Details:
Vital Statistics Agency
254 Portage Avenue
Winnipeg, MB R3C 0B6
Telephone: 204-945-3701
Telephone toll free within Canada: 1-866-949-9296
Fax: 204-948-3128
E-mail: vitalstats@gov.mb.ca
Website: http://vitalstats.gov.mb.ca/certificate_apps.html
Ontario
In register a death in Ontario, two documents are required by the Office of the Registrar General: (1) the Medical Death Certificate; (2) the Statement of Death form.
Contact Details:
Office of the Registrar General
Box 4600
189 Red River Road
Thunder Bay, ON P7B 6L8
Telephone: 416-325-8305
Telephone toll free within ON: 1-800-461-2156
Fax: 807-343-7459
Website: https://www.orgforms.gov.on.ca/eForms/start.do
Quebec
For death registration in Quebec, you need to file two documents with Le Directeur de l’Etat Civil: (1) the Attestation of Death; and (2) the Declaration of Death.
Contact Details:
Le Directeur de l’Etat Civil
2535, boulevard Laurier
Québec, QC G1V 5C5
Telephone: 418-644-4545 or 514-644-4545
Telephone toll free within QC: 1-877-644-4545
Teletype (TTY) toll free within QC: 1-800-361-9596 (general information only)
E-mail: etatcivil@dec.gouv.qu.ca
Website: http://www.etatcivil.gouv.qc.ca/en/death/death.html
Nova Scotia
To register a death in Nova Scotia, contact the office of Vital Statistics.
The two documents required for death registration in Nova Scotia are: (1) the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death; and (2) the Death Registration.
Contact Details:
Vital Statistics
Service Nova Scotia
PO Box 157
Halifax, NS B3J 2M9
Telephone: 902-424-4381
Telephone toll free within NS: 1-877-848-2578
Fax: 902-450-7311 or 902-450-7313
E-mail: vstat@gov.ns.ca
Website: http://novascotia.ca/sns/access/vitalstats.asp
New Brunswick
All deaths in New Brunswick have to be registered with the office of Vital Statistics.
The two documents required for death registration in New Brunswick are: (1) the Medical Certificate of Death; and (2) Death Registration Form.
Contact Details:
Vital Statistics
Service New Brunswick
P.O. Box 1998
Fredericton, NB E3B 5G4
Telephone: 1-506-453-2385
Telephone toll free within North America: 1-888-762-8600
Fax: 506-444-4139
Website: http://www.snb.ca/e/1000/1000-01/e/certificates-e.asp
Prince Edward Island
In register a death in PEI, two documents are required by the office of Vital Statistics: (1) the Medical Certificate of Death; (2) the Death Registration form.
Contact Details:
Vital Statistics
126 Douses Road
Montague, PE C0A 1R0
Telephone: 902-838-0880
Telephone toll free within PE: 1-877-320-1253
Fax: 902-838-0883
E-mail: vsmontague@gov.pe.ca
Website: http://www.gov.pe.ca/vitalstatistics/
Newfoundland & Labrador
For death registration in Newfoundland & Labrador, contact the Vital Statistics Division of the Department of Government Services.
To register a death in Newfoundland & Labrador, you only need to provide the Death Registration Form.
Contact Details:
Vital Statistics Division
Department of Government of Services
PO Box 8700
St. John’s NL A1B 4J6
Telephone: 709-729-3308
Fax: 709-729-0946
E-mail: vstats@gov.nl.ca
Website: http://www.servicenl.gov.nl.ca/birth/death_certificate/index.html
Yukon
For death registration in Yukon, contact the office of Vital Statistics. Deaths are registered with the Death Registration form.
Contact Details:
Vital Statistics
Box 2703
Whitehorse, YK Y1A 2C6
Courier: 4th floor-204 Lambert St.
Whitehorse, YK Y1A 3T2
Telephone: 867-667-5207
Telephone toll free within YK: 1-800-661-0408 ext. 5207
Fax: 867-393-6486
E-mail: Vital.Statistics@gov.yk.ca
Website: http://www.hss.gov.yk.ca/death.php
Northwest Territories
If a person dies in Northwest Territories, death registration is handled by the office of Vital Statistics.
The two documents required to register a death in NWT are: (1) a Medical Certificate of Death and; (2) a Registration of Death form.
Contact Details:
Registrar General
Vital Statistics
Department of Health and Social Services
Government of NWT
Bag Service #9
Inuvik, NT X0E 0T0
Telephone: 867-777-7422
Telephone toll free within Canada: 1-800-661-0830
Fax: 867-777-3197
E-mail: hsa@gov.nt.ca
Website: http://www.hss.gov.nt.ca/vital-statistics
Nunavut
Death registrations in Nunavut are handled by Nunavut Vital Statistics.
The only document required to register a death in Nunavut is the Registration of Death form, which is provided by the Coroner’s Office or a hospital.
Contact Details:
Nunavut Vital Statistics
PO Box 889
Rankin Inlet, NU X0C 0G0
Telephone: 867-645-8001
Telephone toll free within Canada: 1-800-661-0833
Fax: 867-645-8092
E-mail: nhip@gov.nv.ca
Website: http://www.gov.nu.ca/health/information/death-certificate
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