Next Steps to Take After the Death

Dealing with the property left behind

If the deceased left a will, the executor named in the will is responsible for settling the estate of the deceased. Settling the estate involves locating the property owned by the deceased, paying any debts, the funeral costs and taxes, and then distributing the estate according to the instructions in the will.

The executor is responsible for protecting the assets owned by the deceased until the estate is ready to be distributed. An asset is any property the deceased owned, including things such as money, land, investments, and personal possessions such as jewelry and furniture.

If an executor is not involved, those close to the deceased can help protect the assets. 

See below under “Steps to take” for tips on safeguarding the deceased’s property.

Property that passes directly on death

Not all things owned by the deceased form part of their estate. Certain types of assets "pass outside the will".

Property owned jointly by the deceased and someone else automatically becomes the exclusive property of the other joint owner. If you had a joint bank account with the deceased, you can withdraw the whole amount from the account at any time. If you encounter difficulties, speak to the bank manager. Once the funeral home provides copies of the death certificate, you can provide a copy to the bank to have the account transferred to your name alone.

Assets where the deceased designated a beneficiary also pass outside the will. The beneficiary is entitled to receive the proceeds on the death of the owner. Examples include a life insurance policy or a retirement benefit plan where the deceased designated a beneficiary. If you are the designated beneficiary, contact the relevant institutions to learn what documents they need.

If the deceased had a bank account in their name alone, notify the bank. Banks may release small amounts of money to a surviving spouse before the estate is settled, but they are not required to do so. They will typically pay funeral expenses directly if presented with the bill. They will not reimburse a person who has paid the funeral home directly; in such circumstances, the person must wait until the estate is settled to be reimbursed. 

Survivor’s pensions and benefits

If the deceased contributed to a government or private pension, their spouse and dependents may be entitled to a survivor’s pension or a death benefit. For example:

• Canada Pension Plan (CPP) survivor’s pension: If the deceased contributed to the CPP, a survivor’s pension is paid to their surviving spouse or common-law partner. The survivor is responsible for applying for their monthly pension.
• CPP children’s benefits: If the deceased made sufficient contributions to the CPP, a children’s benefit is paid to any surviving child under age 18 or between ages 18 and 25 if in full-time attendance at school. The child or their parent or guardian are responsible for applying for this monthly benefit.
• CPP death benefit: The CPP death benefit is a one-time, lump-sum payment paid to the estate or a survivor of a deceased CPP contributor. If an executor or estate administrator is involved, they should apply for the death benefit on behalf of the estate.
• Employment pension: If the deceased was employed, a survivor’s pension or death benefit may be available. 

With public and private pensions, the estate or the survivor is entitled to keep any cheques issued in the month the deceased passed away.

If the death was the result of a work incident, a car accident, or a crime, benefits may be available to assist the survivors:

• Workers’ compensation benefits: If the death was the result of a work incident, benefits may be available as workers’ compensation through WorkSafeBC.
• ICBC benefits: If the death was due to a car accident, benefits are available from ICBC. Regardless of who was responsible for the accident, certain funeral expenses and survivor benefits are payable.
• Victims of crime assistance: If the death was a result of a crime, assistance may be available to survivors from the Crime Victim Assistance Program. Call 1-866-660-3888 or contact cvap@gov.bc.ca.