The death of a close relative leads to legal proceedings that cannot be avoided. Recording the death in the register of civil status is an important step in making them easier.

Declaration of death

The Declaration of death is mandatory under the Civil Code of Québec.   It is needed to prepare the act of death and enter it in the register of civil status.

Entering a death in the register of civil status:

• provides legal proof of the death
• makes it possible to obtain a certificate or copy of an act of death.

When a death occurs, the doctor and funeral director have successive roles to play.

The doctor:

• completes the Attestation of death
• gives the two copies of the attestation to the funeral director who takes charge of the body of the deceased.

The funeral director:

• gives the person declaring the death his/her copy of the Attestation along with the Declaration of death form and helps him/her fill it out
• fills out and signs the section of the declaration concerning disposal of the body
• promptly sends the Attestation and Declaration of death to the Directeur de l'état civil.

The person declaring the death may apply for a certificate or copy of an act of death after it has been entered in the register of civil status.

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Health insurance card

The Directeur de l'état civil sends the card to the Régie de l'assurance maladie du Québec.

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Certificate and copy of an act of death

To obtain a civil status document concerning death, consult sections:

• How to obtain a certificate or copy of an act
• Usefulness of a certificate or copy of an act
• Conditions for obtaining a certificate or copy of an act.

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Attestation of death

To obtain an attestation of death, consult the Attestation section.

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Last update: 2006-07-18

© Gouvernement du Québec, 2003