How to Notify Banks and Government Agencies of a Death in Alberta

If you are the personal representative, you may suddenly have a long list of calls to make while you are grieving. It helps to know who needs to hear first and what each organization is likely to ask for.

This article gives a practical order of work for an Alberta death. Banks and insurers set their own paperwork, so confirm their requirements with each one.

This article covers the law of Alberta.

Start with the registration and death certificates

A death certificate cannot be issued until the death is registered. The Registration of Death form is usually completed at the funeral home, which registers the death and sends the original documents to Vital Statistics. Registration is free within one year of the date of death, but after one year a delayed registration process applies, which needs evidence and additional fees.

To order certificates, complete the Application for Death Documents (form DVS11164D) and take it with acceptable ID and eligibility documents to a registry agent. Applications sent directly to Vital Statistics will not be processed. The government fee is $20 per document, and registry agents add service fees that vary. A complete application is processed within 3 business days of receipt if the death is registered, not counting mail or delivery time.

An executor, personal representative or administrator named in the will can apply, with a copy of the will. So can next of kin with proof of relationship, and a funeral home representative making arrangements. A former spouse can apply with proof of relationship. Order more certificates than you think you need, since many organizations ask for one.

Federal benefits: Service Canada and the CRA

Report the death of a CPP or OAS recipient to Service Canada as soon as possible, by phone at 1-800-277-9914 with the SIN ready. Have the full name, date of birth, date and place of death, marital status, SIN if known, and address. Proof of death is only needed if requested.

The estate keeps CPP and OAS payments for the month of death. Payments issued after that month must be returned, and any that were cashed must be repaid.

Contact the CRA as soon as possible, because money received after death may need to be returned. With the CRA you report the date of death, prepare the final returns, close any business accounts, and apply for a clearance certificate before distributing cash or assets, so you know whether tax is still owing.

For an Alberta death the SIN is cancelled automatically as provincial vital statistics reports it. Family reporting of the SIN is needed only for deaths in a territory or outside Canada.

Alberta programs and other agencies

• Alberta Seniors Benefit stops the month after the recipient's death. Contact the Alberta Supports Contact Centre at 1-877-644-9992, Monday to Friday, 7:30 am to 8 pm.
• For AISH or ADAP, how to report the death depends on your situation, so it is worth confirming directly with the program or with a lawyer. If an overpayment is found, the person is notified and has 30 days to request a waiver or appeal.
• Employment Insurance: if the person received or may have been eligible for it, call 1-800-206-7218.
• Equifax and TransUnion should be notified, and a valid passport can be mailed to the Passport Program with a copy of the death certificate.
• AHCIP: for a death outside Alberta, notify AHCIP in person at a registry agent or the AHCIP office, then securely destroy the health card.

Banks, insurers and benefits you may be owed

Banks, insurance companies, pension plans and credit card issuers each have their own process, and requirements vary. Call each one, ask what documents it needs, and ask whether it wants a copy of the will or a court grant before it deals with you. Property that passes by beneficiary designation or joint ownership may fall outside the estate, so administration may not be needed for it.

Also check whether money is owed to the family. The CPP death benefit is a basic $2,500. A further $2,500 top-up, for a $5,000 maximum, applies only to deaths on or after January 1, 2025, if the deceased never received a CPP/QPP disability benefit, post-retirement disability benefit or retirement pension, and has no eligible surviving spouse or common-law partner. If an estate exists, the executor should apply within 60 days of the date of death, and payment usually takes about 6 to 12 weeks. A surviving spouse or common-law partner may also qualify for the CPP survivor's pension, which can be applied for online or with form ISP1300.

Funeral costs are paid by the estate. If funds are insufficient, the funeral home can apply for Alberta government funeral benefits.

What to do next

• Confirm the funeral home has registered the death.
• Order several death certificates through a registry agent.
• Call Service Canada about CPP and OAS.
• Call the CRA and plan the final returns and clearance certificate.
• Notify Alberta Supports, AHCIP where needed, and credit bureaus.
• Contact banks and insurers and ask what each requires.
• Keep a log of every call, date and name.

If the estate is complicated, or you are unsure whether you need a grant before a bank will act, a lawyer can confirm the steps for your situation.

Frequently asked questions