If you're reading this, someone you love has probably just died. Take a breath. You don't need to figure everything out right now.
There's no deadline in the next hour. No paperwork that can't wait until morning. The most urgent thing you can do right now is slow down, because your brain is working against you -- grief floods your nervous system and pulls blood away from the part of your brain that makes decisions. That fog you're feeling? It's your brain's normal response to loss, not a sign that you're falling apart.
This guide walks you through exactly what needs to happen in the first 24 hours after a death in Quebec -- and just as importantly, what doesn't. If you'd rather talk to someone right now instead of reading, call (438) 817-1770. We're here 24/7.
For the full picture of what happens beyond the first day, see our complete timeline of what happens after a death in Quebec.
First, take a breath -- you have more time than you think
Why your brain feels like it isn't working
You're not imagining it. During acute grief, your brain shifts into survival mode. Research shows that grief disrupts concentration, memory, and decision-making -- the exact things you need to handle logistics. Funeral planning involves over 125 decisions, and you're expected to start making them during the worst week of your life.
So if you've read the same sentence three times, if you can't remember what day it is, if you're shaking and can't hold a thought -- that's normal. Your brain is doing exactly what it's supposed to do right now.
There is no wrong move in the first few hours
Nothing irreversible happens in the first few hours after a death. The hospital won't rush you. The funeral home will be there when you're ready. If you need to sit with your loved one for a while before making any calls, that's okay. If you need to step outside and breathe, that's okay too.
The steps below are listed in a practical order, but you don't have to follow them in sequence. Do what you can, when you can.
Step 1: Confirm the death (what to do depends on where it happened)
The first step is different depending on the situation. Find the scenario that matches yours.
If they died in a hospital or care facility
The medical staff will handle the confirmation. A doctor will formally pronounce the death and issue a medical certificate (constat de décès). You don't need to do anything medical here -- the hospital takes care of it.
What you need to do:
- Take your time. You can stay with your loved one. There's no rush to leave
- Ask the nursing station for any personal belongings
- When you're ready, you'll need to choose a funeral or cremation provider (Step 2). The hospital may offer a list, but you're not required to use their suggestions
If they died at home under palliative care (expected death)
Do not call 911. This is important. If your loved one was receiving palliative care or had a known terminal illness, call their palliative care nurse or the on-call doctor instead. In many cases, they can confirm the death remotely and issue the medical certificate electronically to your chosen cremation or funeral provider.
If you already know which provider you want to use, you can call them directly. They'll coordinate with the medical team and arrange transportation.
You can stay with your loved one as long as you need. There's no legal time limit in Quebec for how long a body can remain at home after an expected death. Take the time you need before making calls.
If the death was unexpected
If someone died suddenly and unexpectedly -- a heart attack, an accident, an unknown cause -- call 911 immediately. Emergency responders will come to confirm the death and begin documentation.
Police may also respond. This is routine, not an accusation. They're there to document the circumstances and ensure the coroner has the information needed.
When the coroner gets involved
In Quebec, a coroner is called only when the death is violent, unexplained, or potentially due to negligence. The coroner is typically contacted by a doctor or police officer -- you won't need to call them yourself.
If a coroner investigation is required, it may delay the release of the body by several days. Your cremation or funeral provider can explain what to expect in your specific situation.
Step 2: Contact a cremation or funeral provider
This is your most important call. Once you make it, most of the logistics are no longer yours to manage.
Why this call simplifies everything
A good cremation provider doesn't just handle the cremation. They coordinate transportation of your loved one, walk you through the paperwork, help you complete the declaration of death, and guide you on next steps. One call can handle most of what you're worried about right now.
If you've never done this before, that's okay. You can read our guide on what to expect on your first call to a cremation provider -- or you can skip the reading and call directly. At Cleo, families can arrange everything by phone, and the $1,900 all-inclusive price covers transportation, cremation, death certificates, and a basic urn. No hidden fees, no pressure to decide anything else today.
If you're managing this from out of town -- say you're in Toronto and the death happened in Montreal -- you can still arrange cremation remotely. Everything can be coordinated by phone.
What the cremation provider handles for you
Once you make that call, they take over most of the logistics:
- Transportation: They'll pick up your loved one from the hospital, home, or care facility
- Paperwork guidance: They'll walk you through the declaration of death and simplified government form
- RAMQ notification: They'll return the health insurance card on your behalf
- Cremation: They'll manage the entire process
- Ashes delivery: Some providers deliver ashes directly to your home -- Cleo includes this at no extra cost
Questions to ask on that first call
You might not feel ready to ask questions, and that's fine -- a good provider will walk you through everything. But if it helps to have a list:
- What's included in your price? Are there any additional fees?
- How soon can you pick up my loved one?
- What paperwork do I need to bring or sign?
- How long does the cremation take?
- Can I arrange everything by phone?
For a more detailed guide, see our first-time funeral planning guide.
Step 3: Notify the people who need to know
You don't need to tell everyone right now. Start small.
Who to call first
Right now: Immediate family members who would want to know. Siblings, a spouse, adult children. If you can't reach them by phone, a text is okay.
In the next few hours: The person's employer (if applicable), your own employer to request bereavement leave, and any close friends who would be hurt to find out later.
Can wait a day or two: Extended family, neighbours, community or religious groups, social media.
What to say when you don't know what to say
Keep it simple. You don't need to have details figured out:
"Mom died this morning. I'm still figuring out next steps. I'll share more when I know more."
That's enough. No one will judge you for being brief.
Ask someone to be your "point person"
If you have a trusted friend, sibling, or partner, ask them to field calls, relay updates, and handle things like checking on the house or caring for pets. You don't have to do everything yourself -- and you shouldn't try to.
Step 4: Handle the immediate paperwork
The paperwork in Quebec is more straightforward than you might expect, and your cremation provider will guide you through most of it.
The declaration of death (déclaration de décès)
You'll sign this form in the presence of your funeral or cremation provider's representative. It's the official record of the death that gets filed with the Directeur de l'état civil (Quebec's civil registry). Your provider will prepare it -- you review and sign.
Quebec's simplified forwarding form
This is one of the most helpful things Quebec offers grieving families. The "Application for the simplified forwarding of information relative to the death" is a single form that, once completed, automatically notifies multiple government agencies on your behalf:
- RAMQ (health insurance)
- Retraite Quebec (pension plan)
- Revenu Quebec (provincial taxes)
- Canada Revenue Agency (federal taxes)
- Service Canada (federal benefits)
Your cremation provider will give you this form and help you fill it out. Instead of calling five different government agencies and explaining what happened each time, you fill out one form. For the full list of required documents, see our cremation paperwork checklist for Quebec.
Death certificates: how many you need and when they arrive
Your provider will give you an attestation of death right away -- this is a document from the funeral home confirming the death. You can use it immediately for things like bereavement leave.
Official death certificates from the Directeur de l'état civil take 2-4 weeks to arrive. You'll eventually need these for banks, insurance, and estate settlement. Order 5-10 copies -- you'll use more than you expect.
Step 5: Take care of the practical basics
These aren't urgent, but they're worth thinking about in the first 24 hours.
Securing the home and belongings
If your loved one lived alone, make sure the home is locked and secure. Cancel any upcoming deliveries. If there's mail piling up, ask a neighbour or friend to collect it.
You don't need to clean out the home or deal with belongings yet. That can wait weeks or even months.
Caring for pets and dependents
If your loved one had pets, make sure they're fed and safe. Ask a friend or family member to take them temporarily if needed. If there are dependent children or adults who relied on the person who died, coordinate immediate care.
Your own bereavement leave
In Quebec, most employees are entitled to bereavement leave. Contact your employer as soon as you're able. You don't need a death certificate for this -- a verbal notification is usually enough to start, and the attestation from your funeral provider can confirm the details.
What you do NOT need to do in the first 24 hours
This section might be the most important one. When you're panicking, every task feels urgent. Most of them aren't.
The will and estate can wait
Quebec law gives you six months to accept or refuse the succession (estate). You don't need to search for the will, contact a notary, or think about inheritance right now. When you're ready, you'll need to search two registries -- the Chambre des notaires du Quebec and the Barreau du Quebec -- but that process can wait weeks.
Financial accounts and insurance -- not yet
Bank accounts, credit cards, insurance policies, investment accounts -- none of these need to be dealt with today. Most institutions will need an official death certificate, which takes 2-4 weeks anyway. For now, just note where you think these accounts might be. You can sort through them later.
There may be death benefits you're eligible for through the Quebec Pension Plan and other programs, but the applications can be filed in the coming weeks.
Obituary and memorial planning -- breathe first
You don't need to write an obituary today. You don't need to plan a memorial service, choose flowers, or decide what to do with the ashes. All of that can happen on your timeline -- days, weeks, or even months from now.
If someone asks "when's the service?" it's perfectly fine to say: "We're taking our time to figure that out."
Checklist: what to do when someone dies in Quebec
Here's everything from above in one place. Do what you can, skip what doesn't apply, and come back to this list as needed.
Immediate (first few hours):
- [ ] Confirm the death (hospital staff, palliative nurse, or 911 depending on situation)
- [ ] Take a moment. You don't need to rush
- [ ] Call a cremation or funeral provider
When you're ready (first 12-24 hours):
- [ ] Notify immediate family members
- [ ] Sign the declaration of death with your provider
- [ ] Complete the simplified forwarding form (your provider will guide you)
- [ ] Ask someone to be your point person for calls and logistics
Practical basics (first 24 hours, if applicable):
- [ ] Secure your loved one's home
- [ ] Arrange care for pets or dependents
- [ ] Contact your employer about bereavement leave
Does NOT need to happen today:
- Searching for the will
- Contacting banks, insurance, or financial institutions
- Writing an obituary
- Planning a memorial or ceremony
- Deciding what to do with the ashes
You don't have to do this alone
You found this article because you needed help, and that took strength. Whatever you're feeling right now -- scared, numb, overwhelmed, strangely calm -- it's normal. There's no right way to get through the first 24 hours. There's just getting through them.
Many families in Quebec choose simple cremation during this time. Not because it's the only option, but because it's one clear decision that simplifies everything else. If that sounds like what you need right now, Cleo's team is here 24/7 -- no pressure, no upselling, just guidance when you need it.
(438) 817-1770
We serve families across Greater Montreal, Laval, the South Shore, the West Island, and the North Shore. See all locations.