How to plan a funeral or celebration of life in Ontario: first steps, rules and the ceremony

What must happen first when someone dies in Ontario?

A doctor, nurse practitioner or coroner must first declare the death. If the death was expected, call the doctor who was caring for the person. If it was unexpected, call emergency services first. If the circumstances are unclear, contact the local coroner's office.

Once the death has been declared, the rest can be taken one decision at a time. This guide follows the usual order: who decides, who helps, the paperwork, then the ceremony.

Who has the right to make the arrangements?

Generally, the estate trustee (the executor named in the will) decides what happens to the body. Without a will, Ontario law sets who can act. The Bereavement Authority of Ontario (BAO) gives this partial list, in order:

1. the estate trustee, or an administrator appointed by the court;
2. the spouse;
3. adult children (18 and over);
4. the parents of the person who died.

The provider may ask for photo ID and proof of authority, such as the will or a court order. Even pre-arranged plans can be changed by the legal representative, so it helps to talk about wishes as a family.

Funeral home, transfer service or family-led: what are your options?

You can work with a licensed funeral establishment, a licensed transfer service, or handle most steps as a family. Funeral establishments and transfer services must be licensed by the BAO, which keeps a public register you can search.

• Funeral establishment: the full range, from transfer and registration to embalming, visitation and services with the body or ashes present.
• Transfer service: a simpler option. It removes the body from the place of death, completes the documentation, registers the death and delivers the body to the cemetery or crematorium. It does not coordinate services with the body present.
• Family-led death care: family members can provide funeral services without a licence, except arterial embalming, as long as they are not paid. That includes transport, death registration and the coroner's cremation certificate. The BAO notes that hospitals and nursing homes may not know this is legal, so plan ahead if you choose this path. Our guide on a family-led funeral in Ontario gives the steps.

Whatever you choose, you have rights:

• The provider must give you its price list before you sign a contract, and post it on its website.
• You have 30 days after signing to change your mind: give written notice, and the provider refunds what you paid for supplies or services not yet received.
• You may buy some supplies, such as a casket, urn or flowers, from another supplier. Tell the provider before signing. If it accepts your casket, it cannot charge you an extra fee.
• Embalming is not required by law in Ontario.
• If you cannot afford the costs, you can apply to your municipality or local Ontario Works office for help. Do it before signing a contract.

How is a death registered, and what is the burial permit?

A death is registered with the municipality, and registration produces the burial permit. In order:

1. The attending doctor or a coroner completes the Medical Certificate of Death, which states the cause of death.
2. The funeral director and an informant, usually a family member, complete the Statement of Death, with personal details such as family history, age and place of death.
3. Both documents go to the municipal clerk's office, usually in the municipality where the death occurred. A funeral director usually does this, but a family member can get the form from the clerk's office, fill it in and submit both documents.
4. The burial permit is issued when the death is registered. It is needed before a burial, a cremation or an alkaline hydrolysis.

What is different for cremation?

Every cremation needs a coroner's cremation certificate, requested from the Office of the Chief Coroner. The funeral establishment or transfer service usually applies for it, and a family can apply directly. Tell the provider about any pacemaker or radioactive implant, and check that the casket suits cremation.

In Ontario, a body must be buried in a licensed cemetery. Cremated remains can be buried in a licensed cemetery, placed in a columbarium niche, scattered, or kept at home.

Where can you scatter ashes in Ontario?

You can scatter cremated remains in four kinds of places:

• private land, with the owner's consent (the BAO's consumer guide specifies written consent). The owner cannot charge a fee unless they are a licensed cemetery operator;
• unoccupied Crown land, including land covered by water, such as a provincial park, a conservation reserve or the Great Lakes, as long as no sign prohibits scattering;
• municipal land, after checking local by-laws, which may prohibit scattering in places such as parks;
• a cemetery's scattering grounds, if you buy scattering rights.

The family can scatter the ashes itself; only a licensed operator may be paid to do it. A few words shared at the scattering can be a ceremony of its own: see scattering ashes in Ontario for a simple outline.

Which documents and benefits come next?

None of these is urgent, but each matters:

• Death certificate. ServiceOntario is the only official source. You can apply at any time, but it is issued only once the death is registered, which ServiceOntario says can currently take up to 16 weeks. The regular online service costs $15. See the Ontario death certificate for the fees and the certified copy.
• Proof of death for federal services. A statement of death from the funeral director, or a copy of the death certificate, is accepted.
• CPP and OAS payments. Call Service Canada at 1-800-277-9914 to stop them. The estate keeps the payments for the month of death; later payments must be returned.
• Social Insurance Number. When a death occurs in a Canadian province, the province notifies the SIN program automatically.
• CPP death benefit. For deaths on or after January 1, 2025: $2,500, plus a possible $2,500 top-up (maximum $5,000) when the person never received a CPP or QPP retirement or disability benefit and leaves no spouse or partner eligible for a survivor's pension. The executor should apply within 60 days; otherwise, the person who paid the funeral expenses, the surviving spouse or partner, or the next of kin can apply.
• Survivor benefits. A CPP survivor's pension or children's benefit may apply. Service Canada can tell you.

For your rights on prices, help when the estate can't pay and help for veterans' families, see paying for a funeral or celebration of life in Ontario.

Funeral, memorial or celebration of life: what is the difference?

The difference is mostly timing, and whether the body is present:

• A funeral usually takes place within days of the death, with the body present, before the burial or cremation.
• A memorial service takes place without the body, sometimes with the urn, often a little later.
• A celebration of life focuses on the person's story and personality. The tone can be lighter, and it can happen weeks or months later, at home, outdoors or in a rented hall.

Any of them can be religious, spiritual, secular or a mix. One practical rule, from the BAO: when the body or ashes are present, the service is coordinated by a licensed funeral establishment or by the family itself. A memorial or celebration of life without the body or ashes present can be hosted by anyone.

For a side-by-side comparison and help choosing, see celebration of life or funeral: which to choose.

How do you plan the ceremony itself?

Start with the person, then the practical details:

1. Choose the kind of gathering and its tone: formal or relaxed, with or without faith elements.
2. Pick a date and place. A funeral home chapel, a place of worship, a community hall, a garden or a family home can all work. Ask the venue about its rules for music, candles and capacity.
3. Decide who leads: a celebrant, a faith leader or a family member.
4. Gather memories. Ask relatives and friends for stories, photos and the words that sum the person up. The tribute is built from them.
5. Shape the order: a welcome, the tribute, one or two readings, music, a moment everyone can share (a silence, a candle, memories spoken aloud), closing words and details for the reception.
6. Keep it to a comfortable length. 30 to 60 minutes suits most gatherings. Ask each speaker to write their words down and keep to a few minutes.
7. Think of those who cannot come: a livestream or recording, if the venue allows it.

For more ways to make it personal, see our celebration of life ideas.

Planning your own arrangements ahead of time? See our guide to pre-planning a funeral or celebration of life in Ontario.

What does a celebrant do?

A celebrant writes and leads a ceremony that reflects the person who died. They meet the family, listen, write the tribute, help speakers prepare, lead on the day and keep the timing, alongside the funeral home if there is one. A celebrant is not a funeral director: they do not look after the body, register the death or obtain permits.

If you would like a celebrant, Celebrance can connect you with one from our local network in Ontario. The price is shown upfront, and if your celebrant becomes unavailable, we arrange a replacement. See our celebrants for funerals and celebrations of life.

Information checked on September 24, 2026 against official sources (Government of Ontario, Bereavement Authority of Ontario, Government of Canada). Rules can change: confirm with the relevant office before you act.

Sources: ontario.ca: what do when someone dies · ontario.ca: arrange funeral burial cremation alkaline hydrolysis or scattering · ontario.ca: get or replace an ontario death certificate · ontario.ca: 110030 · thebao.ca: consumer information guide · thebao.ca: bao cig eng july2025.pdf · thebao.ca: consumer rights · thebao.ca: welcome to the bereavement authority of ontarios faq for consumers · canada.ca: cpp death benefit · canada.ca: cancel cpp · canada.ca: notify · canada.ca: benefits programs