Where to Get Help for A Death in Your Family

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Information about bereavement[edit]

BC Bereavement Helpline A non-profit society that facilitates the care and support of the bereaved throughout BC. Website: www.bcbereavementhelpline.com

Phone: 604-738-9950 (Lower Mainland)
Phone toll-free: 1-877-779-2223
Box 53530, 984 West Broadway, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1K7

BC Children’s Hospital Offers support services for parents on the death of a child. Website: www.bcchildrens.ca

Phone: 604-875-2345 (Lower Mainland)
Phone toll-free: 1-888-300-3088
Email: FSRC@cw.bc.ca
4480 Oak Street, Vancouver, BC V6H 3N1

Information about burial and cremation[edit]

Consumer Protection BC Responsible for the administration and enforcement of the Consumer Protection Act and the Cremation, Interment and Funeral Services Act. Website: www.consumerprotectionbc.ca

Phone: 604-320-1667 (Lower Mainland)
Phone toll-free: 1-888-564-9963
PO Box 9244, Victoria, BC V8W 9J2

Cemetery and Crematorium Association of BC A non-profit provincial death-care association that provides information for cremation, cemetery and memorialization professionals. Website: www.ccabc.org

Phone: 604-866-7292 (Lower Mainland)
Phone toll-free: 1-866-587-3213
Email: info@ccabc.org
PO Box 10082, Aldergrove, BC V4W 3Z5

Funeral Service Association of BC A non-profit association that provides general information about funeral services in BC. The section of their website “When Death Occurs,” has information about what to do first, how to contact the funeral home, and what to expect. Website: www.bcfunerals.com

Phone: 250-592-3213 (Victoria)
Phone toll-free: 1-800-665-3899
Email: info@bcfunerals.com
211 – 2187 Oak Bay Avenue Victoria, BC V8R 1G1

Memorial societies[edit]

The People’s Memorial Society of BC A non-profit and locally-operated society that provides pre-arrangement, burial, cremation, memorial, funeral, and transfer services. Website: www.peoplesmemorialsocietybc.com

Phone toll-free: 1-800-661-3358
Email: info@peoplesmemorialsocietybc.com
505 Stn Main, Vernon BC V1T 9Z9

Memorial Society of BC A non-profit organization that helps to plan funerals that are simple, dignified and affordable. Website: www.memorialsocietybc.org

Phone: 604-733-7705 (Lower Mainland)
Phone toll-free: 1-888-816-5902
Email: mail@memsoc.org
205 - 640 West Broadway, Vancouver BC V5Z 1G4

Information about legal and medical matters[edit]

British Columbia Hospice Palliative Care Association Provides leadership and support for its member organizations and individuals. Its goal is to ensure quality care for British Columbians faced with a life-threatening illness, death, and bereavement. Website: www.bchpca.org

Phone: 604-806-8821 (Lower Mainland)
Phone toll-free: 1-877-422-4722
Email: office@hospicebc.org
502 – 1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 1Y6

Vital Statistics Agency The British Columbia Vital Statistics Agency is responsible for the registration of births, marriages, and deaths in British Columbia. Offices are located in Victoria, Vancouver, and Kelowna. Website: www.vs.gov.bc.ca

Phone: 604-660-2937 (Lower Mainland)
Phone toll-free: 1-888-876-1633
PO Box 9657 Stn Prov Govt, Victoria, BC V8W 9P3

Coroners Service The Coroners Service of British Columbia is responsible for the inquiry and investigation of all unnatural, unexpected, unexplained, or unattended deaths. Website: www.pssg.gov.bc.ca/coroners

Phone: 604-660-7745 (Lower Mainland)
Phone toll-free: 1-800-663-7868 (Enquiry BC)
Email: BC.CorSer@gov.bc.ca
Chief Coroner’s Office Metrotower II
800 – 4720 Kingsway, Burnaby, BC V5H 4N2

Public Guardians and Trustee Office Administers estates of people in BC who die with or without a will when an executor, family member, or other eligible person either does not wish or is unable to carry out the administration of the estate. Website: www.trustee.bc.ca

Phone: 604-660-4444 (Lower Mainland)
Phone toll-free: 1-800-663-7867 (Enquiry BC)
Email: mail@trustee.bc.ca
700 – 808 West Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC V6C 3L3

British Columbia Transplant Society The British Columbia Transplant Society (BCTS) directs, delivers, or contracts for all organ transplant services across BC. Website: www.transplant.bc.ca

Phone: 604-877-2240 (Lower Mainland)
Phone toll-free: 1-800-663-6189
Email: BCTS_Webmaster@bcts.hnet.bc.ca
555 West 12th Avenue (West Tower), Vancouver, BC V5Z 3X7

Will and Estates: Attorney General The Ministry of Attorney General website has information about wills and estates, including probate procedures. Website: www.ag.gov.bc.ca/courts/other/wills_estates.htm
Probate Kit, Self-Counsel Press Provides step-by-step instructions and includes all the required forms on enclosed CD-ROM. This kit also contains administration forms, which you will need if no valid will is available. Website: www.self-counsel.com

You can also find Self-Counsel Press publications for sale in many bookstores and in your local public library.

Lawyer Referral Service The Lawyer Referral Service enables members of the public to consult with a lawyer for up to 30 minutes for a fee of $25 plus taxes. Website:

Phone: 604-687-3221 (Lower Mainland)
Phone toll-free: 1-800-663-1919
Email: lawyerreferral@bccba.org

The Society of Notaries Public A notary public can provide assistance with notarizing death certificates and providing extensive information about wills and estates. Contact the Society office to obtain the name and telephone number of a notary public near you. Ask the notary public how much it will cost for the first meeting. Website: www.notaries.bc.ca

Phone: 604-681-4516 (Lower Mainland)
Phone toll-free: 1-800-663-0343
Box 44, 1220 - 625 Howe Street, Vancouver, BC V6C 2T6

Information about benefits[edit]

Service Canada On the Service Canada website, the section “What to Do following a Death” includes information about benefits available under the Canada Pension Plan. Look under “Additional Information for the Canada Pension Plan and Other Death Related Benefits.” Website: www.servicecanada.gc.ca

Phone toll-free: 1-800-OCanada (1-800-622-6232)
Phone toll-free TTY: 1-800-926-9105 (for hearing or speech impairment)
PO Box 1177 Station CSC, Victoria BC V8W 2V2

Ministry of Social Development When a person dies and there are no resources for funeral expenses, through either the individual’s estate or family, the Ministry of Social Development may help with these costs. Website: www.hsd.gov.bc.ca/publicat/bcea/Funerals.htm

Phone toll-free: 1-666-866-0800 (to locate an office near you)

The Crime Victim Assistance Program Administered by the Victim Service Division of the BC Ministry of Justice. Immediate family members of an injured or deceased victim may be eligible for financial assistance and benefits including funeral expenses. Website: www.pssg.gov.bc.ca/victimservices/financial/index.htm

Phone: 604-660-3888 (Lower Mainland)
Phone toll-free: 1-866-660-3888
Email: SGCrimeVictimAssistanceProgram@gov.bc.ca
PO Box 5550 Station Terminal, Vancouver BC V6B 1H1

ICBC Will provide no-fault accident benefits, including payment for the cost of funeral expenses or $2,500, whichever is less. Website: www.icbc.com

Phone: 604-661-2800 (Lower Mainland)
Phone toll-free: 1-800-663-3051

The Last Post Its primary mandate is to deliver the Veterans Affairs Canada Funeral and Burial Program which provides funeral, burial and grave marking benefits for eligible Canadian and allied veterans. Website: www.lastpostfund.ca

Phone: 604-572-3242 (Lower Mainland)
Phone toll-free: 1-800-268-0248
Email: lpfinfowest@lastpost.ca
203 – 7337, 137th Street,Surrey, BC V3W 1A4

WorkSafeBC Dedicated to promoting workplace health and safety for the workers and employers of this province. “For Families: A Guide for Families Coping with a Work-Related Death or Terminal Illness” is a booklet available on their website. [Website: http://www.worksafebc.com www.worksafebc.com]
This information applies to British Columbia, Canada. Last reviewed for legal accuracy by People's Law School, 2012.



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