Glossary for A Death in Your Family

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autopsy: A specialized surgical procedure that consists of a thorough examination of a corpse to determine the cause and manner of death and to evaluate any disease or injury that may be present.

assets: What you own. Assets can include things such as money, land, investments, and personal possessions such as jewelry and furniture.

coroner: A coroner is a government official who investigates human deaths, determines cause of death, and issues death certificates.

death certificate: Issued by Vital Statistics, a death certificate declares the date, location and cause of a person’s death as later entered in an official register of deaths.

disposition permit: A document that outlines how human remains will be disposed of.

estate: All of the property and belongings you own at your death. The estate does not include property you own with someone else in joint tenancy, or joint bank accounts.

hospice: Facility that provides special care for people who are near the end of life.

medical certificate: A legal document issued by a qualified medical practitioner certifying the death of a person.

morgue: A place in which dead bodies are temporarily kept until identified and claimed or until arrangements for burial have been made.

next-of-kin: A person’s closest living blood relative or relatives.

obituary notice: A published notice of a death, sometimes with a brief biography of the deceased.

palliative care: Care which improves the quality of life of patients and their families facing life-threatening illness.

pathologist: A doctor who specializes in medical diagnosis.

RRSP: A Registered Retirement Savings Plan or RRSP is an account that provides tax benefits for saving for retirement in Canada.

will: A document, conforming to the requirements of British Columbia law, that contains directions for the disposal or distribution of a person’s assets after his or her death.

This information applies to British Columbia, Canada. Last reviewed for legal accuracy by People's Law School, 2012.



Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International Licence A Death in Your Family © People's Law School is, except for the images, licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International Licence.