Difference between revisions of "Immediately After Someone Dies"

Whether the death took place at home or in hospital, arrangements must be made to remove the body. There are legal requirements as to who can remove the body, where it can be moved to, and who can authorize the removal.

Only licensed funeral homes or those issued a permit by Consumer Protection BC may move a body.

A body can be moved only to a place of cremation or burial, a place where a bereavement ceremony will be held, or a funeral home.

The removal must be authorized by a representative or relative of the deceased according to a priority order set out under BC law. The priority order begins with the personal representative named in the deceased’s will, followed by the deceased’s spouse, adult children (in age descending order), adult grandchildren and so on. If the person at the top of the priority order is unavailable or unwilling to give instructions, the right to give instructions passes to the person who is next in priority.

The authorization to remove the body can be made by telephone. However, the funeral home must not dispose of the body until it receives written authorization from the representative of the deceased.

===Your loved one may have made arrangements===  

Your deceased loved one may have made arrangements with a funeral home, and may even have prepaid for services. They may have left instructions in a will.  

 

If prior arrangements have not been made, contact a funeral home. For information on funeral homes in your area, contact the BC Funeral Association at [http://www.bcfunerals.com/ www.bcfunerals.com] or 1-800-665-3899.