Difference between revisions of "Where to Get Help for A Death in Your Family"

| width="20%" | '''BC Bereavement Helpline'''

| width="40%" | A non-profit society that facilitates the care and support of the bereaved throughout BC.

Phone: 604-738-9950 (Lower Mainland) <br/>

Phone toll-free: 1-877-779-2223<br/>

| width="20%" | '''BC Children’s Hospital'''

| width="40%" | Offers support services for parents on the death of a <span class="noglossary">child</span>.

Phone: 604-875-2345 (Lower Mainland)<br/>

Phone toll-free: 1-888-300-3088<br/>

| width="20%" | '''Cemetery and Crematorium Association of BC'''

| width="40%" | A non-profit provincial death-care association that provides information for cremation, cemetery and memorialization professionals.

Phone: 604-866-7292 (Lower Mainland)<br/>

Phone toll-free: 1-866-587-3213 <br/>

| width="20%" | '''Consumer Protection BC'''

| width="40%" | Responsible for the administration and enforcement of the ''Consumer Protection Act'' and the ''Cremation, Interment and Funeral Services Act''.

Phone: 604-320-1667 (Lower Mainland)<br/>

Phone toll-free: 1-888-564-9963 <br/>

| width="20%" | '''Funeral Service Association of BC'''

| width="40%" | 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 <span class="noglossary">contact</span> the funeral home, and what to expect.

Phone: 250-592-3213 (Victoria)<br/>

Phone toll-free: 1-800-665-3899 <br/>

| width="20%" | '''Memorial Society of BC'''

| width="40%" | A non-profit organization that helps to plan funerals that are simple, dignified and affordable.  

Phone: 604-733-7705 (Lower Mainland)<br/>

Phone toll-free: 1-888-816-5902 <br/>

| width="20%" | '''British Columbia Hospice Palliative Care Association'''

| width="40%" | 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.  

Phone:  604-267-7024 (Lower Mainland) <br/>

Phone toll-free: 1-877-410-6297 <br/>

| width="20%" | '''British Columbia Transplant Society'''

| width="40%" | BC Transplant directs, delivers, or contracts for all organ transplant services across BC.

Phone: 604-877-2240 (Lower Mainland)<br/>

Phone toll-free: 1-800-663-6189 <br/>

| width="20%" | '''Coroners Service'''

| width="40%" | The Coroners Service of British Columbia is responsible for the inquiry and investigation of all unnatural, unexpected, unexplained, or unattended deaths.  

Phone: 604-660-7745 (Lower Mainland)<br/>

Phone toll-free: 1-800-663-7867 (Service BC) <br/>

| width="20%" | '''Lawyer Referral Service'''

| width="40%" | 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.  

Phone: 604-687-3221 (Lower Mainland)<br/>

Phone toll-free: 1-800-663-1919 <br/>

| width="20%" | '''Public Guardians and Trustee Office'''

| width="40%" | 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.

Phone: 604-660-4444 (Lower Mainland)<br/>

Phone toll-free: 1-800-663-7867 (Service BC) <br/>

| width="20%" | '''Society of Notaries Public of BC'''

| width="40%" | A notary public can provide assistance with notarizing death certificates and providing extensive information about wills and estates. <span class="noglossary">Contact</span> 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.  

Phone: 604-681-4516 (Lower Mainland)<br/>

Phone toll-free: 1-800-663-0343 <br/>

| width="20%" | '''Vital Statistics Agency'''  

| width="40%" | 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.  

Phone: 250-952-2681 (Victoria)<br/>

Phone toll-free: 1-888-876-1633 <br/>

| width="20%" | '''Crime Victim Assistance Program'''

| width="40%" | 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.  

Phone: 604-660-3888 (Lower Mainland)<br/>

Phone toll-free: 1-866-660-3888 <br/>

| width="20%" | '''ICBC'''

| width="40%" | Will provide no-fault accident benefits, including payment for the cost of funeral expenses or $2,500, whichever is less.  

Phone: 604-661-2800 (Lower Mainland)<br/>

Phone toll-free: 1-800-663-3051

| width="20%" | '''Ministry of Social Development'''

| width="40%" | 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 <span class="noglossary">costs</span>.  

Phone toll-free: 1-866-866-0800  

|- valign="top"

| width="20%" | '''Service Canada'''

| width="40%" | On the Service Canada website, the section “[http://www.servicecanada.gc.ca/eng/lifeevents/loss.shtml Following a Death]” includes information about benefits available under the Canada Pension Plan.   

Phone toll-free: 1-800-OCanada (1-800-622-6232) <br/>

Phone toll-free TTY: 1-800-926-9105 (for <span class="noglossary">hearing</span> or speech impairment)<br/>

| width="20%" | '''The Last Post'''

| width="40%" | 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.

Phone: 604-572-3242 (Lower Mainland)<br/>

Phone toll-free: 1-800-268-0248<br/>