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

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{{A Death in Your Family TOC}}
{{REVIEWEDPLS | reviewer = [[Helen Low|Helen Low, QC]] and [[Nicco Bautista]]|date= January 2017}}{{A Death in Your Family TOC}}
== Information about bereavement ==
===BC Bereavement Helpline===
A non-profit society that helps people in BC cope with grief.
:Lower Mainland: 604-738-9950
:Toll-free: 1-877-779-2223
:[mailto://contact@bcbh.ca contact@bcbh.ca]
:[http://www.bcbh.ca/ bcbh.ca ]


{| class="wikitable"
===BC Funeral Association===
|- valign="top"
A non-profit, membership organization that provides information about funeral services in BC.
| width="20%" | '''BC Bereavement Helpline'''
:Toll-free: 1-800-665-3899
| width="40%" | A non-profit society that facilitates the care and support of the bereaved throughout BC.
:[mailto://info@bcfunerals.com info@bcfunerals.com]
| width="40%" | Website: [http://www.bcbereavementhelpline.com www.bcbereavementhelpline.com]
:[http://www.bcfunerals.com bcfunerals.com ]
Phone: 604-738-9950 (Lower Mainland) <br/>
Phone toll-free: 1-877-779-2223<br/>
Box 53530, 984 West Broadway, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1K7
|- valign="top"
| width="20%" | '''BC Children’s Hospital'''
| width="40%" | Offers support services for parents on the death of a <span class="noglossary">child</span>.
| width="40%" | Website: [http://www.bcchildrens.ca www.bcchildrens.ca]
Phone: 604-875-2345 (Lower Mainland)<br/>
Phone toll-free: 1-888-300-3088<br/>
Email: [mailto://FSRC@cw.bc.ca FSRC@cw.bc.ca]<br/>
4480 Oak Street, Vancouver, BC V6H 3N1
|-
|}


== Information about burial and cremation ==
===BC Transplant===
A provincial health agency that oversees all aspects of organ donation and transplantation in BC, including the BC Organ Donor Registry.
:Lower Mainland: 604-877-2240
:Toll-free: 1-800-663-6189
:[mailto://info@bct.phsa.ca info@bct.phsa.ca]
:[http://www.transplant.bc.ca/ transplant.bc.ca]


{| class="wikitable"
===Canada.ca===
|- valign="top"
The section “[https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/services/benefits/family/death.html Following a Death]includes information about federal benefits available and steps to take after a loved one has died.
| width="20%" | '''Consumer Protection BC'''
:Toll-free: 1-800-622-6232
| width="40%" | Responsible for the administration and enforcement of the ''Consumer Protection Act'' and the ''Cremation, Interment and Funeral Services Act''.
:Toll-free TTY: 1-800-926-9105
| width="40%" | Website: [http://www.consumerprotectionbc.ca www.consumerprotectionbc.ca]
:[https://www.canada.ca/home.html canada.ca]
Phone: 604-320-1667 (Lower Mainland)<br/>
Phone toll-free: 1-888-564-9963 <br/>
PO Box 9244, Victoria, BC V8W 9J2
|- valign="top"
| 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.
| width="40%" | Website: [http://www.ccabc.org www.ccabc.org]
Phone: 604-866-7292 (Lower Mainland)<br/>
Phone toll-free: 1-866-587-3213 <br/>
Email: [mailto://info@ccabc.org info@ccabc.org]<br/>
PO Box 10082, Aldergrove, BC V4W 3Z5
|- valign="top"
| 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.
| width="40%" | Website: [http://www.bcfunerals.com www.bcfunerals.com]
Phone: 250-592-3213 (Victoria)<br/>
Phone toll-free: 1-800-665-3899 <br/>
Email: [mailto://info@bcfunerals.com info@bcfunerals.com]<br/>
211 – 2187 Oak Bay Avenue Victoria, BC V8R 1G1
|-
|}


== Memorial societies ==
===Consumer Protection BC===
Handles complaints about funeral homes, cemeteries, or crematoriums in BC.
:Toll-free: 1-888-564-9963
:[mailto://info@consumerprotectionbc.ca info@consumerprotectionbc.ca]
:[https://www.consumerprotectionbc.ca/consumer-help/consumer-information-funeral-rights/  consumerprotectionbc.ca]


{| class="wikitable"
===Coroners Service of BC===
|- valign="top"
Appointed officials who investigate all unnatural, sudden or unexpected deaths in BC.
| width="20%" | '''People’s Memorial Society of BC'''
:Lower Mainland: 604-660-7745
| width="40%" | A non-profit and locally-operated society that provides pre-arrangement, burial, cremation, memorial, funeral, and <span class="noglossary">transfer</span> services.
:[mailto://CoronerRequest@gov.bc.ca CoronerRequest@gov.bc.ca]
| width="40%" | Website: [http://www.peoplesmemorialsocietybc.com www.peoplesmemorialsocietybc.com]
:[https://gov.bc.ca/coroners gov.bc.ca/coroners]
Phone toll-free: 1-800-661-3358 <br/>
Email: [mailto://info@peoplesmemorialsocietybc.com info@peoplesmemorialsocietybc.com] <br/>
505 Stn Main, Vernon BC V1T 9Z9
|- valign="top"
| width="20%" | '''Memorial Society of BC'''
| width="40%" | A non-profit organization that helps to plan funerals that are simple, dignified and affordable.
| width="40%" | Website: [http://www.memorialsocietybc.org www.memorialsocietybc.org]
Phone: 604-733-7705 (Lower Mainland)<br/>
Phone toll-free: 1-888-816-5902 <br/>
Email: [mailto://mail@memsoc.org mail@memsoc.org] <br/>
205 - 640 West Broadway, Vancouver BC V5Z 1G4
|-
|}


==Information about legal and medical matters==
===Last Post Fund===
A non-profit society that delivers a Veterans Affairs Canada program providing funeral and burial benefits for eligible Canadian and Allied veterans.
:Toll-free: 1-800-465-7113
:[mailto://info@lastpost.ca info@lastpost.ca]
:[http://www.lastpostfund.ca/ lastpostfund.ca]


{| class="wikitable"
===Memorial Society of BC===
|- valign="top"
A non-profit society that helps to plan funerals that are simple, dignified and affordable.
| width="20%" | '''British Columbia Hospice Palliative Care Association'''
:Toll-free: 1-888-816-5902
| 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.
:[mailto://mail@memorialsocietybc.org mail@memorialsocietybc.org]
| width="40%" | Website: [http://www.bchpca.org www.bchpca.org]
:[https://memorialsocietybc.org/ memorialsocietybc.org]
Phone:  604-267-7024 (Lower Mainland) <br/>
Phone toll-free: 1-877-410-6297 <br/>
Email: [mailto://office@bchpca.org office@bchpca.org] <br/>
1100-1200 West 73rd Ave, Vancouver, BC V6P 6G5
|- valign="top"
| 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.
| width="40%" | Website: [http://www.vs.gov.bc.ca www.vs.gov.bc.ca]
Phone: 250-952-2681 (Victoria)<br/>
Phone toll-free: 1-888-876-1633 <br/>
PO Box 9657 Stn Prov Govt, Victoria, BC V8W 9P3
|- valign="top"
| 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.
| width="40%" | Website: [http://www.pssg.gov.bc.ca/coroners www.pssg.gov.bc.ca/coroners]
Phone: 604-660-7745 (Lower Mainland)<br/>
Phone toll-free: 1-800-663-7867 (Service BC) <br/>
Email: [mailto://CoronerRequest@gov.bc.ca CoronerRequest@gov.bc.ca] <br/>
Chief Coroner’s Office Metrotower II <br/>
800 – 4720 Kingsway, Burnaby, BC V5H 4N2
|- valign="top"
| 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.
| width="40%" | Website: [http://www.trustee.bc.ca www.trustee.bc.ca]
Phone: 604-660-4444 (Lower Mainland)<br/>
Phone toll-free: 1-800-663-7867 (Service BC) <br/>
Email: [mailto://mail@trustee.bc.ca mail@trustee.bc.ca] <br/>
700 – 808 West Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC V6C 3L3
|- valign="top"
| width="20%" | '''British Columbia Transplant Society'''
| width="40%" | BC Transplant directs, delivers, or contracts for all organ transplant services across BC.
| width="40%" | Website: [http://www.transplant.bc.ca www.transplant.bc.ca]
Phone: 604-877-2240 (Lower Mainland)<br/>
Phone toll-free: 1-800-663-6189 <br/>
Email: [mailto://BCTS_Webmaster@bcts.hnet.bc.ca BCTS_Webmaster@bcts.hnet.bc.ca]<br/>
555 West 12th Avenue (West Tower), Vancouver, BC V5Z 3X7
|- valign="top"
| width="20%" | '''Will and Estates: Attorney General'''
| width="40%" | The Ministry of Attorney General website has information about wills and estates, including probate procedures.
| width="40%" | Website: [http://www.clicklaw.bc.ca/resource/1682 www.clicklaw.bc.ca/resource/1682]
|- valign="top"
| width="20%" | '''''British Columbia Probate Kit'', Self-Counsel Press'''
| width="40%" | Provides step-by-step <span class="noglossary">instructions</span> of how to probate an estate and includes all the required forms on enclosed CD-ROM. This kit also contains administration forms, which you <span class="noglossary">will</span> need if no valid will is available.
| width="40%" | Website: [http://www.self-counsel.com/default/bc-probate-kit.html www.self-counsel.com] <br/>
You can also find Self-Counsel Press publications for <span class="noglossary">sale</span> in many bookstores and in your local public library.
|- valign="top"
| 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.
| width="40%" | Website: [http://www.clicklaw.bc.ca/helpmap/service/1044 www.clicklaw.bc.ca/helpmap/service/1044]
Phone: 604-687-3221 (Lower Mainland)<br/>
Phone toll-free: 1-800-663-1919 <br/>
Email: [mailto://lawyerreferral@bccba.org lawyerreferral@bccba.org]
|- valign="top"
| width="20%" | '''The 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.
| width="40%" | Website: [http://www.notaries.bc.ca www.notaries.bc.ca]
Phone: 604-681-4516 (Lower Mainland)<br/>
Phone toll-free: 1-800-663-0343 <br/>
Box 44, 1220 - 625 Howe Street, Vancouver, BC V6C 2T6
|-
|}


==Information about benefits==
===Society of Notaries Public of BC===
{| class="wikitable"
A notary public can assist with notarizing a death certificate and providing information about wills and estates. The Society of Notaries Public of BC offers a list of notaries in the province.
|- valign="top"
:Lower Mainland: 604-681-4516
| width="20%" | '''Service Canada'''
:Toll-free: 1-800-663-0343
| 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.
:[http://www.notaries.bc.ca/home/index.rails notaries.bc.ca]
| width="40%" | Website: [http://www.servicecanada.gc.ca www.servicecanada.gc.ca]
 
Phone toll-free: 1-800-OCanada (1-800-622-6232) <br/>
===Vital Statistics Agency===
Phone toll-free TTY: 1-800-926-9105 (for hearing or speech impairment)<br/>
A government agency responsible for the registration of deaths in British Columbia.
PO Box 1177 Station CSC, Victoria BC V8W 2V2
:Victoria: 250-952-2681
|- valign="top"
:Toll-free: 1-888-876-1633
| width="20%" | '''Ministry of Social Development'''
:[http://gov.bc.ca/vitalstatistics gov.bc.ca/vitalstatistics]
| 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 costs.
| width="40%" | Website: [http://www.hsd.gov.bc.ca/publicat/bcea/Funerals.htm www.hsd.gov.bc.ca/publicat/bcea/Funerals.htm]
Phone toll-free: 1-666-866-0800 (to locate an office near you)
|- valign="top"
| width="20%" | '''The 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.
| width="40%" | Website: [http://www.pssg.gov.bc.ca/victimservices/financial/index.htm www.pssg.gov.bc.ca/victimservices/financial/index.htm]
Phone: 604-660-3888 (Lower Mainland)<br/>
Phone toll-free: 1-866-660-3888 <br/>
Email: [mailto://SGCrimeVictimAssistanceProgram@gov.bc.ca SGCrimeVictimAssistanceProgram@gov.bc.ca] <br/>
PO Box 5550 Station Terminal, Vancouver BC V6B 1H1 <br>
|- valign="top"
| 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.  
| width="40%" | Website: [http://www.icbc.com www.icbc.com]
Phone: 604-661-2800 (Lower Mainland)<br/>
Phone toll-free: 1-800-663-3051
|- valign="top"
| 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.
| width="40%" | Website: [http://www.lastpostfund.ca www.lastpostfund.ca]
Phone: 604-572-3242 (Lower Mainland)<br/>
Phone toll-free: 1-800-268-0248<br/>
Email: [mailto://lpfinfowest@lastpost.ca lpfinfowest@lastpost.ca ]<br/>
203 – 7337, 137th Street,Surrey, BC V3W 1A4 
|- valign="top"
| width="20%" | '''WorkSafeBC'''
| width="40%" | 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. 
| width="40%" | [Website: http://www.worksafebc.com www.worksafebc.com]
|-
|}


{{REVIEWED | reviewer = [[People's Law School]], 2012}}


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__NOGLOSSARY__
__NOTOC__

Latest revision as of 19:36, 13 December 2019

This information applies to British Columbia, Canada. Last reviewed for legal accuracy by Helen Low, QC and Nicco Bautista in January 2017.

BC Bereavement Helpline

A non-profit society that helps people in BC cope with grief.

Lower Mainland: 604-738-9950
Toll-free: 1-877-779-2223
contact@bcbh.ca
bcbh.ca

BC Funeral Association

A non-profit, membership organization that provides information about funeral services in BC.

Toll-free: 1-800-665-3899
info@bcfunerals.com
bcfunerals.com

BC Transplant

A provincial health agency that oversees all aspects of organ donation and transplantation in BC, including the BC Organ Donor Registry.

Lower Mainland: 604-877-2240
Toll-free: 1-800-663-6189
info@bct.phsa.ca
transplant.bc.ca

Canada.ca

The section “Following a Death” includes information about federal benefits available and steps to take after a loved one has died.

Toll-free: 1-800-622-6232
Toll-free TTY: 1-800-926-9105
canada.ca

Consumer Protection BC

Handles complaints about funeral homes, cemeteries, or crematoriums in BC.

Toll-free: 1-888-564-9963
info@consumerprotectionbc.ca
consumerprotectionbc.ca

Coroners Service of BC

Appointed officials who investigate all unnatural, sudden or unexpected deaths in BC.

Lower Mainland: 604-660-7745
CoronerRequest@gov.bc.ca
gov.bc.ca/coroners

Last Post Fund

A non-profit society that delivers a Veterans Affairs Canada program providing funeral and burial benefits for eligible Canadian and Allied veterans.

Toll-free: 1-800-465-7113
info@lastpost.ca
lastpostfund.ca

Memorial Society of BC

A non-profit society that helps to plan funerals that are simple, dignified and affordable.

Toll-free: 1-888-816-5902
mail@memorialsocietybc.org
memorialsocietybc.org

Society of Notaries Public of BC

A notary public can assist with notarizing a death certificate and providing information about wills and estates. The Society of Notaries Public of BC offers a list of notaries in the province.

Lower Mainland: 604-681-4516
Toll-free: 1-800-663-0343
notaries.bc.ca

Vital Statistics Agency

A government agency responsible for the registration of deaths in British Columbia.

Victoria: 250-952-2681
Toll-free: 1-888-876-1633
gov.bc.ca/vitalstatistics



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.