2. Find the will and arrange the funeral 

You need the will to know what the person wanted to happen to their estate. The person who made you their estate trustee may have given you a copy of their will or told you where to find it. If they did not, you can:

• look through their personal papers at home or in a safety deposit box, though a bank may not let you access it
• ask their family, friends, and caregivers, including nursing home staff ask the person who was their:
  • attorney for property in a Power of Attorney for Property, if they had one
  • attorney for personal care in a Power of Attorney for Personal Care, if they had one
  • guardian of property as appointed by the court, if they had one
  • guardian of the person as appointed by the court, if they had one
• ask their professional advisors, including lawyers, financial planners, and accountants
• check online wills registries

You can also place an advertisement in the Ontario Reports and local newspapers asking if anyone knows about the will.

And you can show the death certificate to the staff at the Superior Court of Justice closest to the person's home to see if the will was registered with them. Local courts may be able to help with a province-wide search. In Toronto, you can contact the Estates Office at 330 University Avenue in person or by phone at 416-326-2940.

If you need help searching, or cannot find the original will, you may want to speak to an estates lawyer.

Arrange their funeral

Check the will for any instructions about the funeral. You have the right to make plans based on the person's wishes, even if family members and friends do not agree.

The person might have planned their funeral or left instructions about things like:

• if they want to be buried or cremated
• the type of wake, funeral, or memorial service they want

Funeral expenses are paid from the estate before you give anything to the beneficiaries. You might be able to apply for the Canada Pension Plan death benefit if the person who died worked and paid into the Canada Pension Plan. Money from the benefit can help with funeral costs.

Get the death certificate

The funeral director can give you copies of the death certificate. If the person died in Ontario, you can also order a certificate from Service Ontario.

If the person died outside Canada, you must get the certificate from the country where they died.

You'll need several copies of the death certificate. For example, you need copies to:

• sell the person's house
• access their bank accounts
• apply for probate