The definitions in this information guide are intended to familiarize you with the general terms in use. They have no legal value. You must verify with each department or agency to find out the definitions specific to each program or eligibility criterion.
Benefit
Payment made, in particular, under a program or plan.
Bequeath
To give by will in anticipation of death.
Burial
Act of placing a dead person in the ground.
Civil union contract
Notarized contract on the civil union of two persons.
Codicil
Addition or modification to a will after it has been written, without it being invalidated.
Columbarium
Building with recesses in the walls to receive cinerary urns.
Compensatory allowance
Amount paid to one of the spouses to compensate for his or her contribution to the enrichment, in property or services, of the other spouse’s patrimony.
Coroner’s office
Public office that investigates the causes of and circumstances surrounding a death when these are unexplained or unclear.
Curator
Person appointed to administer the property of and look after a person whom the court has declared incapacitated.
Damage
Harm, loss or injury to a person.
De facto spouse
Person living in a conjugal relationship with another person without the undertaking of marriage or a civil union.
Embalming
Procedure to improve the appearance and preserve the body of a deceased person for visitation purposes, before it is cremated or buried.
Family patrimony
Certain property provided for by law that is acquired by married or civil union spouses for the usual needs of the family.
Funeral
Farewell ceremony in homage to a deceased person.
Funeral director/embalmer
Expert responsible for preparing the body of a deceased person and coordinating funeral arrangements.
Funeral rite
Tradition or rite surrounding death.
Heir
Person who is entitled to an inheritance and accepts it according to the law.
Human remains
Body of a deceased person.
Indemnity
Amount granted to compensate for damage sustained.
Inheritance
Property and assets from a succession (an estate).
Legal spouse
A spouse recognized by the Civil code of Québec as a result of marriage or a civil union.
Liquidator (executor)
Person designated to liquidate a person’s succession after death.
Marriage contract
Notarized contract on the marriage of two persons.
Mausoleum
Large sepulchral monument where cinerary urns are stored.
Minor
Person less than 18 years old.
Obligation of support
Legal obligation to provide for the support and educational needs of the children and spouse by marriage or civil union.
Pension
Annual income from financial investments or paid under a public or private program or plan.
Person of full age
Person 18 years old or over.
Succession (estate)
Property and liabilities left by a deceased person, to be distributed according to the dispositions of the law or the will.
Successor
Person entitled to inherit who has not yet accepted the succession.
Survivor
Person who outlives another person.
Testator
Person who makes a will.
Tutor to a minor
Person of full age responsible for overseeing the care provided to a minor and the administration of the child’s property.
Will
Document by which property is bequeathed and last wishes made known in case of death.
