A Death certificate or a Copy of the act of death issued by the Directeur de l'état civil du Québec are legally recognized as proof of death to confirm that the death has been entered in the Québec register of civil status. These documents allow the liquidator of the succession to complete various formalities related to settling the succession.
You will use these official documents to terminate government programs and request benefits. They also determine to start date for the payment of survivor benefits.
The Directeur de l'état civil issues the following civil status documents related to death:
- Death certificate
- Copy of an act of death
- Attestation of death
The only documents that provide proof of death are a death certificate or a copy of an act of death. Purposes for which they are used include:
- facilitating the settlement of a succession
- determining the start of benefits or pension payments to survivors
Some organizations accept an attestation as proof of death. Others require a death certificate or a copy of the act of death. Therefore, when proof of death is required, you should check with the organization concerned as to what type of document it accepts.
The Directeur de l'état civil can only issue a death certificate or a copy of the act of death once the death is recorded in the Québec register of civil status. The certificate or copy of the act will be issued in the same language as that in which the death was recorded in the register.
Death Certificate
A death certificate contains the following information about the deceased:
- Family name, given names, gender, date of birth
- Date, time and place of death
Other information on the certificate includes the registration number of the death in the Québec register of civil status and the number and date of issue of the certificate.
Copy of an Act of Death
A copy of an act of death reproduces all the information on the act of death. However, certain information may be absent if the death occurred before 1994. The number and date of issue of the copy are also on the copy of the act.
Attestation of Death
An attestation of death is a letter bearing the seal of the Directeur de l'état civil. It attests to the presence or absence of:
- an act of death for that individual in the Québec register of civil status
- any information that, by law, must appear on the act of death
Act of Death Issued outside Québec
The Directeur de l'état civil can insert an act of death issued outside Québec by a competent authority in the Québec register of civil status, provided the deceased was domiciled in Québec. After inserting that act, the Directeur can issue a death certificate, an attestation of death or a copy of the act of death.
Note
Despite its insertion in the register, an act of death issued outside Québec is a semi-authentic document (see Definitions), unless its validity has been recognized by a Québec court. A certificate, attestation or copy issued by the Directeur de l'état civil in connection with such an act of death will bear a statement as to the semi-authentic nature of the act.
Semi-Authentic Document
Document issued by the Directeur de l'état civil certifying that a civil status event took place outside Québec and that the act concerning that event was originally drawn up by a public officer in another province or territory, or outside Canada.
