How to Find a Death Certificate in Canada
If you are in need of a certificate of death for a family member or loved one and they died in Canada, the instructions are clear for ordering a death certificate if you go to the correct government site or agency.
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Instructions
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The Division of Vital Statistics
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Log on to the website, or call the Vital Statistics Agency office in the province that your loved one died. For example in British Columbia, the Vital Statistics government website is http://www.vs.gov.bc.ca/.
Look for ".gov" in the web address to ensure you are in the official government site. This is important if you do not want to pay unnecessary fees to a third party. -
2
Affirm that you qualify to obtain the certified copy of a death registration. Certified death registrations are available to the closest living relative after providing proof that you are related, or to a doctor requiring information for other family members in his care. If 20 years has passed, the death record is available to anyone. See the website for other qualifying factors.
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Ensure the death certificate does not require the cause of death. If it is necessary to show the cause of death, then a certified copy of a death registration is required.
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4
Pay the fees associated with a death certificate or a certified copy of a death registration. The cost for a certificate of death is $27.00, and certified death registrations cost $50.00.
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Apply for a death certificate offline. Call the Vital Statistics Office and order the certificate using a credit card or with a facsimile. If you do not wish to use a credit card, ask the office to mail you a death certificate application form. When you send the form in (either through the mail or in person), make sure you include the cheque for all the appropriate fees.
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Tips & Warnings
In addition to obtaining a certificate of death with the Vital Statistics Agency you can:
1) Register a death, marriage, birth and other vital events.
2) Search for a will.
3) Obtain a genealogy certificate. Note that only immediate family qualifies to apply for a genealogy certificate.
4) Order marriage and birth certificates.
