Nunavut Funeral Checklist: What Needs to Happen in the First Week

The first week after a death in Nunavut involves more administrative complexity than most families anticipate — and missing a single step can delay the burial, forfeit thousands of dollars in available benefits, or create legal complications that take months to undo. This checklist is not exhaustive, but it covers the sequence of critical steps that cannot be skipped, in the order they need to happen.

Day 1: Immediately After Death

If the death was expected (palliative):

• [ ] Call the community health centre to have a nurse practitioner or physician pronounce the death and begin the Medical Certificate of Death
• [ ] Notify close family and community — this is also the time to confirm who has legal authority over funeral arrangements (check whether there is a Will)

If the death was sudden or unexpected:

• [ ] Call the RCMP — do not move the body
• [ ] The RCMP will contact the Coroner's Office if needed
• [ ] Wait for the Coroner's release before making any funeral arrangements

For all deaths:

• [ ] Contact the Community Liaison Officer for the Regional Inuit Association (QIA, KIA, or KitIA) if the deceased was an enrolled Inuk — start the bereavement travel and shipment of remains application as early as possible
• [ ] Contact the local Department of Family Services office if the deceased was over 60, or if the family has no means to pay — apply promptly for the Seniors Burial Benefit and keep all invoices and receipts
• [ ] Gather the deceased's identifying documents: SIN card, health card, birth certificate, and the original Will if one exists

Days 2-3: Securing the Burial Permit

• [ ] Obtain the original Medical Certificate of Death from the attending nurse/physician or the Coroner
• [ ] Complete the Registration of Death form — ensure all biographical details match the deceased's official documents exactly (mismatched names or dates will cause a rejection)
• [ ] Submit the completed registration package to Nunavut Vital Statistics in Rankin Inlet using the current Government of Nunavut submission instructions
• [ ] Contact the Hamlet SAO (or Qikiqtani Funeral Services in Iqaluit) to initiate the burial permit and coordinate grave preparation
• [ ] If cremation is preferred: engage a funeral director to begin arranging air transport of the body out of territory — Nunavut has no crematoria

Days 3-5: Funding and Contracts

• [ ] Contact the Department of Family Services and/or the Regional Inuit Association promptly, and keep written confirmation of any funding decision
• [ ] If using Qikiqtani Funeral Services: request an itemized price list in writing before agreeing to any services
• [ ] Ask the City of Iqaluit whether any grave-opening assistance applies to a burial at Apex Cemetery
• [ ] Confirm the burial permit is issued before scheduling the ceremony
• [ ] Book air cargo transport of remains if needed — obtain the airwaybill number for the Regional Inuit Association benefit application

Days 5-7: Ceremony and Formal Registration

• [ ] Hold the burial or cremation service
• [ ] Apply to Nunavut Vital Statistics for the official Death Certificate: $10 per copy, payable by cheque or money order, mailed to PO Box 889, Rankin Inlet, NU X0C 0G0 — order 5-10 copies if possible
• [ ] Begin the CPP Death Benefit application (ISP1200 form) through Service Canada — this pays up to $2,500 to the estate; processing time varies, so starting early matters

Within One Week of the Funeral

• [ ] File the NTI Compassionate and Bereavement Travel application through the local Community Liaison Officer within one week of the funeral; approved travel must take place within 30 days
• [ ] Notify the deceased's bank, employer, and pension administrator with certified Death Certificate copies
• [ ] Notify the Canada Revenue Agency of the death

Within 90 Days of Death

• [ ] Follow up on the Seniors Burial Benefit application if not already approved — applications are typically expected within 90 days of death
• [ ] If applying for Income Assistance, do so before incurring significant external debt and be prepared to show that other resources have been exhausted

Ongoing: Estate Administration

Once the Death Certificate is in hand, the executor or administrator can begin the formal estate process: filing for probate at the Nunavut Court of Justice if needed, filing the terminal tax return with the CRA, and distributing assets to beneficiaries.

The complete checklist with form references, agency contact information, and the document assembly guide is in the Nunavut Funeral Laws & Consumer Rights Guide at /ca/nunavut/survivor-benefits/.

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