What you need to know before you arrange a funeral, burial, cremation, alkaline hydrolysis or scattering service.
Only certain people have the legal authority to decide what will happen to the body of the deceased person. In order of priority, they are:
If you are an estate trustee, expect to provide photo ID and proof of your authority (e.g., a will or court order) before you make arrangements.
Under the Funeral, Burial and Cremation Services Act, you have certain rights when planning a funeral, burial, cremation, alkaline hydrolysis or scattering.
If you have questions or need to file a complaint against a licensed bereavement service operator, contact the Bereavement Authority of Ontario.
By law, cemetery, crematorium, funeral establishment, alternative disposition and transfer service operators must be licensed by the Bereavement Authority of Ontario.
This doesn’t mean that you are legally obligated to choose certain supplies or services from only these providers. You can also buy supplies like caskets, monuments and markers from businesses that are not licensed by the Bereavement Authority of Ontario.
Before buying, be sure to check and confirm the items will be accepted by the
You do not have to use a funeral establishment or transfer service.
A family member of the deceased can arrange funeral services without a licence if they are not being paid.
You must first register the death with the local municipality. This is usually in the municipality where the death occurred. The death must be registered before a burial permit can be issued and a burial permit is needed for a cremation, burial or alkaline hydrolysis.
If you decide to have the body cremated or utilize alkaline hydrolysis, you can apply directly to the Office of the Chief Coroner for a cremation certificate.
If you are moving a body out of Ontario, you must apply directly to the Office of the Chief Coroner for an out-of-province body shipment certificate.
In Ontario, there is no requirement to embalm a body. You may choose to wash and dress the body without embalming. However, embalming may be recommended to preserve a body between the time of death and time of visitation, burial, cremation or alkaline hydrolysis.
If a deceased person is being moved to another country, embalming may be required by the receiving country or by the company transporting the body (like an airline). Ask your funeral establishment operator transportation company, and/or the destination country for more information.
Some cemeteries will let you bury a body without a casket (for example, in a shroud). It will depend on the cemetery’s by-laws.
For cremation, some crematorium by-laws only require that the deceased be in a rigid container. Some service providers will allow you to provide your own container for a cremation, alkaline hydrolysis or a burial as long as it is safe and meets the requirements of the cemetery, alternative disposition or crematorium operator.
If you are purchasing a casket from a licensed service provider, the provider must offer a range of caskets in different price ranges for you to choose from.
Not all caskets can be used for cremations, so make sure to check with your cremation service provider before you make a purchase.
In Ontario, you may:
You can apply to your local municipality for assistance if you do not have enough money to pay for a funeral, transfer service, burial, alkaline hydrolysis or cremation.
You must apply for this financial assistance before you enter into a contract with a service provider, as you may not be eligible for assistance afterwards.
In these situations, there are usually financial limits associated with your choice of casket, urn or grave and services.
Contact the Bereavement Authority of Ontario if you are inquiring about:
