Frequently asked questions

The viewing of the body or ashes allows loved ones to say goodbye to the deceased. It is a funeral ritual that gives friends and relatives the opportunity to express their sympathy to the family. The decision to hold a viewing is entirely personal.

A viewing lasts as long as the family wishes. Typically, it may last half a day, a full day, or two days. It is also possible to hold a viewing one hour before the religious service.

Since 1985.

Since 1963.

Parents often hesitate to bring young children to a funeral. They may fear that such a solemn occasion will be too distressing or confusing for the child, who often has only a vague understanding of death.

Generally, children begin to form an idea of death around the age of three. Naturally, this can bring a flood of questions during and after the ceremony. It’s best to answer as honestly as possible, within the limits of one’s own understanding. By around age five, children begin to grasp the irreversible nature of death — that they will never again see the deceased person.

As for concerns about behavior, it’s not unusual for a child to feel out of place or restless during the ceremony. However, most grieving families are understanding and often find comfort in seeing life continue to express itself, even in such moments.

Children should not be indefinitely shielded from the reality of death. Including them in these rituals helps them understand and process this universal part of life.

In recent years, the funeral industry has adapted to better reflect modern life. With the increase in deaths, new forms of farewell ceremonies, and the distances separating families, Sunday funerals are becoming more common within funeral cooperatives.

To meet these evolving needs, partnerships are being developed with clergy, deacons, and pastoral agents, allowing greater flexibility for families — including younger generations, who often have different expectations.

Alternative formats are also being considered to avoid scheduling congestion on Saturdays. For example, weekday ceremonies may soon include visitations from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., followed by a service and reception — a format well suited to working individuals who may not be available on weekends.

In short, Sunday funerals are a meaningful and practical option, though other weekdays can also provide good opportunities for families.

According to the Funeral Operations Act in effect since August 2018, ashes contained in an urn (or any other container) may only be buried in a cemetery. Ashes may also be placed in a columbarium niche, whether it belongs to a cemetery or a funeral home.

Few people know that they may participate in certain aspects of body preparation. Typically, embalming and cosmetic preparation are performed by the embalmer in the funeral home’s laboratory. However, some religious traditions require that the final cleansing or dressing be done by family members or members of their faith community, following specific rituals.

In rare cases, families may wish to do the hair or makeup themselves before the viewing. Funeral cooperatives are generally very open to this and provide support at every step. At this stage, embalming and dressing have already been completed, and the body is placed in the casket or on a preparation table. Participating in this final gesture of care often helps loved ones begin the grieving process more peacefully.

For those who prefer not to perform these tasks themselves, providing details about the person’s usual hairstyle, makeup colors, or perfume can be very helpful. Bringing the deceased’s own makeup — lipstick, foundation, or nail polish — helps create a familiar appearance and can provide comfort to the family.

The Funeral Operations Act (Bill 66), effective since August 2018, regulates the scattering of ashes. No one may scatter human ashes in a place where it could cause a nuisance or in a way that disrespects the dignity of the deceased.

Costs vary from one cemetery to another. In addition to the price of the burial plot, you must also consider the cost of the monument, engraving, and excavation (the digging of the grave).

You can request either a certificate or a certified copy of the death record. Confirm with the organization requesting the document which one they require, to ensure you order the correct type.

For more information, visit the Attestation et copie d'acte .

No. It is recommended to keep these documents in a safe place. They have no expiration date, retain their legal value indefinitely, and may be useful later.

No, the cause of death does not appear on these documents. It is not a legally required element of a death record.

- Certified Copy of the Death Record: An official copy identical to the entry in the civil register..

- Death Certificate: Includes the deceased’s name, sex, date, time, and place of death.

- Attestation: Confirms whether a record or notation exists in the civil register.

A will allows you to decide how your property will be distributed after your death.

If there is no will, the law determines how the estate is divided among legal heirs. In Quebec, half of the family patrimony goes to the surviving spouse, and the other half is distributed according to the Civil Code.Therefore, it is essential to have a will if you wish to distribute your property differently. Common-law partners do not inherit automatically unless named in a will.

Quebec law recognizes three types of wills. Which ones?

     1. Notarial Will: Written and signed before a notary and one or two witnesses.

     2. Holographic Will: Handwritten and signed entirely by the testator, without witnesses. It must be verified by the Court after death.

     3. Will Before Witnesses: May be typed or handwritten by another person, but must be signed by the testator in the presence of two witnesses, who must also sign the document.

If your name appears on the record (for example, as a parent or the person who declared the death), you do not need to justify your request.

If your name does not appear, you must explain your reason for requesting the document and include a photocopy of an official document supporting your request. For more details, see the Certificat et copie d'acte.

The Directeur de l’état civil must receive both the Medical Certificate of Death and the Declaration of Death forms before registering the death.

The registration process involves:

- Analyzing the received documents (completeness, signatures, missing information)

- Gathering missing details from the declarant or health institution, if needed

- Verifying information in the register (name changes, birth, marriage, civil union, divorce)

- Adding notations to the deceased’s birth

- Adding notations to the marriage records, if applicable

- Officially recording the death in the civil register.

Processing time varies depending on the number and complexity of cases being registered.

For more information, visit the Inscription d'un événement au registre de l'état civil.

The death certificate contains the main information recorded in the civil register and is accepted by most institutions. It is also less expensive than a certified copy of the death record when requested under standard processing times.

Always confirm with the organization requesting the document whether a certificate will suffice.

- Be at least 14 years old

- Act freely, without pressure or threat.

- Be of sound mind and sufficiently informed when writing the document

It is always best to preplan funeral arrangements. However, if nothing has been arranged, the first step is to contact your funeral cooperative. They will handle all professional services related to the body, manage legal formalities, and provide guidance. A funeral advisor is available on-site to answer your questions and help you through each step.

A living will is a document in which a person expresses their wishes regarding medical treatments they would or would not want to receive if they became seriously ill and unable to communicate. While not legally binding, it serves as a valuable indication of the person’s preferences and guides loved ones and medical professionals during end-of-life decisions.

A cinerary urn is a container designed to hold a person’s ashes after cremation. Choosing an urn is a personal decision — urns come in various styles, materials, and prices. Traditional urns are often made of wood, marble, or granite. Smaller keepsakes such as pendants and reliquaries are also available. A pendant is a small piece of jewelry worn on a necklace that can contain a symbolic portion of ashes. A reliquary is a miniature urn intended to hold a small amount of ashes. An urn can be kept at home, buried in a cemetery, or placed in a columbarium.

Each columbarium sets its own prices — there is no standard rate. Typically, niches located at eye level are more expensive than those closer to the ground. Some funeral homes allow families to place personal items in the niche, while others do not.

No. The Directeur de l’état civil has no authority to designate a celebrant for a marriage or civil union performed outside Quebec.

No formal training exists. However, the Directeur de l’état civil provides a self-training document called the Guide du célébrant, which contains information on the rules and formalities for performing marriages or civil unions in Quebec.

No. In Quebec, only the following individuals may officiate marriages or civil unions: Ministers of religion Notaries Clerks or deputy clerks of the Superior Court Mayors, municipal councillors, or municipal officials designated by the Directeur de l’état civil The Directeur de l’état civil does not issue general authorizations to private citizens. You must hold one of the above positions to officiate more than one ceremony.

If you are a minister of religion: Notify your religious organization, which will contact the Directeur de l’état civil.

If you are a clerk or deputy clerk: Contact your judicial attaché or coordinator for instructions.

If you are a notary: Contact the Chambre des notaires du Québec, which will forward the information.

If you are a mayor, councillor, or municipal official: Cliquez ici Contact the Directeur de l’état civil du Québec.

If you were designated for a single event: Cliquez iciIf you were designated for a single event: Contact the Directeur de l’état civil du Québec.

A vault is an underground structure, usually located in a church or cemetery, used as a burial chamber.

A hearse is a ceremonial vehicle used to transport the deceased in their casket during funeral services — typically from the funeral home to the church and then to the cemetery during the funeral procession. When transporting a body from the place of death to the funeral home, a utility van is used instead, as it is designed for practical rather than ceremonial purposes.

An enfeu is a compartment within a mausoleum where a casket is placed. The space is sealed with a plaque, often covered by marble or masonry inscribed with the deceased’s name and dates. Enfeus may be individual or family-sized, arranged in multiple rows within the walls of the mausoleum, and equipped with drainage and ventilation systems.

A family register is a document that lists personal information and assets, making estate administration easier for the executor. The network of funeral cooperatives offers a booklet titled À ma postérité to help record this information — inquire with your funeral cooperative.

A reliquary is a small version of an urn — a keepsake, pendant, or decorative object designed to hold a small portion of ashes, a lock of hair, or a piece of fabric from the deceased’s favorite clothing.

An epitaph is a funeral inscription found on a burial monument, plaque, or tombstone. Historically, the word comes from Greek, meaning “upon the tomb.”

     Epitaphs were originally short funeral orations or inscriptions paying tribute to the deceased, expressing a cherished thought, or summarizing a life in a few words — such as the well-known phrase: “We were what you are; you will be what we are.”

     Today, epitaphs generally identify the person buried and include their name, birth, and death years. Traditional versions often began with “Here lies” or “Resting here.”

Traditionally, “burial” referred to a place where the dead were interred. Today, with cremation, the term includes any location where human remains — whether a body or ashes — are laid to rest. This may be a cemetery plot, a columbarium niche, or an enfeu within a mausoleum. Quebec law also allows ashes to be kept in private property, although such a resting place lacks the public accessibility of cemeteries or funeral facilities. Note that scattering ashes does not constitute a “burial” in the legal sense.

A headstone is an upright stone monument placed on a grave, typically engraved with names, dates, or decorative designs.

A vault is a protective container in which a casket is placed before burial. It helps prevent ground collapse as the casket deteriorates over time.

Vaults are made of metal, concrete, or plastic. Some cemeteries require their use for burials. Smaller vaults are also available for urns that are buried, offering the same protection.

Thanatopraxy refers to the set of procedures involved in embalming — the preservation of a body for viewing by injecting preservative fluids to slow natural decomposition.

For cremation, it refers to the location where cremation occurs, not where the ashes are later placed.

For burial, if the ground is frozen and the body is stored temporarily in a vault, the place of final burial is considered the official location.

It indicates what was done with the body — such as burial, cremation, or donation for anatomical study.

Contact your funeral cooperative immediately. They will take care of all procedures related to the repatriation of the body.

Cremation is the process by which a body is reduced to ashes through incineration.

A charnier is a small building, typically unheated, located in a cemetery. It is used to store caskets temporarily during the winter when the ground is frozen, until spring burial.

A columbarium is a structure made up of niches where urns are placed. It can be located indoors or outdoors, and is usually owned by cemeteries or funeral homes.

A crematorium is the facility where cremations take place.

A mausoleum is a large above-ground monument, typically located in a cemetery, designed to house the remains of the deceased — either bodies in caskets or ashes in niches.

Also known as a funeral director, a thanatologist is a professional who supports families following the loss of a loved one.

Also called an enfeu, a crypt is a space within a mausoleum designed to hold a casket. It serves as an alternative to traditional in-ground burial.

A false tomb or vault is a sealed container used to protect the casket once it is placed in the ground.

A niche is the compartment within a columbarium that holds an urn.