Source
r/legaladvicecanada•
PrincessLink

Who would have to pay for the funeral if my dad died?

:24px-Flag_of_Ontario:Ontario

I have no idea where to ask this question so ill try here first.

For reasons I wont get into, my dad and I dont have a good relationship. Hes 55, an alcoholic and overall just in really poor health.

If he were to get the virus right now there's a good chance he'll die.

My question seems pretty harsh but I would just like to know if he died, whos responsible for his funeral arrangements? I don't have a lot of money nor am i even fond of him so i definitely wouldn't want that burden to go to me.

My mother passed away a few years ago so shes obviously not paying. If i was told i have to pay could i just say no i cant?

Posted Apr 4, 2020, 3:06 PM UTC

07
LorienTheFirstOne•

You do not have to use your personal money to pay or be involved in any way in the funeral.

The estate has to pay. If you expect to inherent anything, it will have to come from those funds. The death benefit can pay a good chunk of a cheap funeral.

If you do nothing, the government will bury them and take what they can from the estate and pay any balance themselves.

6
zathrasb5•

Cpp death benefit will provide $2,500

https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/publicpensions/cpp/cpp-death-benefit.html

Edit autocorrect

3
teslaetcc•

OP, there is a minor typo or autocorrect error here, it is “CPP death benefit” (as per the excellent link)

2
[deleted]•

[deleted]

1
PrincessLinkOP•

Yeah, well, he ruined my childhood.

1
ExplainsSocialEnigma•

Nobody needs to.

Nominally the executor is responsible to arrange it, but if someone else arranges it that's fine (unless they do so in conflict with the known executive's arrangements). If you don't know what the will says then you don't know who has the authority to take up the mantle of executor. Whoever makes the arrangement with the funeral home is responsible to the funeral home, regardless of who the executor is

Whoever does pay for it is entitled to be reimbursed by the estate for any reasonable expense incurred.

1
Mister_Cairo•

I don't know how viable this option is (given your dad's alcoholism), but you might be able to donate his remains for scientific research, in which case you SHOULD (I am not a lawyer) be off the hook completely for funeral costs. Maybe call around to some local universities with Medical programs (McMaster comes to mind, if you're near Hamilton).

1
smurfsareinthehall•

When the time comes, the funeral home can help navigate the process of paying for the funeral and can help access funds. Had a relative who died with literally $5 in the bank and no assets with kids on welfare. Kids went to funeral home, funeral home told them to connect with govt and the govt basically took over the assets/funds they were eligible for and handled everything. Even closed down bank accounts and other stuff so that was one upside of that process. It was still a respectful ceremony and burial - just nothing fancy.

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