Statutory declarations
Statutory Declaration of Death
Free template from Minute Notary, an Ontario notary office. A sworn declaration confirming the facts of a death, for a bank, insurer, pension plan or registry when the death certificate is not yet available or the facts must be confirmed under oath.
No charge until a notary signs it
Word files are editable. Review any changes carefully before signing or uploading.
Also known as
- Declaration of death
- Affidavit of death
- Sworn statement of death
+1 more names
- Statutory declaration confirming a death
The blanks fill themselves in as you type.
- Scope
- General template, not legal advice
- Formats
- PDF + editable Word downloads
- Builder
- Live preview as you type
Statutory Declaration of Death
A compact preview of this template
01You (the declarant)
Your full legal name
Full legal name of the deceased
How do you know of the death?
STATUTORY DECLARATION OF DEATH
I, ______, of ______, in the Province of Ontario, DO SOLEMNLY DECLARE THAT:
My relationship to ______ (the “deceased”) is: ______.
The deceased was born on ______ and, at the time of death, lived at ______.
The deceased died on ______ at ______.
I know of the death because ______.
As of the date of this declaration, ______.
I make this declaration at the request of ______, for the purpose of ______.
AND I make this solemn declaration conscientiously believing it to be true, and knowing that it is of the same force and effect as if made under oath and by virtue of the Canada Evidence Act.
Signed and sworn (or affirmed/declared) before me by videoconference in Ottawa, Ontario, while the Affiant(s)/Declarant(s) were located in ______________________, on ______________________, pursuant to O. Reg. 431/20, and Electronic Commerce Act, 2000.
______________________________ | ______________________________ |
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How it works
Prepare your document, one step at a time.
Answer the questions, choose the download you need, then continue with signing or booking.
Overview
About this document
- 01
What is a statutory declaration of death?
It is a solemn declaration by a family member, estate trustee or another person who knows the facts. It identifies the deceased and records the date and place of death and how the declarant knows of it.
Institutions use it to start their own process, such as freezing or closing an account, while they wait for the official certificate.
- 02
When you need one
You may be asked for this declaration when:
- A bank or credit union asks for proof of death before the certificate arrives.
- An insurer or pension plan wants sworn facts to open a claim.
- A registry or agency asks you to confirm the date and place of death.
- The death happened outside Ontario and the foreign certificate is delayed.
- 03
What to include
Have these ready:
- Your full name, address and relationship to the deceased.
- The deceased's full name, date of birth and last address.
- The date and place of death.
- How you know of the death: you were present, or the hospital or funeral home told you.
- Whether a death certificate has been applied for, where and when.
- 04
Official source and who accepts it
ServiceOntario issues Ontario death certificates and certified copies of death registrations. To register a death, the funeral director and an informant complete the Statement of Death, which goes with the Medical Certificate of Death to the municipal clerk. The funeral director also gives the family proof-of-death documents that some organizations accept.
Each institution decides whether it accepts a statutory declaration in place of, or while waiting for, the official certificate. Some insist on the provincial certificate for estate, insurance or pension matters, so ask first.
- 05
Common mistakes
Avoid these:
- Declaring facts you do not know first-hand without saying where they came from.
- Writing the deceased's name or date of birth differently from their identity documents.
- Treating the declaration as a death certificate. Apply for the certificate as well.
- Signing before the appointment.
- 06
How to get it notarized in Ontario
Fill in the form on this page and download a clean, ready-to-sign PDF. Do not sign it yet: an affidavit or statutory declaration is signed in front of a notary public or commissioner for taking affidavits, after the oath or affirmation.
When you are ready, book an appointment with Minute Notary. You can swear or affirm it before a notary by video from anywhere in Ontario, or in person on a mobile visit. Bring government-issued photo ID; the notary administers the oath or affirmation and applies the seal.
Good to know
Before you fill it in.
Short notes on this template. Worth a minute before you start.
- 01
Prepared for use in Ontario. A general template, not legal advice.
- 02
Notarize online by video across Ontario, or in person anywhere in Ontario.
- 03
Sign in front of the notary, who administers your oath or affirmation and applies the seal.
Frequently asked
Questions about the Statutory Declaration of Death
- Does this replace a death certificate?
- No. It is sworn evidence of the facts, which some institutions accept while the certificate is on its way. Apply for the Ontario death certificate through ServiceOntario once the death is registered.
- Who can make the declaration?
- Anyone with knowledge of the facts, usually a spouse, child, parent or the estate trustee. The declaration states how you know, so you need not have been present.
- How long does an Ontario death certificate take?
- Registration alone can take up to 12 weeks after the Office of the Registrar General receives the forms. After that, ServiceOntario's death certificate page lists processing times and fees for regular and premium service.
- Can I swear it by video?
- Yes. A statutory declaration can be commissioned by video from anywhere in Ontario, or in person on a mobile visit. Bring government-issued photo ID.
- What if the death happened outside Canada?
- You can still make the declaration in Ontario. The institution may also want the foreign death certificate, with a translation if it is not in English or French.
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Ready to sign?
Ready to create your Statutory Declaration of Death?
Fill it in online, then download a ready-to-sign PDF or an editable Word copy. Use the generated PDF to continue to booking. Not sure what the appointment involves? Read about the Will Signing & Witnessing service first.