When your parent dies
What to do, what can wait, and how to look after yourself while you do it.
When a parent dies, you're asked to grieve and run a small business at the same time: the calls, the forms, the bank, the house, the family. This toolkit walks with you through the first year, one stage at a time, so you only have to hold what's in front of you.
You're the one holding everything
- Your mom or dad has died, or is dying, and you don't know what comes first.
- You're the executor, or the sibling everyone calls, and the to-do list is endless.
- You're functioning on the outside and falling apart in the car.
- Everyone went home after the funeral, and you're wondering why it's harder now, not easier.
- You want someone to tell you what actually matters this week, and what can wait.
The first year, in five stages
Every stage pairs the practical with the emotional: tasks sorted by what needs doing now, soon, by someone else, or later, alongside honest guidance on what grief feels like at that point.
While they're still here
For a long illness: conversations to have, papers to find, and what to expect at the end.
The first two weeks
The first 48 hours, the funeral, certificates, notifications, and an estate log to keep it all in one place.
When everyone goes home
Weeks two to twelve: benefits, accounts, the will, and the quiet that comes after the casseroles stop.
The long middle
Months three to twelve: taxes, the house and belongings, and a Year at a Glance for the hard dates ahead.
A year of carrying this
The first anniversary: an estate wrap-up check, an anniversary plan, and a gentle look back.
The rules where they lived
Full step-by-step guides for Ontario, BC and Alberta, and official links for every other province and territory.
Arrives when you need it
Download the first stages right away. The later stages come to your inbox as you reach them, so you're never handed a year's worth of tasks on day one.
Printable worksheets
Checklists, an estate log, a support map, an anniversary plan and reflection pages, ready to print or fill in on screen.
Notes for the hard days
Short emails before the first holidays, Mother's Day and Father's Day, when grief tends to arrive early.
Written for Canada
CPP death benefit, CRA final returns, clearance certificates, passports and probate, all checked against official sources.
Hi, I'm Chivonne
I'm a grief coach and Certified Grief Educator, trained with David Kessler. I made this toolkit because the people I work with kept telling me the same thing: nobody hands you a map when your parent dies. You're expected to figure out the paperwork while your heart is breaking.
This is the map I wish they'd had. It won't take the grief away. It will make sure you're not carrying the logistics alone, too.
With care, Chivonne
Before you buy
My parent died a few months ago. Is it too late?
Not at all. You'll get access to every stage, so you can start wherever you are and look back at earlier stages to catch anything that was missed.
My parent lived in a different province than me.
Follow the province where your parent lived, because that's where the estate is handled. The toolkit shows you how to find their page.
Is this legal or financial advice?
No. It's grief education and practical guidance to help you know what to ask and who to ask. For decisions about the estate, taxes or the will, talk to a lawyer, accountant or your provincial court.
My parent died suddenly. Will this still help?
Yes. The five stages apply to any parent's death. The "Before the death" section is written for a long illness, so you can skip it.
How do I get it?
Right after you check out, you'll get a download link and a welcome email with your private Start here page. Download links expire after 24 hours, so save the PDFs somewhere you'll find them. Your Start here page stays available.
You don't have to figure this out alone
A first-year grief toolkit for adult children in Canada: five stages, printable worksheets, provincial guides, and gentle emails for the hardest dates.
Instant downloadFive stagesYours to keep
Would you rather talk to someone first? Book a free 30-minute call and we'll talk about what kind of support would help.
This toolkit is general information and grief education, not legal, financial, medical or mental health advice. Information checked October 2026. If you're in crisis or thinking about not wanting to be here, call or text 9-8-8 any time.