Lots of anecdotal stories like that from days gone by.
An electronic inquiry to whom/what? I'm not sure how well allowing companies access some government database to confirm a death, yet still ensure privacy would work. I don't want private companies accessing my government records while I'm alive so that would seem to preclude their ability to access them when I'm gone. Without a death certificate, the opportunities for fraud would be rampant, and the length of time for some bureaucrat to update the database might impact estate settlement. Even if such an electronic search was practical, there still would have to be a way to confirm an executor's authority to give such direction. It might not mean much for a cel-phone contract but much more for property title.
A death certificate is a public document, not a private one. You have no right to deny people knowing about your death! LOL
The death certificate can only be issued once your death is electronically recorded these days; or at least that's my understanding.
Its not a hand-filled in form.
At least it wasn't the last time for me.
If the authorized persons sign a death certificate; the province has a record of that; somewhere.
Now, it can be that the record is not currently in a place where its easy to access electronically, but that's not so hard.
That same company whose contract a loved one seeks to terminate will know of the death when handed a physical death certificate.
A document they will copy/scan for their records if kin/executor don't have extra copies.
Why would it be any less private if they were to confirm this data electronically?
All they require is sufficient proof of death, of the person with whom they have the contract; to take an action.
There is a default action in the case of some contracts (termination), or one involving a non-terminatable contract (a mortgage for example) that requires a secondary proof
that the person with whom they are talking has the right to speak on behalf of an estate.
That can be done with with will; or with probate documents where appropriate.
That would vary based on the nature and size of a contract.
But I'm not suggesting that companies get to randomly inquire with the government if their contract holder is deceased, LOL Though I don't suppose a yes/no answer would really violate anyone's privacy.
Rather, that that inquiry, if initiated appropriately by a next of kin/executor could be confirmed without having to walk around with a stack of death certificates and go to 10 different offices.
I grant there are limitations.
I'd just like to see the hassle of death for those left behind made a little less burdensome.
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One thing I noted in my own experience, is that most people, even those with a will, don't keep a centralized list of everyone with whom they do business or who may need to know of their death.
So after you get through the obvious (Ministry of Transportation, terminate the driver's license) etc.
You have to assemble a list of who else needs to know.
In my case I had access to my parents bank accounts in their late life; as I was the one managing finances, so I had a fairly clear picture.
But what a hassle if that were not so.
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Also I noted when I phoned the SIN office to cancel that; that they already knew of the death, as they were tied directly to the Ontario office that records deaths.
By contrast, Transportation was not aware.
Really odd.
