On June 4, 2025, Ombudsperson Marc-André Dowd released an investigation report entitled Directeur de l’état civil – Accélérer la transmission des certificats de décès, par respect pour les citoyens (Québec Register of Civil Status – Expediting the transmission of death certificates, out of respect for citizens).
In Québec, the Directeur de l’état civil (DEC) reports to the Ministère de l’Emploi et de la Solidarité sociale. It is responsible for recording life events in the register of civil status and issuing copies of records and certificates relating thereto.
For citizens, obtaining a death certificate from the DEC is a prerequisite for settling an estate.
The Protecteur du citoyen received an exceptional number of complaints alleging unreasonable delays in the transmission of death certificates. The situation was so serious that a special investigation was conducted.
We found that some of the measures taken by the DEC were helping to reduce delays. However, corrective action is still needed to ensure more satisfactory and lasting improvements.
-Marc-André Dowd
The Protecteur du citoyen is making 11 recommendations to the DEC and hopes that they will be implemented quickly, out of respect for citizens.
