Available 24 hours · in Germany and abroad
Someone has died — what to do now
You do not have to decide everything today. Only three things are genuinely urgent. We take care of the rest — including repatriation abroad.
24/7 including nights & holidaysEnglish · German · Russian · UkrainianFirst consultation free of charge
The first hours
Four steps — nothing more is needed today
None of this has to happen within minutes. Take the time you need.
If you are unsure whether the person has died, or the death was sudden: call 112. In all other cases the out-of-hours medical service on 116 117 is enough.
Call a doctor
The doctor issues the medical certificate of death — nothing else can happen without it. Your family doctor, or outside surgery hours the out-of-hours service on 116 117. If in doubt, 112. In a hospital or care home the institution handles this.
Call us
We collect the deceased at any time of day or night, including weekends. Tell us straight away if the funeral will take place abroad: the paperwork then runs in parallel from the start.
Tell the family
When you are ready. For relatives abroad a power of attorney is enough later on — nobody needs to travel for this.
Gather the documents
What is needed is listed below. If something is missing, we sort it out together — there is no need to rush.
Depending on the place
At home, in hospital or in a care home
The first step differs — after that the process is the same.
Death at home
- Call a doctor: 116 117, or 112 if in doubt
- The deceased may remain at home for some hours
- We collect them around the clock
- We register the death for you
In hospital
- The hospital issues the medical certificate
- The hospital notifies the registry office
- Saying goodbye on the ward is usually possible
- You choose the funeral director, not the hospital
In a care home
- Staff call the doctor and inform you
- Many homes have no refrigerated room — tell us early
- Deadlines for the room and belongings are in the contract
- A funeral directive is often kept by the administration
Paperwork
What we need from you — and what we handle
Please have ready
- medical certificate of death
- identity card or passport
- birth certificate
- marriage certificate, divorce decree or spouse’s death certificate
- insurance or pension documents, if available
Documents issued outside Germany often need a certified translation and sometimes an apostille. If something is missing, we sort it out together.
We take care of
- collection and hygienic care through our partners
- registering the death, obtaining death certificates
- liaison with the public health office and consulate
- corpse passport and repatriation documents
- funeral date and grave site
- death notices and printed matter
Transparent costs
What it costs — with figures, not promises
Guide prices excluding additional services. We confirm the binding fixed price after a short conversation, free of charge and within a few hours.
Our focus
If the funeral will not take place in Germany
Many funeral directors pass international repatriations on to others. We carry them out ourselves — with our own vehicles, partners on site and advice in Russian and Ukrainian. You do not need to travel: a power of attorney is enough.
Your country is not listed? Just ask — we will tell you honestly whether we can take it on.
Rudolf Nordheimer
Managing director · your personal contact
“Call us, even if you do not yet know what to ask. We will work it out together — and you will know straight away what it costs.”
Frequently asked questions
What families ask us in the first hours
Who do I call at night if someone dies at home?
The out-of-hours medical service on 116 117. If you are unsure whether the person has died, or the death was sudden, call 112. You can call us at any time after the doctor has been.
How quickly must the deceased be collected?
After the doctor’s examination they may remain at home for some hours — the exact period depends on the burial law of the federal state, usually 24 to 36 hours. Take the time for a farewell.
By when must the death be registered?
No later than the third working day. If the death occurred in a hospital or care home, the institution does this; otherwise the relatives, or we on their behalf.
Do relatives have to travel from abroad?
No. A power of attorney is enough. We handle the dealings with the authorities, the consulate and the airline and report at every important step.
What does repatriation abroad cost?
Depending on the destination, from €2,000 by road and from €3,500 by air freight. Urn repatriation costs about half.
Does health insurance or the social welfare office pay?
Statutory health insurance generally does not. The social welfare office may step in under § 74 SGB XII where the costs cannot reasonably be borne by the relatives — but only up to the cost of a simple funeral at the place of residence.
One call is enough
The first conversation is free and non-binding. Just tell us where the deceased is — we take care of everything else.