After a death in Germany, the first steps are to call a doctor, who examines the body and confirms the death, and to instruct a funeral director. The death must be registered with the registry office (Standesamt) no later than the third working day; the funeral director usually does this and presents the deceased’s ID card or passport. After that come the pension service, health insurer, other insurers, bank, landlord and contracts, and for foreign nationals the consulate of their home country. This checklist sorts everything by time and shows what the family handles and what the funeral director takes care of.
Immediately: the first hours
- Call a doctor. Only a doctor can confirm the death and issue the medical death certificate (Todesbescheinigung). At home, call the family doctor or the on-call medical service on 116117; if the death was sudden or the cause unclear, call 112. In a hospital or care home, staff arrange this. What to do in each setting is explained in our guide “Death at home, in hospital or in a care home in Germany”.
- Instruct a funeral director. The funeral director collects the deceased, transfers them to a mortuary (Leichenhalle) and, with your power of attorney, deals with the registry office.
- Gather documents. ID card or passport, birth certificate, marriage certificate or divorce decree where relevant, insurance papers and any will or funeral instructions. Foreign documents usually need a certified German translation. The full list is in “Which documents are needed when someone dies?”.
- Notify the accident insurer, if there is a policy. Many policies require a death caused by an accident to be reported within 48 hours. The terms of the individual policy apply.
Within 36 hours to three working days
Statutory deadlines matter most at this stage. In North Rhine-Westphalia, the deceased must be taken to a mortuary no later than 36 hours after death, but not before the death certificate has been issued. Other federal states set their own rules in their burial laws.
- Registering the death. Under section 28 of the Civil Status Act (PStG), the death must be reported to the registry office of the place of death no later than the third working day after it. A funeral director may report it in writing on your behalf, which is what usually happens. If the person died in a hospital or care home, the institution reports it.
- Death certificates (Sterbeurkunde). Order several copies straight away. The bank, insurers, pension service and landlord will each want one. For use abroad there is an international death certificate.
- Hand in the will. Anyone who finds a will must deliver it to the probate court (Nachlassgericht) without delay under section 2259 of the Civil Code (BGB), even if it appears invalid. You may not open it or keep it.
- Tell the employer if the deceased was still working. Some collective agreements provide a death benefit for surviving relatives.
What to do with the ID card and passport of the deceased
The German ID card (Personalausweis) is usually needed to register the death, because the registry office uses it to confirm identity and last address. Give it to the funeral director or take it to the registry office yourself. A separate visit to the citizens’ office (Bürgeramt) is then normally unnecessary.
What happens next varies by municipality. The card is often cancelled, for example by punching a hole or cutting off a corner, and may be returned to the family as a keepsake. In Brandenburg, by contrast, a state decree has the registry office retain electronic ID cards and pass them to the ID authority for destruction. German passports are treated the same way. A document that was not presented can be cancelled at the citizens’ office.
Foreign passports: German authorities do not cancel passports issued by other countries. That is a matter for the consulate of the home country, which can also tell you whether the death must be registered there. If the deceased is to be repatriated, the consulate will usually need the passport. Which certifications the German documents need for this is covered in “Death certificate apostille and legalisation”.
In the first week: pension, health insurance, insurers
- Pension. Statutory pensions are paid by the Renten Service of Deutsche Post. It receives death notifications through the registration authorities and the pension insurance data centre; report the death yourself as well, with the death certificate and pension number. The pension for the month of death is still due. Amounts paid for later months are reclaimed from the bank and do not form part of the estate.
- “Death quarter” for the surviving spouse (Sterbevierteljahr). If the deceased received a pension, the surviving spouse or registered partner receives the deceased’s full pension for the three months after the month of death, regardless of their own income. Deutsche Rentenversicherung pays this as a lump-sum advance if it is applied for at the Renten Service within 30 days of the death. The actual survivor’s pension is applied for separately with the pension insurer.
- Health insurance (Krankenkasse). Report the death with a death certificate. If a spouse or children were covered under family insurance, that cover ends; ask the insurer about taking out their own membership. Statutory health insurers have not paid a death grant since 2004.
- Life insurance and funeral plans (Sterbegeldversicherung). Notify the insurer as soon as possible; the exact deadlines are in the policy.
- Bank. Inform the bank with a death certificate, otherwise standing orders keep running. Without a power of attorney that continues after death, the bank will usually ask for proof of inheritance before releasing the accounts.
- Landlord. If the deceased lived alone, speak to the landlord early about keys, meter readings and clearing the flat.
- Family benefits office (Familienkasse) and other benefit offices, if child benefit, citizens’ income, housing benefit or care benefits were paid.
In the first months: estate, contracts, digital accounts
- Accepting or disclaiming the inheritance. Under section 1944 BGB, an inheritance can be disclaimed within six weeks of the heir learning of it. The period is six months if the deceased’s last residence was only abroad or the heir is abroad when the period starts. If debts are suspected, keep this deadline in mind.
- Certificate of inheritance (Erbschein). Apply at the probate court if the bank, land registry or insurer asks for proof and there is no notarised will. Within the EU, the law of the deceased’s last habitual residence generally governs the estate unless the will chose otherwise.
- Inheritance tax. Heirs must notify the tax office (Finanzamt) within three months, unless a notary or court has already done so.
- Tenancy. If no member of the household takes over the lease, it passes to the heirs. Heirs and landlord may terminate it with the statutory notice period within one month of learning of the death (section 564 BGB).
- Broadcasting fee (Rundfunkbeitrag). The account is personal and is closed by sending a copy of the death certificate to the Beitragsservice. Anyone still living in the flat registers in their own name.
- Other contracts. Electricity, gas, phone, internet, subscriptions, clubs, gym, car insurance and vehicle registration. Many providers accept cancellation with a death certificate.
- Digital accounts. Email, social media and online shops form part of the estate; in 2018 Germany’s Federal Court of Justice ruled that heirs are entitled to access a Facebook account. List the accounts and ask providers to delete or memorialise them.
- Tax return. An income tax return is usually still needed for the year of death. Which costs can be claimed is covered in “Which costs after a death can be claimed against tax in Germany?”.
Checklist at a glance: who, what, by when
| Who | What | Deadline | Handled by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Doctor | Examination, medical death certificate | immediately | family or institution |
| Funeral director | Collection, transfer to a mortuary | in NRW within 36 hours of death | family instructs |
| Accident insurer | Report a death caused by an accident | often 48 hours (per policy) | family |
| Registry office (Standesamt) | Register the death, death certificates, present ID | by the 3rd working day | usually funeral director |
| Probate court | Hand in the will | without delay | whoever finds it |
| Home country consulate | Passport, registration, repatriation documents | before repatriation | family or funeral director |
| Renten Service (Deutsche Post) | Report the death, death quarter advance | advance within 30 days | surviving spouse |
| Health insurer, employer | Report, sort out family insurance | promptly | family |
| Life insurer, funeral plan | Claim the benefit | as soon as possible (per policy) | beneficiary |
| Bank | Report, check standing orders | promptly | family or heirs |
| Probate court | Disclaim the inheritance | 6 weeks, 6 months with a foreign link | heirs |
| Landlord | Special termination of the lease | 1 month from learning of the death | heirs |
| Tax office | Notify the inheritance | 3 months | heirs |
| Beitragsservice, providers | Broadcasting fee and contracts | once the death certificate is available | family or heirs |
What Ritual-Service24 takes care of
We have worked as funeral directors specialising in repatriation for over 20 years, within Germany and to and from more than 30 countries. With your power of attorney we handle everything concerning the deceased and the official papers:
- collection, in Germany usually on the same day;
- registering the death, presenting the ID and obtaining death certificates, including international ones;
- contact with the consulate, certifications and documents for the destination country;
- hygienic care of the deceased through our local partners;
- a funeral in Germany or repatriation home; an international repatriation typically takes 3 to 7 working days.
Pension, bank, insurance and the estate remain with the family and, where needed, a lawyer or notary. We tell you which certificates you will need for these and provide enough copies. Our page What to do when someone dies gives an overview of the first steps, and “Funerals in Germany: burial and cremation” explains how a funeral is arranged here. If the deceased is to be taken home, see International repatriation from Germany.
Frequently asked questions
One call, and the formalities are in our hands
Tell us where the deceased is and whether the funeral is to take place in Germany or in their home country. We take care of the registry office, certificates and repatriation and tell you which steps remain for you. You will receive a call back within the next hour.
- Call back within one hour
- Written fixed price within a few hours
- Around the clock, in four languages
A first conversation costs nothing and commits you to nothing.
This text reflects the published regulations at the time of writing and is not legal or tax advice. Deadlines and responsibilities vary in part by federal state, insurance policy and home country and may change.
