What to Do When Someone Dies in Bolivia: 5-Step Official Checklist

1. 1

   Obtaining the Single Medical Certificate of Death

   • Death in a hospital or private clinic: When a death occurs under medical care in a public hospital, short-term health fund facility, or private clinic in Bolivia, the attending physician issues the Single Medical Certificate of Death (Certificado Médico de Defunción Único - CEMED) free of charge under the regulations of the Ministry of Health and Sports [2]. For its issuance, the family must present the deceased person's original Identity Card (Cédula de Identidad issued by SEGIP) and the declarant relative's valid identity document [2].
   • Death at home with a diagnosed illness: If the death takes place at home due to known natural causes, the treating physician or medical staff from the municipal public health network centre must attend to verify the death and issue the official medical certificate [2].
   • Unattended, sudden, or external-cause death: If the deceased person was not under recent medical supervision or there are signs of a violent, accidental, or suspicious death, the body must not be moved. Immediate notification must be made to the Bolivian Police (Special Crime Fighting Force - FELCC) and the Public Prosecutor's Office (Ministerio Público - Fiscalía), who order the legal removal of the body and a forensic autopsy through the Forensic Investigations Institute (IDIF) before issuing the forensic certificate required for registration [1] [2].
2. 2

   Registering the Death with the Civic Registry and Death Certificate

   • Competent civil registry authority: With the medical certificate of death (or the IDIF forensic report), family members or next of kin must appear before a Civic Registry Office (Oficialía de Registro Cívico) operating under the Civic Registry Service (SERECI), an entity attached to the Plurinational Electoral Organ [1].
   • Documentary requirements and witnesses: To record the death entry before the Civic Registry Officer, the declarant must submit the original Medical Certificate of Death, the deceased person's Identity Card, and the declarant's valid identity document [1]. In remote rural areas where a death occurs without medical attendance, civil registry regulations permit registration based on the declaration of two adult witnesses who attest to the vital event [1].
   • Issuance of the Death Certificate: Once the entry is recorded in the biometric and civil registry system of the Civic Registry Service (SERECI), the officer issues the first official Death Certificate (Certificado de Defunción) free of charge, and additional certified duplicates can be requested as needed for funeral, banking, pension, and inheritance procedures, as well as for updating the deceased status in SEGIP [1].
3. 3

   Funeral Services, Municipal Permits, and Repatriation or Apostille

   • Funeral contracting and burial or cremation permits: The family may engage a licensed funeral provider in the relevant municipality. Using the Medical Certificate of Death and the SERECI Death Certificate, the funeral home or family obtains the burial order (generally carried out between 24 and 48 hours after death) or the special cremation permit from the municipal or private cemetery administration and local health authority [1] [2]. For cremation, the cause of death must be fully clarified and, if the Public Prosecutor intervened, express prosecutorial authorization is required [2].
   • Interdepartmental transfer or international repatriation: If mortal remains or ashes must be transported outside the department or repatriated abroad, a sanitary transit authorization issued by the Departmental Health Service (SEDES) under Ministry of Health and Sports guidelines is required, along with a hermetically sealed coffin when transporting a body [2].
   • Hague Apostille for cross-border procedures: When the deceased person held assets abroad or heirs reside outside Bolivia, death certificates issued by SERECI must be legalized via the Digital Apostille processed through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bolivia in coordination with the issuing authority [4].
4. 4

   Notifying Social Security, the Public Pension Manager, Banks, and Insurers

   • Funeral expenses and survivor pensions under the Integral Pension System: All long-term social security benefits in Bolivia are administered by the Public Long-Term Social Security Manager (Gestora Pública) [3]. Any person who paid for the funeral may apply for the Funeral Expenses reimbursement (Gastos Funerarios, a single payment of Bs 1,800) by submitting the original funeral invoice issued in their name, the original Death Certificate, and their identity document [3]. Eligible first- or second-degree beneficiaries (surviving spouse or domestic partner, minor or student children, or parents according to statutory priority) may claim a Survivor Pension (Pensión por Muerte) within the 36-month statutory period, or claim the accumulated account balance as Estate Assets (Masa Hereditaria) if no beneficiaries qualify for a pension [3].
   • Short-term health funds and employer notification: If your family member was an active employee or pensioner, the death must be reported to the employer (for payment of accrued wages, seniority bonuses, and statutory death compensation to heirs) and to the relevant short-term Health Fund (Caja de Salud) [2] [3].
   • Financial institutions and insurance companies (ASFI / APS): It is essential to notify banks, credit cooperatives, and insurance companies regulated by ASFI and APS in order to freeze cards, prevent unauthorized debits, verify account balances through succession documentation, and activate life insurance or mortgage credit life policies (seguro de desgravamen) [3].
5. 5

   Estate Administration and Acceptance of Inheritance

   • Voluntary notarial acceptance of inheritance: Under the Plurinational Notary Law (Law No. 483) and the Bolivian Civil Code, when all forced or statutory heirs are adults with full legal capacity and are in complete agreement (with no dispute), the acceptance of inheritance (aceptación de herencia) is processed by public deed before a Public Notary Office supervised by the Plurinational Notary Directorate (DIRNOPLU) [5].
   • Statutory deadlines and judicial or benefit-of-inventory options: Bolivian civil law establishes a general ten-year period to accept an inheritance outright (pura y simplemente), and a six-month deadline if heirs elect acceptance with benefit of inventory (con beneficio de inventario, which limits liability for the deceased's debts to the value of the inherited estate) [5]. If there are minor heirs, legally incapacitated persons, or disputes among co-heirs, the succession proceeding must be brought before the competent Public Civil and Commercial Court [5].
   • Tax on Gratuitous Transfer of Assets (ITGB) and property registries: Before registering inherited real estate with the Real Property Registry (Derechos Reales) or vehicles with the municipal government, heirs must file and pay the Inheritance and Gratuitous Transfer Tax (Form 430 of the National Tax Service - SIN, levied at 1% for ascendants, descendants, and spouses) as well as applicable departmental or municipal transfer taxes [5]. If an heir resides abroad, they may grant a special power of attorney before a Bolivian consulate or legalized by Apostille under the procedures of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bolivia to be represented before the notary [4] [5].

Official Authorities & Verified Contacts

Official Sources Checked by Clarvia

1. [1]
   Civic Registry Service (SERECI) - Vital Events and Death Registration — Órgano Electoral Plurinacional (OEP)
2. [2]
   Health Regulations and Medical Certification of Death — Ministerio de Salud y Deportes de Bolivia
3. [3]
   Requirements and Procedure for Survivor Pensions and Funeral Expenses — Gestora Pública de la Seguridad Social de Largo Plazo
4. [4]
   Consular Services, Legalizations, and Digital Apostille — Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores de Bolivia
5. [5]
   Plurinational Notary Directorate - Voluntary Notarial Proceedings and Successions — Dirección del Notariado Plurinacional (DIRNOPLU)