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

1. 1

   Obtaining the Medical Declaration of Death Certificate (SEDIMEC)

   • Death in a public hospital (CCSS) or private clinic: When a death occurs under medical supervision in a hospital operated by the Costa Rican Social Security Fund (CCSS) or a private medical facility licensed by the Ministry of Health of Costa Rica, the attending physician records the death electronically through the Electronic System for Medical Declaration and Registration of Deaths (SEDIMEC), jointly administered by the College of Physicians and Surgeons and the Civil Registry [1] [2] [4].
   • Death at home from natural causes: If the deceased person passed away at home from a diagnosed chronic illness or while under the care of a palliative care team, a licensed physician registered with the College of Physicians and Surgeons may attend the residence to verify the death and issue the digital medical certificate directly in the SEDIMEC platform [1] [4].
   • Unattended, sudden, or violent death: If the death occurs without recent medical supervision or involves any suspicion of an accident, suicide, or violent cause, the body must not be moved. Immediate notification must be made to the 9-1-1 Emergency System and the Judicial Investigation Agency (Organismo de Investigación Judicial - OIJ), whose officers and the Public Prosecutor conduct the legal removal of the body and order its transfer to the Judicial Morgue (Department of Legal Medicine in San Joaquín de Flores) for a forensic autopsy before transmitting the death declaration to the Civil Registry [1].
2. 2

   Registering the Death with the Civil Registry (TSE) and Certificates

   • Electronic and in-person registration: In Costa Rica, the Deaths Section of the Civil Registry operates under the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE) [1]. Through the SEDIMEC digital platform, once the certifying physician electronically signs the death declaration, the record is transmitted automatically to the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE) for official registration in the Civil Registry [1]. Where a paper declaration form is issued in remote rural areas, the family or funeral provider must submit it to a regional office of the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE) or auxiliary registrar within the statutory deadline [1].
   • Obtaining official Death Certificates: Once the death entry is recorded, family members may request certified paper or digital Death Certificates (certificaciones de defunción) from the central or regional offices of the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE) or through its online digital certificate portal [1]. These certificates are required for claiming insurance policies, pensions, and opening succession proceedings [1] [3].
3. 3

   Funeral Services, Sanitary Burial or Cremation Permits, and Apostille

   • Burial or cremation authorization: With the medical death declaration receipt (SEDIMEC) and the deceased person's identity document (cédula de identidad or DIMEX), the licensed funeral home coordinates burial at a municipal or private cemetery (generally carried out between 24 and 36 hours after death under the General Cemetery Regulations of the Ministry of Health of Costa Rica) [4]. For cremation, express sanitary authorization is required, along with a medical or forensic certificate confirming that the cause of death is not subject to judicial investigation and either prior written consent left by the deceased or a signed authorization from the closest surviving relative [1] [4].
   • International repatriation of remains or ashes: If mortal remains or ashes are to be repatriated outside Costa Rica, the funeral provider obtains an international sanitary transit permit from the Ministry of Health of Costa Rica, complying with embalming and hermetic sealing standards [4].
   • Hague Apostille for cross-border use: If assets or heirs are located outside Costa Rica, official death certificates issued by the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE) must be legalized by Apostille at the Department of Authentications of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Worship (Cancillería) [1].
4. 4

   Notifying the CCSS, Pension Superintendence (SUPEN), Banks, and Insurers

   • Funeral expense grant and survivor pensions (IVM - CCSS): Before the Costa Rican Social Security Fund (CCSS), the person who paid the funeral expenses of an insured worker or pensioner may apply for the funeral expense grant by submitting the original stamped invoices [2]. In addition, eligible statutory beneficiaries (surviving spouse or qualified domestic partner, minor children or student children up to age 25, children with disabilities, or dependent parents) should apply for a Survivor Pension (pensión por viudez u orfandad) under the Disability, Old Age, and Death Regime (IVM) at branch offices or the Virtual Office of the Costa Rican Social Security Fund (CCSS) [2].
   • Mandatory Supplementary Pension (ROP) and Labor Capitalization Fund (FCL - SUPEN): Families should check the deceased affiliates consultation portal provided by the Superintendence of Pensions (SUPEN), which identifies the Complementary Pension Operator (OPC) holding the deceased person's Mandatory Pension Regime (ROP), Labor Capitalization Fund (FCL), or voluntary pension balances [3]. These funds are paid directly to the beneficiaries designated with the pension operator or, if none were designated, distributed through the Labor Court (Juzgado de Trabajo) without waiting for civil probate [3].
   • Bank accounts with designated beneficiaries and insurance claims: Under Costa Rican law, bank accounts or term deposits that have beneficiaries expressly designated on file with the bank can be claimed directly by those named beneficiaries upon presenting the Death Certificate from the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE) [1] [3]. Families should also notify the National Insurance Institute (INS) or private insurers to claim life or credit life policies [3].
5. 5

   Succession Proceedings (Notarial or Judicial Probate) and National Registry

   • Will search and choosing between notarial or judicial probate: Before opening succession proceedings, the family must request a certificate from the National Archives (Archivo Nacional de Costa Rica) to verify whether the deceased executed an open or closed will [5]. Under the Civil Procedural Code and the Notarial Code, if all heirs and legatees are adults with full legal capacity and are in unanimous agreement (with no dispute), the succession proceeding (testate or intestate) may be conducted extrajudicially before an active Public Notary supervised by the National Notary Directorate [5]. If there are minor heirs, persons with disabilities requiring judicial safeguards, or disputes among co-heirs, the succession must be filed before the competent Civil Court (Juzgado Civil) [5].
   • Inventory, valuation, and declaration of heirs: During the succession proceeding, a statutory notice (edicto) is published in the Judicial Bulletin to summon interested parties and creditors, an executor (albacea) is appointed, an inventory and appraisal of assets without direct bank beneficiaries is prepared, and the distribution plan is approved [5].
   • Registration with the National Registry (RNP Digital) and transfer taxes: Once the distribution of estate assets is formalized by notarial public deed or judicial decree, the Public Notary pays the applicable transfer taxes and registry stamps and records the transfer of real estate properties or vehicles with the National Registry of Costa Rica (RNP Digital) [5]. Heirs residing abroad may grant a special power of attorney before a Costa Rican consulate or legalized by Apostille to be represented in the succession [1] [5].

Official Authorities & Verified Contacts

Official Sources Checked by Clarvia

1. [1]
   Digital Death Certificate (SEDIMEC) and Civil Registry Registration — Tribunal Supremo de Elecciones (TSE) de Costa Rica
2. [2]
   Health Insurance and Disability, Old Age, and Death (IVM) Pension Regime — Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social (CCSS)
3. [3]
   Consultation of Pension Funds of Deceased Affiliates (ROP and FCL) — Superintendencia de Pensiones (SUPEN)
4. [4]
   Sanitary Regulations and General Rules on Cemeteries and Cremation — Ministerio de Salud de Costa Rica
5. [5]
   Online Services, Property Certifications, and Asset Registration (RNP Digital) — Registro Nacional de Costa Rica