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

1. 1

   Medical Examination of the Body and Issuance of the Death Certificate

   Before any transfer or funeral arrangement can take place, a physician must officially pronounce the death, perform the external post-mortem examination (Leichenschau), and issue an official medical death certificate (Todesbescheinigung or Totenschein) [1][2]:

   • Death in a hospital, hospice, or care home: The attending or on-duty physician at the facility performs the post-mortem examination on site, issues the Todesbescheinigung (both the confidential and non-confidential sections), and arranges temporary care of the body in the facility's mortuary [1][2].
   • Natural death at home: Immediately notify the deceased person's general practitioner (Hausarztpraxis) or, outside office hours, the on-call medical service (ärztlicher Bereitschaftsdienst) via the nationwide number 116 117 (or emergency services at 112) so a doctor can perform the examination and issue the Todesbescheinigung [2]. Keep the deceased person's identity card (Personalausweis) ready.
   • Unexplained or non-natural cause of death, or death in a public place: If the examining physician records an unexplained or non-natural manner of death (for example following an accident or sudden unexpected death), the police (emergency number 110 or 112) are called automatically. The public prosecutor's office (Staatsanwaltschaft) investigates the death and must issue written clearance (Bestattungsfreigabe) before burial or cremation can proceed [2].
2. 2

   Check Funeral Pre-Arrangements and Appoint a Funeral Director

   First check the deceased person's personal papers to see whether a prepaid funeral contract (Bestattungsvorsorgevertrag), funeral expense insurance (Sterbegeldversicherung), or written funeral directive (Bestattungsverfügung) exists:

   • Appointing a funeral director (Bestattungsinstitut): You can find a qualified funeral company through the national professional association (Bundesverband Deutscher Bestatter e.V., telephone +49 211 16008-10) [2]. The appointed funeral director handles collection and transfer to the mortuary (under state burial laws often required within 24 to 36 hours of death), organizes earth burial, cremation, or burial at sea in compliance with Germany's mandatory cemetery requirement (Friedhofszwang), and can complete civil registry formalities on your behalf [2].
   • State burial deadlines (Landesbestattungsgesetze): Statutory timelines for burial depend on the federal state (Bundesland) where the death occurred (generally no earlier than 48 hours after death, and for earth burials usually within 4 to 10 days; prior to cremation, a mandatory second official medical examination is carried out at the crematorium) [2].
3. 3

   Register the Death with the Civil Registry Office and Obtain Death Certificates

   Under Section 28 of the Civil Status Act (§ 28 Personenstandsgesetz - PStG), a death must be reported to the competent civil registry office (Standesamt) of the place of death no later than the third working day following the death (with Saturday counting as a working day for deadline purposes) [1]:

   • Who reports the death: When a death occurs in a hospital or care home, the facility operator is legally required to submit the written notification to the Standesamt; when a death occurs at home, the funeral director you appoint almost always handles timely registration on your behalf [1][2].
   • Required documents and certificates issued: The Standesamt requires the medical death certificate (Todesbescheinigung), identity card, birth certificate (Geburtsurkunde), and - depending on marital status - the marriage or civil partnership certificate (plus any final divorce decree or a predeceased spouse's death certificate) [1][2]. The Standesamt issues the official civil death certificate (Sterbeurkunde), the burial permit (Bestattungsschein) for the cemetery administration, free copies for statutory social insurance funds, and, where cross-border matters are involved, a multilingual extract on Form C (Formblatt C) under the 1976 Vienna CIEC Convention [1][2]. While the Standesamt automatically notifies the population registry (Meldeamt), tax office (Finanzamt), and probate court (Nachlassgericht), it does not cancel private contracts or bank accounts.
4. 4

   Claim the Quarter-Year Pension Advance, Survivor Pensions, and Health Insurance

   Statutory pension and health insurance entitlements are not paid automatically; they must be claimed using the civil death certificates issued by the Standesamt:

   • Three-month transition advance (Sterbevierteljahr within 30 days): If the deceased person was already receiving a statutory old-age or reduced-earning-capacity pension, the surviving spouse or registered civil partner can apply within 30 days of the date of death - through the pension payment office (Renten Service der Deutschen Post) or via the funeral director - for an advance payment equal to three times the deceased's last monthly pension covering the Sterbevierteljahr (quarter-year following death) [3][4][5].
   • Survivor pensions (Witwen-, Witwer- und Waisenrente): Eligible survivors submit the formal application for a small or large widow/widower's pension (Form R0500) or orphan's pension directly to the statutory pension insurance authority (Deutsche Rentenversicherung, toll-free service number 0800 1000 4800), ideally within 12 calendar months, as survivor pensions are paid retroactively for a maximum of one year [3][4].
   • Statutory health insurance (Gesetzliche Krankenversicherung - GKV): Notify the deceased person's health insurance fund (Krankenkasse) and submit a copy of the Sterbeurkunde to terminate membership and, where applicable, transition surviving family members covered under family insurance (Familienversicherung) [2].
5. 5

   Probate Court, Certificate of Inheritance, Banks, and Tax Office

   To settle the estate, manage bank accounts, and fulfill tax obligations in Germany, observe the following rules:

   • Will submission and probate court (Nachlassgericht): Anyone in possession of a handwritten will (Testament) of the deceased is legally obligated under Section 2259 of the German Civil Code (§ 2259 BGB) to deliver the original document without delay to the competent Nachlassgericht (a division of the local court, Amtsgericht, at the deceased's last habitual residence) [6]. Notarial wills or wills held in official custody are located automatically by the Federal Chamber of Notaries' electronic registry (Zentrales Testamentsregister, toll-free hotline 0800 35 50 100, email [email protected]) upon notification from the Standesamt, which alerts the Nachlassgericht to open the will [6].
   • Certificate of inheritance (Erbschein) and renunciation deadline: If there is no notarial will or inheritance contract (Erbvertrag) with an official opening record and no post-mortem bank power of attorney (transmortale Bankvollmacht), banks and the land registry (Grundbuchamt) generally require a judicial Certificate of Inheritance (Erbschein), requested via the Nachlassgericht or a notary [6]. If the estate is over-indebted, the statutory deadline to renounce the inheritance (Erbausschlagung) before the Nachlassgericht or a notary is six weeks from learning of the inheritance (or six months if residing abroad) [6].
   • Banks, insurers, and tax office (Finanzamt): Notify banks, private life or accident insurers (accidental deaths must often be reported to insurers within 48 hours), and the landlord [2]. Heirs must also file the deceased person's final income tax return for the year of death and, if statutory allowances are exceeded, an inheritance tax return (Erbschaftsteuererklärung) with the Finanzamt.

Official Authorities & Verified Contacts

Official Sources Checked by Clarvia

1. [1]
   Civil Status Act (Personenstandsgesetz – PStG), Section 28: Notification of Death — Bundesministerium der Justiz (gesetze-im-internet.de)
2. [2]
   What to do in the event of a bereavement: Funeral director directory and information — Bundesverband Deutscher Bestatter e.V.
3. [3]
   Survivor's pension (Hinterbliebenenrente): Eligibility and application — Deutsche Rentenversicherung
4. [4]
   Applying on time for survivor's pensions and the three-month transition period (Sterbevierteljahr) — Deutsche Rentenversicherung
5. [5]
   Renten Service der Deutschen Post: Reporting a death and the Sterbevierteljahr advance — Deutsche Post AG Renten Service
6. [6]
   Central Register of Wills (Zentrales Testamentsregister – ZTR) of the Federal Chamber of Notaries — Bund.de Verwaltung Online