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

1. 1

   Medical Certification of Death in Liechtenstein

   • Death in the National Hospital or a care home: When a patient dies at the Liechtenstein National Hospital (Liechtensteinisches Landesspital) in Vaduz or in a residential care facility of the Liechtenstein Old Age and Sickness Aid (Liechtensteinische Alters- und Krankenhilfe, LAK), the attending physician performs the post-mortem examination (Leichenschau) and issues the official medical death certificate (ärztliche Todesbescheinigung) in accordance with the guidelines of the Office of Public Health (Amt für Gesundheit) [1][3].
   • Natural death at home: If the death occurs in a private residence, immediately contact the family physician (Hausarzt) or the emergency medical service on duty (ärztlicher Notfalldienst, telephone 230 30 30) [1][3]. The deceased person must not be moved or transported before the physician has completed the examination and issued the medical death certificate [1].
   • Unexpected, sudden, or unexplained death: In the event of an accident, suicide, unclear cause of death, or discovery of a body without prior medical attendance, notify the National Police (Landespolizei) immediately via emergency number 117 (or +423 236 71 11) [1]. In such cases, the National Police, together with the public health officer at the Office of Public Health (Amt für Gesundheit) and the Public Prosecutor's Office or the Princely Court of Justice (Fürstliches Landgericht), initiates a forensic examination before releasing the body for burial or cremation [1][3][5].
2. 2

   Timely Registration with the Civil Registry Office and Issuance of the Death Certificate

   • Statutory two-day reporting deadline: Every death occurring in the Principality of Liechtenstein must be reported within two days (48 hours) to the Civil Registry Office of Liechtenstein (Zivilstandsamt Liechtenstein) in Vaduz [1][2]. In practice, the medical death certificate is transmitted directly to the Civil Registry Office or handed to the next of kin or appointed funeral director in a sealed envelope for submission [1][2].
   • Documents required for registration: To register the death, the Zivilstandsamt Liechtenstein requires the medical death certificate and, particularly for foreign nationals or persons born abroad, official identity documents (passport or identity card), residence permit (Ausländerausweis), and civil status records such as a birth certificate, marriage certificate, or family record book (Familienbüchlein) [1][2].
   • Issuance of the Death Certificate and notice to the municipality: Once recorded in the civil register, the Zivilstandsamt Liechtenstein issues the official death certificate (Todesurkunde, available on request as an international multilingual CIEC death extract for cross-border use) [2]. At the same time, the Civil Registry Office automatically prepares the official death notice (Todesfall-Aufnahme) and forwards it to the Liechtenstein municipality of residence for estate inventory preparation as well as to the Princely Court of Justice (Fürstliches Landgericht) [1][5].
3. 3

   Burial, Cremation, or International Repatriation Within the Legal Framework

   • Coordination with the municipality of residence and funeral director: Funerals at a municipal cemetery in Liechtenstein are organized in close coordination between the family, the cemetery or funeral office (Bestattungsamt) of the municipality of residence (such as Vaduz, Schaan, Triesen, Balzers, or Eschen), and a licensed funeral home (Bestattungsunternehmen) [1]. Check beforehand whether the deceased held a private funeral pre-arrangement or travel repatriation insurance.
   • Burial or cremation: Once the civil registry burial permit has been issued, either an earth burial (Erdbestattung) or cremation (Feuerbestattung - which, as Liechtenstein does not operate its own crematory, is regularly carried out at neighboring Swiss crematories such as St. Gallen, Chur, or Rüti) followed by urn interment can take place [1]. Any written disposition wishes left by the deceased during their lifetime take precedence.
   • Corpse transit permit (Leichenpass) and Apostille: If the body is to be repatriated to another country (or transported across the border for cremation), the Office of Public Health (Amt für Gesundheit) issues the international corpse transit permit (Leichenpass) based on the medical death certificate and coffin sealing confirmation [1][3]. Where Liechtenstein death certificates or judicial probate records must be presented in a foreign jurisdiction, the Government Chancellery (Regierungskanzlei) of the Liechtenstein National Administration in Vaduz affixes the Hague Apostille or consular legalization [1][2].
4. 4

   Notifying the Liechtensteinische AHV-IV-FAK, Pension Funds, Health Insurers, and Banks

   • First-pillar survivor pensions (AHV): Report the death promptly to the Old-Age, Survivors' and Invalidity Insurance Authority (Liechtensteinische AHV-IV-FAK in Vaduz, telephone +423 238 16 16) [4]. Surviving spouses, registered partners, and children of the deceased can submit an application there for a widow's, widower's, or orphan's pension (Verwitwetenrente or Waisenrente) [4]. Ongoing old-age or invalidity pensions paid to the deceased end at the conclusion of the month of death [4].
   • Occupational pension scheme (second pillar) and accident insurance: If your family member was employed or received an occupational pension, notify the relevant Liechtenstein pension fund (Pensionskasse) - and, in the event of an accidental death, the employer's compulsory accident insurer - to claim surviving spouse, partner, or orphan pensions or any lump-sum death benefit (Todesfallkapital) [1][4].
   • Compulsory health insurance (OKP) and banking institutions: Notify the deceased's health insurance fund (Krankenkasse) with a copy of the death certificate so coverage is terminated as of the date of death and any outstanding medical or nursing invoices can be settled [3]. Likewise inform Liechtenstein banks; sole-name accounts are frozen for routine withdrawals until the judicial probate certificate or decree of distribution (Einantwortungsurkunde) is presented, although documented funeral invoices can frequently be paid directly from the account [1][5].
5. 5

   Probate Proceedings at the Princely Court of Justice and Cross-Border Estate Administration

   • Ex officio initiation of probate proceedings (Verlassenschaftsabhandlung): In Liechtenstein, judicial estate proceedings are conducted ex officio by the Princely Court of Justice (Fürstliches Landgericht) in Vaduz under the General Civil Code (Allgemeines bürgerliches Gesetzbuch, ABGB) and the Non-Contentious Proceedings Act (Ausserstreitgesetz) [1][5]. Once the Civil Registry Office and the municipality of residence transmit the death notice (Todesfall-Aufnahme) and the municipal estate inventory, the Fürstliches Landgericht opens the probate file [1][5].
   • Opening of wills and declaration of acceptance (Erbserklärung): Any original last will and testament (holographic will, witnessed allographic will, public will, or inheritance contract) must be lodged with the Fürstliches Landgericht, where it is formally opened and read (Testamentseröffnung) [5]. Statutory or testamentary heirs then submit their formal declaration of acceptance of inheritance (Erbserklärung), either conditionally with the benefit of inventory (limiting liability for estate debts to the value of the inherited assets) or unconditionally [5].
   • Court certificate, decree of distribution (Einantwortung), and tax rules: Upon completion of the probate proceedings, the Fürstliches Landgericht issues the judicial decree of distribution (Einantwortungsurkunde, or an official certificate of inheritance / Amtsbestätigung for heirs and executors), which transfers legal title to bank balances, securities, and Liechtenstein real estate in the land register [5]. Liechtenstein has abolished inheritance and gift taxes; however, the Tax Administration (Steuerverwaltung) together with the municipality compiles the official tax inventory of the estate and assesses the final pro-rata income and wealth tax return up to the date of death [1].
   • Cross-border estate coordination: Because Liechtenstein, as an EEA member state, is not bound by the EU Succession Regulation (Regulation (EU) No 650/2012), international jurisdiction and applicable succession law in Liechtenstein are governed by the Liechtenstein Private International Law Act (IPRG) [5]. If an heir lives abroad or assets are held across multiple countries, early coordination with the judicial officer (Rechtspfleger) at the Fürstliches Landgericht or a Liechtenstein attorney or notary is advisable [5].

Official Authorities & Verified Contacts

Official Sources Checked by Clarvia

1. [1]
   Death in the Principality of Liechtenstein - Reporting, Funeral, and Estate Procedures — Liechtensteinische Landesverwaltung (LLV)
2. [2]
   Civil Registry Office (Zivilstandsamt) - Registration of Deaths and Civil Status Certificates — Zivilstandsamt, Liechtensteinische Landesverwaltung
3. [3]
   Office of Public Health (Amt für Gesundheit) - Medical Death Certification and Corpse Transit Permits — Amt für Gesundheit, Liechtensteinische Landesverwaltung
4. [4]
   AHV Survivor Pensions - Widow's, Widower's, and Orphan's Pensions — Liechtensteinische AHV-IV-FAK
5. [5]
   Princely Court of Justice (Fürstliches Landgericht) - Probate and Succession Proceedings — Liechtensteinische Gerichte