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

1. 1

   Medical Certification of Death and Issuance of the Medical Death Certificate

   • Death occurring in a hospital facility: If your family member died in a public or private hospital operating under the regulatory oversight of the Ministerul Sănătății al Republicii Moldova, the attending ward physicians confirm the death and issue the medical certificate of death (including through the electronic e-CMND information system), which is mandatory for civil registration [1] [5].
   • Death occurring at a private residence: If the death occurred at home in a locality in the Republic of Moldova, relatives must notify the family physician or the pre-hospital emergency medical service (by calling 112) so a doctor can examine the body in person and issue the medical certificate confirming the cause of death [1] [5].
   • Sudden, violent, or suspicious death requiring forensic examination: Where a death occurs without medical attendance or involves suspected non-natural causes, the police order a forensic autopsy at the Center of Forensic Medicine operating under the Ministerul Sănătății al Republicii Moldova, and the forensic pathologist issues the medical death certificate once the examination is concluded [1] [5].
2. 2

   Registering the Death with the Civil Registry and Obtaining the Death Certificate

   • Filing the declaration at multifunctional centers or local town halls: The formal declaration of death must be filed within three days of the death at any territorial civil registry division (Multifunctional Center) of the Agenția Servicii Publice or, in rural localities, at the local town hall (primărie) [1].
   • Documents required for primary registration: To register the death act with the Agenția Servicii Publice, the declarant must submit the medical certificate of death (or electronic confirmation in the e-CMND system), the deceased person's national identity card (buletin de identitate), their military record book if applicable, and the declarant's identity document; initial registration of the death and issuance of the first original death certificate are free of charge [1].
   • Requesting duplicates and multilingual extracts: When the family requires additional copies for banks, insurance claims, or legal procedures in other countries, the Agenția Servicii Publice issues duplicate death certificates and multilingual civil status extracts upon request [1].
3. 3

   Arranging the Burial, Cremation, or International Repatriation

   • Burial authorization at local cemeteries: On the basis of the civil death certificate issued by the Agenția Servicii Publice, the cemetery administration or local public authority allocates the burial plot and authorizes funeral services in compliance with the public health rules established by the Ministerul Sănătății al Republicii Moldova [1] [5].
   • Procedures for cremation: Because cremation takes place at authorized crematoria (typically in neighboring countries such as Romania or Ukraine), the family or funeral provider must obtain the civil death certificate, the sanitary-epidemiological transit clearance, and customs transport documents [1] [5].
   • International repatriation of human remains or ashes: If the deceased person is to be transported abroad for burial, the body must be placed in a hermetically sealed metal-lined coffin accompanied by a mortuary passport, and a Hague Apostille must be affixed to the death certificate through the government apostille service administered by the Ministerul Justiției al Republicii Moldova together with any required consular clearances [1] [4].
4. 4

   Claiming the Funeral Grant, Survivor Pension, and Notifying Moldovan Banks

   • Applying for the one-time funeral grant (ajutor de deces): The person who bore the funeral expenses may claim the statutory one-time death grant from the Territorial Social Insurance Office (CTAS) operating under the Casa Națională de Asigurări Sociale by presenting their identity document, the death certificate, and, where applicable, civil status records confirming family relationship to the deceased insured person or pensioner [2].
   • Survivor pension (pensie de urmaș) for spouses and children: At the same territorial office of the Casa Națională de Asigurări Sociale, eligible family members may submit an application for a survivor pension, which is granted to children up to age 18 (or up to age 23 if enrolled in full-time studies) and to the surviving spouse who meets statutory requirements regarding retirement age, severe or accentuated disability, or care for children under age 3 [3].
   • Notifying commercial banks and insurers in the Republic of Moldova: Heirs must present the death certificate to commercial banks in the Republic of Moldova where the deceased held current accounts, deposits, or loans so that unauthorized transactions are blocked and official balance statements can be issued for the notarial succession file [4].
5. 5

   Opening Succession Proceedings Before a Public Notary in the Republic of Moldova

   • Opening the succession file and checking the wills registry: Legal or testamentary heirs must apply to a public notary in the Republic of Moldova (generally at the place of the deceased person's last domicile) to open succession proceedings; the notary checks for any registered will and records the case in the Electronic Registry of Succession Files and Wills administered under the authority of the Ministerul Justiției al Republicii Moldova [4].
   • Acceptance of inheritance and issuance of the certificate of heir: Under the Civil Code of the Republic of Moldova, heirs must exercise their right of succession option within the statutory timeframe and provide the notary with civil status certificates issued by the Agenția Servicii Publice, real estate ownership titles (extracts from the Real Estate Registry), and bank statements in order to obtain the legal or testamentary certificate of heir (certificat de moștenitor) [1] [4].
   • Coordinating with heirs or assets located abroad: If certain heirs reside outside the Republic of Moldova, they may participate in the succession procedure through a notarial power of attorney authenticated at a Moldovan embassy or consulate or before a foreign notary (with a Hague Apostille or legalization); likewise, if estate assets are located abroad, the Moldovan certificate of heir can be apostilled through the service operated by the Ministerul Justiției al Republicii Moldova [4].

Official Authorities & Verified Contacts

Official Sources Checked by Clarvia

1. [1]
   Registration of Death - Civil Status Services for Individuals — Agenția Servicii Publice (ASP) - Republica Moldova
2. [2]
   Death Grant (Ajutor de deces) - Social Insurance Benefits — Casa Națională de Asigurări Sociale (CNAS)
3. [3]
   Survivor Pension (Pensie de urmaș) - Eligibility Conditions and Required Documents — Casa Națională de Asigurări Sociale (CNAS)
4. [4]
   More Digital Notarial Services: Electronic Registry of Succession Files and Wills — Ministerul Justiției al Republicii Moldova
5. [5]
   Practical Guide on Healthcare Assistance and Palliative Care — Ministerul Sănătății al Republicii Moldova