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

1. 1

   Medical Certification of Death and Healthcare Documentation

   • Death at the State Hospital or public residential facilities: If your family member died at the State Hospital in Cailungo or in a care facility operated by the Istituto per la Sicurezza Sociale, hospital physicians issue the medical confirmation of death and the internal necroscopic certificate, forwarding the healthcare records needed for civil registration [2].
   • Death at a private residence: If the death occurred at home in one of the municipalities (Castelli) of the Republic of San Marino, relatives must promptly contact the attending physician or the on-call medical service of the Istituto per la Sicurezza Sociale so a doctor can verify the death in person and complete the medical cause-of-death certificate [1] [2].
   • Sudden death or cases requiring judicial clearance: Where a death occurs without medical attendance or under circumstances requiring forensic examination, the attending doctor notifies the police authorities and the Law Commissioner (Commissario della Legge) at the Tribunale della Repubblica di San Marino, which must issue a formal clearance before the body may be moved or buried [5].
2. 2

   Civil Registration of Death and Official Certificates

   • Registration at the central civil registry in Borgo Maggiore: The formal declaration of death must be filed with the Ufficio Stato Civile, Servizi Demografici ed Elettorali (located at Via Ventotto Luglio 196 in Borgo Maggiore), which holds exclusive authority to register deaths occurring in San Marino or involving resident citizens [1].
   • Documents required to register the death record: To complete the registration, you must present the necroscopic medical certificate issued by the physicians of the Istituto per la Sicurezza Sociale, the deceased person's identity documents (including the Sammarinese identity card and ISS social security code), and the valid identification of the declarant or authorized funeral representative [1] [2].
   • Requesting death certificates and civil registry extracts: Once the death act is registered, the Ufficio Stato Civile, Servizi Demografici ed Elettorali issues death certificates as well as summary or full extracts of the death record; it is advisable to request multiple original copies, as they will be required for banks, insurers, pension claims, and the mandatory inheritance tax return [1] [4].
3. 3

   Funeral Arrangements, Burial or Cremation Permits, and Repatriation

   • Burial permits and cemetery administration: The Ufficio Stato Civile, Servizi Demografici ed Elettorali also exercises mortuary police functions and administers the cemeteries of the Republic of San Marino, issuing the official burial or entombment permit for the municipal cemeteries after the mandatory medical observation period has elapsed [1].
   • Authorization for cremation: Because cremation takes place at authorized crematoria outside Sammarinese territory (typically in neighboring Italy), the competent civil registry office issues the transport and cremation authorization based on the deceased person's testamentary wishes or the joint declaration of eligible next of kin [1].
   • International repatriation of remains or ashes: If your family member is to be transported across the border for burial in Italy or another country, the Ufficio Stato Civile, Servizi Demografici ed Elettorali issues the mortuary passport and coordinates public health certificates with the Istituto per la Sicurezza Sociale, affixing a Hague Apostille where required for foreign jurisdictions [1] [2].
4. 4

   Social Security Notifications, Survivor Pensions, and Banking Steps

   • Stopping direct pensions and applying for survivor benefits: Relatives must notify the Pensions and Economic Benefits Office of the Istituto per la Sicurezza Sociale to halt direct pension payments and prevent overpayments, while simultaneously submitting an application for a survivor or reversionary pension (pensione ai superstiti) [2] [3].
   • Eligibility rules for surviving spouses and children: Under Sammarinese social security law, eligible beneficiaries include the surviving spouse (subject to statutory marriage duration requirements and income cumulation thresholds) and dependent children under age 18, students up to age 26, or disabled dependent children, provided the deceased accrued at least 15 years of total contributions or 7 years of contributions including at least one year in the five years preceding death [3].
   • Notifying Sammarinese banks, insurers, and employers: Upon presentation of the death certificate to Sammarinese banks and financial institutions, individual accounts held by the deceased are frozen pending completion of the inheritance procedure; heirs must also request from each bank a formal statement of account balances and deposits as of the date of death, which is mandatory for the inheritance filing [4].
5. 5

   Opening the Estate Succession and Filing the Inheritance Return

   • Filing the mandatory inheritance declaration: Heirs or legatees must file the formal inheritance tax return (denuncia d'eredità) with the Ufficio del Registro e Conservatoria of the Republic of San Marino, using the official forms to declare all real estate, bank accounts, corporate shares, and financial assets included in the estate [4].
   • Required attachments and will registration: The inheritance declaration submitted to the Ufficio del Registro e Conservatoria must be accompanied by a certified copy of any registered will in San Marino, the official bank declarations confirming balances at the date of death, and, if the deceased was not registered in the Sammarinese population registry, an original death certificate [4].
   • Cross-border estates, foreign heirs, and court procedures: If the deceased or the heirs are foreign nationals residing outside San Marino, the filing must include a sworn affidavit of heirship (atto notorio) confirming the devolution of the estate, as well as authorization from the Council of Twelve (Consiglio dei XII) where required for real property transfers; for acceptance of an estate with benefit of inventory, appointment of estate curators, or contested probate matters, jurisdiction lies with the Civil Registry of the Tribunale della Repubblica di San Marino [4] [5].

Official Authorities & Verified Contacts

Official Sources Checked by Clarvia

1. [1]
   Civil Registry, Demographic and Electoral Services Office - Republic of San Marino — Portale Ufficiale della Repubblica di San Marino (gov.sm)
2. [2]
   How-To Guide - Healthcare, Social Security, and Welfare Services — Istituto per la Sicurezza Sociale (ISS) - Repubblica di San Marino
3. [3]
   Retirement and Social Security Benefits (Survivor and Reversionary Pensions) — Portale Ufficiale della Repubblica di San Marino (gov.sm)
4. [4]
   Public Administration FAQ: Successions and Inheritance Declarations (Registry and Land Conservatory Office) — Portale Ufficiale della Repubblica di San Marino (gov.sm)
5. [5]
   Offices and Court Registries - Civil and Non-Contentious Jurisdiction — Tribunale della Repubblica di San Marino