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

1. 1

   Medical Pronouncement of Death and Medical Death Certificate (*Ärztliche Todesbescheinigung*)

   Before any transfer of the deceased or administrative registration can take place, the death must be officially verified by a physician and documented by an official medical death certificate (Ärztliche Todesbescheinigung) [1][2]:

   • Death in a hospital or care home (Spital oder Pflegeheim): The facility's medical management carries out the medical verification, issues the Ärztliche Todesbescheinigung, and frequently transmits the formal death notification directly (electronically or in writing) to the competent civil registry office (Zivilstandsamt) [1][2].
   • Death at home: Immediately contact the family doctor (Hausarzt), the regional on-call medical service (ärztlicher Notfalldienst), or emergency medical services (Sanität) on 144 so that the original Ärztliche Todesbescheinigung can be issued on site [1][2].
   • Unusual death (Aussergewöhnlicher Todesfall) or death in a public place: If the death occurs in a public place, results from an accident or suicide, or takes place under unclear circumstances, notify the police immediately on 117 (or emergency medical services on 144) [1][2]. Do not alter anything at the place of death; the police call in the public health officer (Amtsarzt / forensic medicine) and the public prosecutor's office (Staatsanwaltschaft) to examine the body and issue formal clearance for burial or cremation [2].
2. 2

   Checking Funeral Wishes and Contacting the Municipal Funeral Office and Funeral Director

   First check whether the deceased left written funeral instructions (Bestattungsverfügung) or a pre-arrangement specifying their choice between earth burial (Erdbestattung) and cremation (Kremation/Feuerbestattung); such instructions should be kept separate from the will because they are needed immediately [1][5]:

   • Municipal funeral office and licensed funeral directors: Contact the municipal funeral office (Bestattungsamt) of the deceased's municipality of residence (for example, in Zurich, the Bestattungs- und Friedhofamt der Stadt Zürich - Funeral and Cemetery Office of the City of Zurich) or appoint an authorized funeral company (Bestattungsunternehmen) [1][2][3]. A directory of certified funeral providers is maintained by the national industry association Schweizerischer Verband der Bestattungsdienste - SVB (Swiss Association of Funeral Services) [3].
   • Municipal coverage and 48-hour minimum waiting period: In many Swiss municipalities, basic funeral services are coordinated or covered free of charge by the municipal Bestattungsamt, while a private funeral director handles coffining, transfer, and coordination from the place of death [2][3]. In Switzerland, earth burial or cremation may generally take place no earlier than 48 hours after death and only once the official burial/cremation permit (Bestattungsbewilligung) has been issued [2][3]. Clarvia provides association directories for orientation only and does not endorse individual providers.
3. 3

   Civil Registration at the *Zivilstandsamt* Within 2 Days and Issuance of the Death Certificate

   By law, a death in Switzerland must be registered within 2 days (48 hours) at the civil registry office (Zivilstandsamt) of the place of death (or, depending on the municipality, via the municipal funeral office), as explained on the official Swiss authorities portal ch.ch [1][2]:

   • Required documents for registration: Close family members or the authorized funeral director must present the original medical death certificate (Ärztliche Todesbescheinigung), the deceased person's passport or identity card (plus any foreign national permit - Ausländerausweis), the family record book (Familienbüchlein / Familienausweis) or partnership certificate if available, and the residence registration certificate (Schriftenempfangsschein / Meldebestätigung) [1][2].
   • Official Death Certificate (Todesschein) and CIEC Form C: The Zivilstandsamt records the death in the federal civil status register (Infostar), releases clearance for the burial/cremation permit (Bestattungsbewilligung), and issues upon request the official death certificate (Todesschein / Todesurkunde) as well as the multilingual international extract on CIEC Form C for cross-border matters [1][2].
   • Automatic municipal and AHV notification: At the same time, the Zivilstandsamt automatically notifies the residents' registration office (Einwohnerkontrolle) of the municipality of residence and the local OASI branch office (AHV-Zweigstelle) [1].
4. 4

   Claiming OASI Survivor Pensions (1st Pillar), Occupational Pension (2nd Pillar), and Insurance

   Once the official Todesschein is available, surviving family members should submit claims for social security and pension entitlements [4][5]:

   • 1st Pillar (AHV/OASI survivor pensions - Hinterlassenenrenten): Surviving spouses, registered partners, and children (generally up to age 18, or up to age 25 if in education or training) may qualify for a widow's, widower's, or orphan's pension (Witwen-, Witwer- oder Waisenrente) [4]. Eligibility rules are set out in Information Sheet 3.03 published by the Informationsstelle AHV/IV (OASI/DI Information Center); applications must be submitted to the compensation fund (Ausgleichskasse) to which the deceased last paid AHV contributions or from which they drew a pension [4].
   • 2nd Pillar (Occupational pension - Pensionskasse) and accident insurance (UVG): Notify the occupational pension fund (Pensionskasse, 2nd pillar) or last employer - as well as the mandatory accident insurer (UVG) in the event of an accidental death and any tied pension institutions (Pillar 3a) - to claim survivor pensions or lump-sum death benefits (Todesfallkapital) [1][5].
   • Mandatory health insurance (Krankenkasse - KVG): Notify the deceased's statutory health insurer (Krankenkasse); insurance coverage ends on the date of death, prepaid premiums are refunded on a pro-rata basis, and outstanding medical invoices are settled [5].
5. 5

   Certificate of Inheritance (*Erbenbescheinigung*), 3-Month Renunciation Period, Taxes, and Banks

   Estate administration under the Swiss Civil Code (Schweizerisches Zivilgesetzbuch - ZGB) follows binding cantonal procedures and statutory deadlines [1][5]:

   • Submission of wills and Certificate of Inheritance (Erbenbescheinigung): Any will (Testament) or inheritance contract (Erbvertrag) found must be submitted without delay to the competent cantonal authority (depending on the canton: the district court - Bezirksgericht, inheritance office - Erbschaftsamt, estate division office - Teilungsamt, or a notary's office at the deceased's last domicile) for official opening [1][5]. Statutory and appointed heirs apply to that same authority for the Certificate of Inheritance (Erbenbescheinigung / Erbschein), which is required to prove entitlement before banks, PostFinance, and land registries [1][5].
   • 3-month renunciation deadline (Ausschlagungsfrist) and public inventory: If there is any doubt as to whether the estate is over-indebted, heirs may request an official public inventory (öffentliches Inventar) within 1 month or formally renounce the inheritance (Ausschlagung) within the statutory deadline of 3 months (from the date they learned of the death or from the official opening of the will) before the competent cantonal authority [1][5].
   • Banks, contracts, and intra-year tax return (unterjährige Steuererklärung): Notify banks and PostFinance by presenting the Todesschein; to execute the distribution of the estate, financial institutions require the Erbenbescheinigung and the joint authorization of all co-heirs (Erbengemeinschaft) [1][5]. Cantonal tax authorities also compile an official tax inventory (Steuerinventar), and the heirs must file a final intra-year tax return (unterjährige Steuererklärung) covering the period from 1 January up to the date of death [5]. Practical checklists and bereavement advice are also provided by the non-profit specialist organization Pro Senectute Schweiz [5].

Official Authorities & Verified Contacts

Official Sources Checked by Clarvia

1. [1]
   Death: What needs to be done? — ch.ch (Schweizerische Bundeskanzlei)
2. [2]
   What to do in the event of a death - Medical death certificate and registration — Stadt Zürich - Bestattungs- und Friedhofamt
3. [3]
   What to do when someone dies - Checklist and directory of funeral directors — Schweizerischer Verband der Bestattungsdienste (SVB)
4. [4]
   Information Sheet 3.03 - OASI (AHV) Survivor Pensions — Informationsstelle AHV/IV
5. [5]
   Death of a relative: Checklist for surviving family members — Pro Senectute Schweiz