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

1. 1

   Obtaining the Medical Certificate of Death (Form EV-14)

   • Death in a public hospital, private clinic, or at home under medical care: When a death occurs in a public or private hospital facility, or at home under clinical supervision, the attending physician verifies the death and issues the Medical Certificate of Death free of charge on the official EV-14 form regulated by the Ministry of Popular Power for Health [1] [2]. To obtain this form, the family must present the laminated Venezuelan identity card or passport of the deceased person along with the declarant's identification [1].
   • Death without medical attendance, sudden death, or violent cause: If the death occurs in a public place, at home without an attending physician able to certify a clinical cause of death, or under accidental or suspicious circumstances, no private physician may sign Form EV-14 [1] [2]. You must notify the Scientific, Penal, and Criminalistic Investigation Corps (CICPC) and the Public Prosecutor's Office immediately so that the body can be transferred to the National Service of Forensic Medicine and Sciences (SENAMECF) for a forensic autopsy, after which the forensic examiner issues the death certificate required for civil registration [1] [2].
2. 2

   Registering the Death with the Civil Registry and Updating SAIME

   • Statutory deadline and competent Civil Registry office: Under the Organic Law on the Civil Registry supervised by the National Electoral Council (CNE), declaring a death is mandatory and must be completed within 48 hours following the death before the municipal or parish Civil Registry office where the death occurred, or at the designated hospital registry unit [1] [2].
   • Requirements and issuance of the Civil Death Certificate: The declaring family member must appear with the original and a copy of the Medical Certificate of Death (EV-14), the original identity card of the deceased person, their own identity card, and two adult witnesses holding valid identification [1] [2]. Once registered, the civil registrar issues certified copies of the Death Certificate (Acta de Defunción) [2]. When certified copies of archived records or secondary registry legalizations are needed, they are processed through the Principal Registry under the Autonomous Service of Registries and Notaries (Servicio Autónomo de Registros y Notarías) [2].
   • Reporting a deceased citizen to SAIME: Once the Death Certificate is obtained, family members must update the civil status record and file the declaration of a deceased citizen before the Administrative Service of Identification, Migration, and Foreigners (SAIME) to deactivate the identity card number in the national system and prevent identity misuse [1].
3. 3

   Funeral Arrangements, Burial or Cremation Permits, and Hague Apostille

   • Engaging an authorized funeral provider and municipal permits: With the Medical Certificate of Death and the Death Certificate issued by the Civil Registry, the licensed funeral home obtains the municipal burial permit for a public or private cemetery, or the cremation permit, from the relevant municipal mayor's office [1] [2]. For cremation, the cause of death must be natural and duly certified, or an express authorization must be issued by the Public Prosecutor's Office if forensic authorities intervened [2].
   • International repatriation and Electronic Hague Apostille: If mortal remains or cremated ashes must be repatriated outside Venezuela, or if the Venezuelan Death Certificate must produce legal effect abroad for foreign heirs or cross-border assets, the civil certificate must first be legalized through the Principal Registry of the Autonomous Service of Registries and Notaries (Servicio Autónomo de Registros y Notarías) [2] [3] and subsequently apostilled through the Electronic Legalization and Apostille System of the Ministry of Popular Power for Foreign Affairs (Ministerio del Poder Popular para Relaciones Exteriores) [4].
4. 4

   Notifying the IVSS, Banks, and Insurance Companies in Venezuela

   • Survivor pension and funeral benefits before the IVSS: If the deceased person was an active insured worker or received an old-age or disability pension, eligible family members -a legally recognized spouse or cohabiting partner, unmarried children under age 14 or up to age 18 if enrolled in regular studies, or children of any age with total permanent incapacity- may apply for a Survivor Pension (Pensión de Sobreviviente) before the administrative offices of the Venezuelan Institute of Social Security (Instituto Venezolano de los Seguros Sociales) [5]. Applicants must submit Form 14-04, the Death Certificate, the deceased's identity card, marriage or birth certificates of the beneficiaries, and the contribution record [5].
   • Notifying banks and insurance providers: Family members should notify public and private banks supervised by SUDEBAN where their family member held accounts or financial instruments, as well as insurance companies, submitting a certified copy of the Death Certificate to stop automatic charges and claim life or funeral expense insurance policies [2] [6].
5. 5

   Filing the Succession Tax Return with SENIAT and Estate Distribution

   • Registering the Estate Tax Identification Number (RIF Sucesoral): Before transferring or disposing of any movable property, real estate, or bank account belonging to the deceased person, the heirs must obtain the Estate Tax Identification Number (RIF Sucesoral) through the online portal and regional offices of the National Integrated Service for the Administration of Customs Duties and Taxes (Servicio Nacional Integrado de Administración Aduanera y Tributaria) [6]. This requires the electronic application form, the Death Certificate, birth or marriage certificates proving kinship, and updated individual RIF certificates for all heirs [6].
   • Filing the Succession Tax Return within 180 working days: Under the Law on Inheritance, Gift, and Related Taxes, heirs have a strict statutory deadline of 180 working days from the date of death to file the online Succession Tax Return (Declaración Sucesoral) before the National Integrated Service for the Administration of Customs Duties and Taxes (Servicio Nacional Integrado de Administración Aduanera y Tributaria), declare all estate assets and liabilities, pay any applicable inheritance tax assessment, and obtain the Certificate of Succession Tax Clearance (Certificado de Solvencia Sucesoral) [6]. A primary family residence duly registered with the tax authority may qualify for the statutory tax exemption [6].
   • Recording property transfers and representing heirs abroad: Once the Certificate of Succession Tax Clearance is issued by the National Integrated Service for the Administration of Customs Duties and Taxes (Servicio Nacional Integrado de Administración Aduanera y Tributaria), the heirs appear before the Public Registries of the Autonomous Service of Registries and Notaries (Servicio Autónomo de Registros y Notarías) to register the partition or transfer of real estate and registrable assets [2] [3] [6]. If an heir resides outside Venezuela, they may appoint a representative in Venezuela via a special power of attorney executed before a Venezuelan consulate or before a foreign notary with a Hague Apostille verified through the Ministry of Popular Power for Foreign Affairs (Ministerio del Poder Popular para Relaciones Exteriores) [3] [4].

Official Authorities & Verified Contacts

Official Sources Checked by Clarvia

1. [1]
   Requirements and Rules for Death Registration and Civil Status — Ministerio del Poder Popular para Relaciones Exteriores - Consulado General de Venezuela
2. [2]
   Digital Legalization and Apostille of SAREN Documents — Consulado General de la República Bolivariana de Venezuela (gob.ve)
3. [3]
   Execution of Special or General Powers of Attorney under Venezuelan Law — Ministerio del Poder Popular para Relaciones Exteriores - Consulado General de Venezuela
4. [4]
   Electronic Legalization and Apostille System — Ministerio del Poder Popular para Relaciones Exteriores (MPPRE)
5. [5]
   Cash Benefits and Survivor Pension Administration — Instituto Venezolano de los Seguros Sociales (IVSS)
6. [6]
   Tax Portal: Estate RIF and Online Succession Tax Return — Servicio Nacional Integrado de Administración Aduanera y Tributaria (SENIAT)