Show death

If someone dies in a hospital, old people's home, nursing home or prison, the institution must report the death.

In all other cases, the following persons are obliged to report the death in the following order:

  • any person who lived in domestic community with the deceased person
  • the person in whose home the death occurred
  • other persons who were present at the death or have knowledge of it from their own knowledge

Note: In the case of deaths in public or private institutions, other persons who were present at the death or know of the death also have the right to report the death.
They are also obliged to provide any information that the hospital cannot provide.

Prerequisite

One person has died.

Responsible department

the registry office of the place of death

Procedure

You must report the death in person. Hospitals, old people's homes, nursing homes and other institutions notify you of the death in writing.

If you have commissioned a funeral home, it will report the death on your behalf.

Notice: A doctor must certify the death. If there are indications that the death was not natural, he or she will notify the public prosecutor's office. In this case, the investigating authority reports the death to the registry office.

The registry office enters the death in the death register and issues the death certificate.

Deadlines

at the latest on the third working day following the death

Note: Saturday is not considered a working day.

Required documents

  • Identity card or passport of the person reporting the death
  • medical death certificate sheets A and B (non-confidential part) and sheets 1 and 2 (confidential part) in the envelope
  • Identity card, passport or registration certificate of the deceased person (as proof of last residence). In some municipalities, the registry office can print out the certificate of residence for you. A confirmation of registration is not sufficient.
  • if the deceased person is not yet listed in the civil status registers of the registry office processing the case: Civil status documents of the deceased person:
    • Marriage or civil partnership certificate of the last marriage or civil partnership and, if necessary, proof of dissolution
    • if there was no marriage or civil partnership: birth certificate

Note: In special cases, further documents may be required, for example translations of foreign documents.

Costs

  • for notification of the death and recording in the death register: none
  • for death certificates for certain purposes provided for by federal or state law (for example, social security or child benefit law): none
  • for additional death certificates or multilingual death certificates (e.g. for the repatriation of the body abroad): EUR 12.00 each

Detailed information

Federal Association of German Undertakers

Miscellaneous

none

Appeal

none