Death & Bereavement
Certification of Death
The death of a person must be notarized by the civil registry office in the district where the death occurred, regardless of the deceased’s residence. This certification is the prerequisite for all subsequent steps, including the funeral and the settlement of the estate. Typically, the appointed funeral director will report the death to us and submit the necessary documents on your behalf. This includes the doctor’s death notice, the deceased’s birth certificate, and if applicable, their marriage certificate.
Burial & Transfer Permits
Once the death is registered, we issue the official burial permit (Bestattungsgenehmigung). If the deceased is to be buried in a different municipality or abroad, a special “corpse transit permit” (Leichenpass) is required. We treat these matters with the highest priority and respect. Our staff is trained to handle these administrative tasks quickly to allow the family to focus on mourning without unnecessary bureaucratic delays.
Administrative Assistance
After the issuance of the death certificate, the registry office automatically notifies certain other authorities, such as the probate court and the registration office. However, relatives are responsible for cancelling personal contracts, such as housing, utilities, and subscriptions. We provide a comprehensive checklist to help you navigate these tasks. Please feel free to ask our staff for this guide when you collect the death certificates.
