Report a death

• Deadline: 3 days The death of a person must be reported to the responsible Standesamt (registry office) within three working days. • Notification by persons, institutions or authorities The death notification can be made by: • Institutions such as hospitals, nursing homes or homes for the elderly • Funeral homes • Relatives or persons who were present at the time of death • Police, in cases of uncertain or unnatural cause of death • Documents in German • If the required documents/certificates are not available in German, they must be translated by a translator sworn in in Germany (see "Further information"). • For some countries, an additional authentication (apostille or legalization) is also required. The apostille (issued by the responsible authority in the home country) or the legalization (issued by the German embassy) must be affixed directly to the original or attached to it (more under "Further information"). • For certificates originally issued in Arabic, Greek, Hebrew or Cyrillic, the translation of personal names (such as first and last names, birth names) must strictly follow the transliteration standards (ISO 9-1995 / ISO 843 / DIN 31634 / ELOT 734, etc.). • Original documents All required documents/certificates must generally be presented to the responsible Standesamt in original form. Certificates may not be altered and/or perforated/laminated.

• Anzeige eines Sterbefalls (notification of death) (completed, signed) • either the institution/authority (e.g., hospital, funeral home) submits the notification of death • or the relatives submit the notification of death • Leichenschauschein (death certificate issued by examining physician) • Birth certificate of the deceased person • If applicable, marriage/civil partnership certificate or certified copy from the register Required if the deceased person was married or living in a registered civil partnership. • If applicable, proof of dissolution of the marriage/civil partnership If the deceased person was divorced or widowed, the marriage/civil partnership certificate and proof of dissolution (dissolution note on the certificate or legally binding divorce judgment/annulment decision or death certificate) are required. • If applicable, birth certificates of the children Required if the deceased person leaves minor children. • Further documents The list of required documents given here is not exhaustive, and further documents may be needed.

• none: Reporting of a death • 12.00 Euro: Issuance of the death certificate • 12.00 Euro: Certified copy from the death register • 12.00 Euro: Issuance of an international death certificate • 6.00 Euro: Each additional certificate of the same type issued at the same time

Personenstandsgesetz (PStG, Civil Status Act) §§ 28-31 - Notification and registration www.gesetze-im-internet.de/pstg/BJNR012210007.html#BJNR01221 • Gesetz über das Leichen- und Bestattungswesen (Bestattungsgesetz, Burial Act) § 19 gesetze.berlin.de/perma?j=BestattG_BE_!_19 • Personenstandsverordnung (PStV, Civil Status Ordinance) §§ 2, 38 www.gesetze-im-internet.de/pstv/ • Verordnung zur Ausführung des Personenstandsregisters im Land Berlin (PStGAV Bln, Ordinance on the Implementation of the Civil Status Register in the State of Berlin) § 9 - Fee assessment gesetze.berlin.de/perma?j=PStGAV_BE_!_9

• Verzeichnis zugelassener beeidigter Übersetzer/innen und Dolmetscher/innen (register of approved sworn translators and interpreters) www.gerichtsdolmetscherverzeichnis.de • Auswärtiges Amt (Federal Foreign Office): Foreign public documents for use in Germany www.auswaertiges-amt.de/de/urkunden/2007718#content_1

The death of a person must be reported to the Standesamt (registry office) of the place of death / death district in which the person died. The deceased person's last place of residence is not decisive in this matter.