BERLINEN
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  1. ServicePortal Berlin
  2. Services
  3. Meldewesen und Ordnung
  4. Apply for a death certificate

Apply for a death certificate

Sterbeurkunde beantragen
Machine translation of the German page, 2026-09-15. The German original is binding.
You can also use this service online

Book an appointment

Book an appointment (service.berlin.de)

Requirements

• The death has already been registered with the Standesamt (registry office) in whose district the person died. • You are entitled to apply for the certificate The certificate can be applied for by: • a person who is related in a direct line to the person named in the certificate (parents, children, grandparents, grandchildren) • the wife/husband or registered civil partner • siblings, provided they can credibly demonstrate a legitimate interest in the issuance of the certificate • persons who can credibly demonstrate a legal interest • persons who hold a power of attorney • You must know which Standesamt (registry office) is responsible If you do not know which Standesamt is responsible, you have the option of searching for the responsible Standesamt yourself online free of charge, or you can commission a search for a fee. • For the online application: consent to the electronic payment procedure or bank transfer • Pay electronically directly in the online procedure by credit card (Visa, Mastercard) • Alternatively, you can pay by bank transfer. In that case, you will receive a Gebührenbescheid (fee notice) by post.

Documents you need

• Application for the issuance of a Sterbeurkunde (death certificate) or a certified copy from the Sterberegister (death register) You can submit the application either online or in person. • Online applications are only possible if you can state the responsible Standesamt (registry office). • For applications in person: proof of identity Personalausweis (identity card) or passport • For applications in person: proof of relationship (if you are related) If you are related in a direct line to the persons named in the certificate (parents, children, grandparents, grandchildren), you need proof of relationship: e.g. birth certificate, marriage certificate or civil partnership certificate. • For applications in person: proof of a legal interest (if you are not related) If you are not related in a direct line to the persons named in the certificate, you need proof of a legal interest: e.g. certificate of inheritance (Erbschein) or extract from the land register. • For applications in person: power of attorney (if you are applying for the certificate on behalf of another person)

Fees

• none: Sterbeurkunde (death certificate) for social insurance purposes • 12.00 euros: Sterbeurkunde (death certificate), German • 12.00 euros: Sterbeurkunde (death certificate), multilingual / international • 12.00 euros: certified copy from the death register • 6.00 euros: each additional certificate of the same type, if issued at the same time • 20.00 to 80.00 euros, depending on the search effort: determination of the responsible Standesamt (registry office) in Berlin (death case)

Legal basis

• Personenstandsgesetz (PStG) [Civil Status Act] §§ 61 et seq. www.gesetze-im-internet.de/pstg/__61.html • Personenstandsverordnung (PStV) [Civil Status Ordinance] §§ 53-55 www.gesetze-im-internet.de/pstv/BJNR226300008.html#BJNR22630 • Verordnung zur Ausführung des Personenstandsgesetzes im Land Berlin (PStGAV Bln) [Ordinance Implementing the Civil Status Act in the State of Berlin] § 9 - Fee determination gesetze.berlin.de/bsbe/document/jlr-PStGAVBE2019V2Anlage

Further information

• Information on determining the responsible Standesamt (registry office) (Landesamt für Bürger- und Ordnungsangelegenheiten [State Office for Citizens' and Regulatory Affairs]) www.berlin.de/standesamt/suchumlauf/artikel.1137374.php • Report a death (Sterbeurkunde - death certificate - first registration) (service) service.berlin.de/dienstleistung/318987/ • Request information from the historical Standesamt (registry office) records on civil status cases registered in Berlin (for deaths that occurred more than 30 years ago) service.berlin.de/dienstleistung/352800/

Who is responsible

• Standesamt (registry office): The responsible office is the Standesamt in whose district the person actually died (regardless of place of residence). If you only know "Berlin" as the place of death, you can commission, for a fee, a search for the responsible Standesamt. • Landesarchiv (state archive): If the death occurred more than 30 years ago, please contact the Landesarchiv Berlin.

Responsible for you

Choose a location; the appointment itself is booked on the original page.

Original

German original

Service number 318990 · same path as the original: service.berlin.de/dienstleistung/318990/