A death in the family: what needs to be done now?
You do not have to do everything at once.
When someone dies, a lot happens at once. Here you can see what is truly urgent and what can wait – in the right order, with the offices responsible.
Answer a few short questions. The list adapts and shows typical steps for your situation.
Good to know: the official websites linked here are mostly in German. German terms are shown in brackets so you can find them there.
Your personal plan
Guidance only, not legal or tax advice.
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Your deadlines at a glance
Enter the date above to see calculable guide dates here. Deadlines with an individual starting point are shown without a fixed date.
- Register the death at the registry office (Standesamt)Responsible office: registry office (Standesamt)by the 3rd working day after the death; Saturdays do not count as working days
- Notify life or accident insuranceResponsible office: your insureras soon as possible; check the exact notice period in the contract
- Apply for the survivor’s pension advanceResponsible office: Renten Service of Deutsche Postwithin 30 days
- Terminate the tenancy extraordinarily (only if nobody takes it over)Responsible office: landlord or tenants’ associationwithin one month of learning of the death and that nobody takes over or continues the tenancy
- Accept or disclaim the inheritanceResponsible office: probate court (Nachlassgericht)usually 6 weeks from learning of the inheritance and of the reason you are an heir
- Report the inheritance to the tax office (Finanzamt)Responsible office: tax office (Finanzamt)usually within 3 months of learning of the acquisition; legal exceptions possible
Deadlines can differ in individual cases, for example because of contracts, state law or special circumstances. Calculated dates are guide dates; what counts is the information from the responsible office. This overview helps you put the next steps in order. Depending on your situation, further urgent tasks may come up.
Step by step
- 1
In the first hours
The essentials first. Much of the rest can wait.
Only a doctor may confirm the death and issue the death certificate (Totenschein). In the evening and at weekends, the medical on-call service is available on 116117. In the case of an accident or an unclear cause, call 112.
What do I say on the phone?
Say this in German:
„Ich möchte einen Todesfall melden. [Name] ist zu Hause verstorben, Adresse: [Adresse]. Wir brauchen eine Ärztin oder einen Arzt für die Leichenschau.“
What it means:
“I would like to report a death. [Name] has died at home, address: [address]. We need a doctor to examine the body and confirm the death.”
You do not need to rush anything. Call someone you trust to be with you now. How much time there is to say goodbye is set by each federal state. The funeral director knows the rules.
The funeral director collects the deceased and takes many official errands off your hands. You may compare offers; prices vary widely. If there is a prepaid funeral plan or written wishes, these apply.
What do I say on the phone?
Say this in German:
„[Name] ist heute verstorben. Ich bin [Sohn/Tochter/Partner]. Können Sie mir sagen, wie Sie uns unterstützen und was es ungefähr kostet?“
What it means:
“[Name] died today. I am their [son/daughter/partner]. Can you tell me how you can support us and roughly what it will cost?”
ID card, birth certificate, marriage certificate if applicable, insurance policies, pension notice and tenancy agreement. The funeral director needs some of these on the first day.
- 2
In the first days
The first deadlines fall here. The funeral director takes care of much of it for you.
The death must be registered at the registry office; usually the funeral director takes care of this. The registry office then issues the death certificate (Sterbeurkunde). Ask for several copies straight away: banks, insurers and the pension fund each want one.
Report the death as quickly as possible. There is no uniform legal 24- or 72-hour deadline for this; what counts are the terms of the respective insurance contract. Accident insurance may have particularly short notice periods.
What do I say on the phone?
Say this in German:
„Ich möchte einen Todesfall melden. Die versicherte Person, [Name], ist am [Datum] verstorben. Die Vertragsnummer ist [Nummer]. Welche Unterlagen brauchen Sie von mir?“
What it means:
“I would like to report a death. The insured person, [name], died on [date]. The policy number is [number]. Which documents do you need from me?”
If a will has been officially deposited, the probate court is informed automatically. Still, check folders, drawers and any bank safe deposit box. Any will you find must be handed in.
The accounts become estate accounts. Regular payments often continue, and powers of attorney often remain valid after death. Ask how the funeral costs can be paid.
What do I say on the phone?
Say this in German:
„Ich möchte mitteilen, dass [Name] am [Datum] verstorben ist. Ich bin [Beziehung]. Was ist jetzt zu beachten, und welche Unterlagen brauchen Sie?“
What it means:
“I would like to let you know that [name] died on [date]. I am their [relationship]. What do I need to do now, and which documents do you need?”
Wages may still be outstanding. Some collective agreements provide a death grant for relatives.
- 3
In the first weeks
Pension, home, inheritance: now decide calmly.
As a spouse or civil partner, you continue to receive the full pension for three months, the so-called Sterbevierteljahr. You apply for this advance within 30 days at the Renten Service of Deutsche Post.
Spouses or civil partners may receive a widow’s or widower’s pension, and children an orphan’s pension (Waisenrente) under certain conditions. You apply to the German pension insurance, separately from any pension advance. Their advice centres help with the forms free of charge.
Report the death and return the health insurance card. If you were insured through the deceased’s family insurance, sort out your own insurance quickly.
What do I say on the phone?
Say this in German:
„Ich möchte den Tod von [Name], Versichertennummer [Nummer], melden. Was brauchen Sie von mir, und was ändert sich für mich als Angehörige oder Angehöriger?“
What it means:
“I would like to report the death of [name], insurance number [number]. What do you need from me, and what changes for me as a relative?”
Spouses or civil partners, children and other household members can, under certain conditions, take over or continue the tenancy. Only if that does not happen can the heirs and the landlord terminate it extraordinarily with the statutory notice period – within one month of learning of the death and of the fact that nobody is taking over or continuing the tenancy. If in doubt, have the start of the one-month period confirmed.
What do I say on the phone?
Say this in German:
„Ich möchte Ihnen mitteilen, dass [Name] am [Datum] verstorben ist. Ich bin [Beziehung] und würde gern besprechen, wie es mit der Wohnung weitergeht.“
What it means:
“I would like to let you know that [name] died on [date]. I am their [relationship] and would like to discuss what happens with the flat.”
When you inherit, you also take on debts. Disclaiming is usually only possible within six weeks. The period generally only starts once you know about the inheritance and the reason you are an heir; with a will, it may start later. In certain cases involving another country, the period is six months. Have the start and end confirmed by the probate court.
This can be done online in a few minutes. You need the contribution number and the date of death.
Electricity, phone, internet, newspapers, streaming, clubs: what happens to a contract in the event of death depends on the contract itself and on the legal rules. Ask the provider what options there are and which proof they need. Mail forwarding shows which bills are still arriving.
- 4
In the first months
Cancel, tidy up, wrap up.
Banks or the land registry often ask for proof that you are an heir. With a notarised will, the court record of its opening is usually enough.
An acquisition upon death must generally be reported to the inheritance tax office within three months of learning of it. There are legal exceptions, for example when courts or notaries have already reported it. If in doubt, ask the tax office.
Email accounts, social networks, cloud storage, online subscriptions. Many providers have their own procedures for surviving relatives and ask for a death certificate.
A tax return is often still due for the year of death. The heirs take care of this, with a tax adviser if they wish.
This website offers general information and guidance for typical life situations. The checklist created from your answers is not a complete or binding review of your individual situation. Further obligations and deadlines may apply. Please clarify important legal questions and deadlines with the responsible offices. This service does not replace individual legal, tax or medical advice.