Support During Bereavement

No one is ever truly prepared for the death of a loved one.
Such a situation is painful and overwhelming.

Nevertheless, there are many formalities that need to be taken care of. A funeral home can handle some of these tasks for you. However, some mourners prefer to handle certain tasks themselves, as this helps them cope with their grief. The “Registry Office and Cemetery Administration” can assist you with this.

What needs to be done immediately?

If the death occurred at home:

• notify a doctor to issue a death certificate
• Hire a funeral home. They will transport the deceased to the cemetery
• Notify the Registry Office of the death. This must be done no later than the third business day after the death—either verbally or in writing
• Have the registry office issue a death certificate

If the death occurs in a hospital, retirement home, or nursing home, the facility must report the death to the civil registry office.

Preparing for the Funeral

First, the type of funeral (burial or cremation) must be determined. If you do not yet have the right to use a burial plot, you must select a plot and acquire a new right of use.

Next, you’ll need to organize the following:

• Register the funeral with the cemetery administration (the funeral home often handles this as well)
• Set a date for the memorial service and burial with the cemetery administration and, if desired, with the church
• Organize the memorial service: floral arrangements, wreaths, a speaker, music…
• Order invitation cards and memorial cards from a print shop
• Write and submit an obituary to the newspaper
• Notify relatives and friends and perhaps ask for their help
• Prepare the mailing list and text for the sympathy cards
• Provide the pastor or eulogist with information about the deceased
• If necessary, reserve a table at a restaurant and discuss the memorial meal

What else needs to be done?

Formalities, Social Security, will, inheritance

After you’ve notified the employer or deregistered the deceased person’s business, you’ll also need to take care of the following:

• Settle claims with the life insurance company or death benefit fund
• Notify the pension authority if a pension recipient has died
• Apply for an advance payment from the pension insurance agency
• Claim pension benefits (statutory pension, civil service pension, supplemental pensions, etc.)
• Apply for a certificate of inheritance (at the probate court)
• If there is a will: Have it opened by a notary
• Have real estate and assets assessed (possibly with the help of a tax advisor, attorney, or notary)

Day-to-day matters

• Arrange for gas and heating; cancel the deceased person’s phone and internet service. Cancel subscriptions and newspapers; cancel memberships in clubs and organizations.
• Cancel or re-register the car and auto insurance
• Check whether any bills need to be paid
• Change standing orders with the bank
• Have mail forwarded (submit a mail forwarding request)

The Grave Site

After the funeral, depending on the type of grave, you’ll need to arrange for the grave’s design. You may also need to have a grave monument constructed. To do this, you’ll need to hire a stonemason. For grave maintenance, you can also hire a landscaping company to provide long-term grave care for a fee.

Our tip: Think about your own funeral and grave while you’re still alive. Make arrangements early on.

Registration of the Death

To register a death at the civil registry office, you’ll need the following documents:

• Birth certificate (for unmarried deceased persons)
• Marriage or civil partnership certificate from the last marriage or civil partnership, or proof of its dissolution
• Identity card or passport
• Proof of last place of residence
• Medical certificate of death (death certificate)
• You should also have information about the estate ready: whether a will exists and where it is kept, whether a marriage contract or inheritance agreement exists and where it is kept, and information about real estate and assets