Death certificate; forwarding

Death certificate

The death certificate documents the post-mortem examination. The post-mortem examination serves to determine the death, the manner of death and the cause of death. In addition to personal details, the death certificate must also contain this information. The issuing of the death certificate is not a mere formality. There is a special duty of care for the determination of death. When the death certificate is issued, the course is set as to whether the body is released for burial or whether further investigations are required to determine whether the death was not natural. At the same time, the quality of the cause of death statistics depends on a careful post-mortem examination.

The set of forms for the death certificate comprises a non-confidential part (sheets 1 and 2) and a confidential part 1 and 2 (sheets 1-5 in each case).

The coroner fills out the death certificate, separates sheet 2 of the non-confidential part (purple) and places the carbon copies of the confidential part in the envelopes provided.

Sheet 1 of the non-confidential part (gray) is submitted to the relevant registry office together with the brown envelope containing sheets 1-3 of the confidential part. As a rule, this is done by the next of kin, an authorized mortician or the death institution. After the death has been certified, the registry office forwards the documents to the health authority at the place of death, which keeps the carbon copies or forwards them to the relevant authorities.

Sheet 2 of the non-confidential part remains with the deceased as a transportation document, is presented to the registry office at the latest before the burial or cremation to record the certification and is ultimately kept in the cemetery provider's records.

Sheet 4 of the confidential part is intended for use in the event of a post-mortem and is placed in the envelope provided for this purpose together with the blank post-mortem certificate (see below). The envelope is sealed and also remains with the deceased.

Sheet 5 of the confidential part is intended for the doctor's personal records.

If there are indications of a non-natural death, if the manner of death is unknown or if the body of an unknown person is found, the entire death certificate with the non-confidential part must be handed over to the police. The non-confidential part of the death certificate may only be handed over to the person responsible for the funeral if the public prosecutor's office has authorized the funeral in writing

Provisional death certificate

If a doctor who is assigned to treat emergencies (emergency doctor, emergency physician) is called in for the post-mortem examination, he or she may limit himself or herself to issuing a provisional death certificate. This merely states the death, the time of death, the condition of the corpse and the external circumstances.

However, the prerequisite is that the emergency doctor has not treated the deceased person beforehand and that it is ensured that another doctor will make the missing determinations.

The provisional death certificate is not to be passed on to the registry office.

Autopsy certificate

Death certificates and autopsy certificates must be obtained and kept ready by all doctors who are obliged to perform a post-mortem examination. Every doctor who is established in the area of the district administrative authority in which the corpse is located or in the area of a neighboring district-free municipality, and in hospitals and maternity homes every doctor working there, is obliged to perform a post-mortem examination.

The official models for the death certificate, the provisional death certificate, the autopsy certificate and the corpse passport have been published in the Bavarian Ministerial Gazette 2021 No. 438. Corresponding sets of forms can be obtained from specialist publishers.

The post-mortem examination must be carried out immediately.