Death; Notification

The death of a person must be registered by the registry office in whose jurisdiction the person died. Therefore, such a death must be reported to the registry office.

Written notification of deaths in a hospital or nursing home

In the case of deaths in hospitals, nursing homes, and other facilities, the facility’s operator (usually the administration) is required to report the death. For this purpose, the facility’s administration will collect data on the deceased and request that the next of kin provide the necessary documents and proof.

Nevertheless, it cannot be ruled out that relatives of the deceased or a funeral home they have commissioned may need to visit the registry office again. This is particularly necessary if the registry office does not yet have all the data required for registration.

Verbal Notification

If a written notification is not possible, the person’s death must be reported to the registry office verbally. This is the case, for example, if the death did not occur in a facility (hospital, nursing home, etc.).

The following persons are required to report the death:

• Any person who lived in the same household as the deceased.
• The person in whose home the death occurred.
• Any other person who was present at the time of death or who has personal knowledge of the death.

If a funeral home registered with a Chamber of Crafts or a Chamber of Industry and Commerce is commissioned to file the report, the report may also be submitted in writing.

Once a death has been reported, the registry office records it in the death register. The following information about the deceased is entered:

• their first names and last name
• the date, time, and place of death
• place and date of birth
• their gender
• their marital status (e.g., married, divorced, in a registered partnership)
• his place of residence and, at the request of the person filing the report, his religious affiliation.

Upon request, the registry office issues a death certificate based on the death register, which includes key information from the death register (see "Civil Status Certificates; Application" under "Related Topics"). In addition, a certified printout from the death register (which is a verbatim reproduction of the contents of the death register) can also be issued.

• Birth certificate of the deceased
• Proof of last place of residence
• Medical certificate of death
• For individuals who were married or in a registered partnership:
  Instead of a birth certificate, you will need the marriage or civil partnership certificate from your most recent marriage or civil partnership, and, if applicable, proof of its dissolution.
• The registry office may request additional documents if they are needed to verify the information provided. The relevant registry office will be happy to assist you.