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A birth certificate and identity card or passport are commonly relevant.
A death involves a number of formalities. We support families with required documents, authorities and necessary clearances.
Depending on the place and circumstances of death, the civil registry office, hospital or care facility, public order or health authority, public prosecutor or police, forensic medicine, cemetery administration and, for international repatriation, consulates and other competent authorities may be involved.
Requirements depend on the individual case and civil status. Common documents include an identity card or passport, birth certificate and, depending on marital status, marriage certificate or marriage register extract, final divorce decree or death certificate of a deceased spouse. Existing grave documents and other case-specific evidence may also be required.
Foreign-language civil-status documents may require a German translation and, depending on the country of origin and competent authority, additional proof of authenticity. We clarify what the competent authority requires in the individual case.
Missing civil-status documents can delay final registration of the death. Depending on the competent registry office, a provisional confirmation may be issued while outstanding documents are submitted later.
After registration, the civil registry issues death certificates. Repatriation abroad may additionally require a mortuary passport or laissez-passer, consular documents, approvals, translations or further evidence. Requirements vary by destination country and authority.
For civil registration of a death, key documents may include the official death notification, the medical death certificate and evidence of the deceased person’s last place of residence, depending on the place of death and competent authority. These documents are generally coordinated by the institution, doctor, funeral service or responsible authority.
Health-insurance information, pension details, insurance documents and existing grave documents can also be helpful. They are not required for civil registration in every case, but they can be important for subsequent administration and other formalities.
Where a death is non-natural or unexplained, the police, public prosecutor and forensic medicine may order additional steps or releases. We coordinate the further procedure with the competent authorities and take the official requirements into account for care, transfer and burial.
The documents required by the civil registry depend on civil status and the individual case. This overview helps families prepare; we then clarify the exact requirements with the competent authority.
A birth certificate and identity card or passport are commonly relevant.
A marriage certificate or other suitable evidence of the marriage may additionally be required.
Evidence of the marriage and final proof that the marriage was dissolved may be required.
A marriage certificate and evidence of the previous spouse’s death may additionally be required.
Foreign-language civil-status documents may require a German translation. Depending on the issuing country and authority, an apostille, legalisation or other proof of authenticity may also be required. We therefore check the requirements for the individual case.
Missing documents do not automatically mean that every organisational step must stop. We clarify which evidence is essential, what can be submitted later and how the case can proceed with the competent authority.
The exact sequence depends on the place of death, transport route and destination country. Consular steps may be prepared in parallel where appropriate. We coordinate the required steps with the authorities involved without burdening families with internal procedures.
We coordinate the necessary documents and official procedures, assist with registration and required approvals, liaise with the cemetery and other authorities and, for international repatriation, prepare the required documents and organisational steps.
For a death in Bonn, our guide explains the local arrangements for Islamic funerals in Bonn.
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