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Death abroad Notarization

Service Description

Properly issued death certificates from abroad are generally recognized in Germany. There is no obligation for subsequent certification.

However, the subsequent entry in the death register can be advantageous because the local registry office can then issue you with a German death certificate. Any translations and certifications of the foreign death certificate will therefore no longer be necessary in the future.

Process flow

Please call the registry office in advance for details of the procedures and documents required.

  • Gather the necessary documents and visit the registry office.
  • The registrar will check whether the registration can be carried out by a German registry office.
  • If the requirements are met, the entry can be made in the death register.

If required, the registry office will issue you with a death certificate once the entry has been made in the register.

Who should I contact?

The registry office

  • at the last German place of residence or stay of the deceased person or
  • at the (possibly last) German place of residence or stay of the person entitled to apply (e.g. German place of residence of the children of the person who died abroad)

In all other cases: the German diplomatic mission abroad (embassy/consulate) or the registry office I in Berlin.

Requirements

Subsequent certification of the death is possible for

  • German nationals
  • stateless persons, homeless foreigners or foreign refugees with habitual residence in Germany

Eligible applicants are

  • the children,
  • the parents
  • the spouse or partner of the deceased person and
  • the German diplomatic mission abroad in whose jurisdiction the death occurred.

Which documents are required?

  • Foreign death certificate with translation, if necessary with legalization/apostille
  • Identity card or passport of the applicant (or a recognized substitute personal document)

Documents of the deceased:

  • Proof of marital status (e.g. marriage certificate, divorce decree)
  • Birth certificate

If the deceased was a naturalized citizen, entitled to asylum, stateless, homeless foreigner or refugee:

  • Certificate of naturalization or proof of special status

It may also be necessary to submit further documents - please enquire in advance at the registry office.

What are the fees?

Fee: 62,00 EUR
Payment in advance: no
Subsequent certification in the death register

Fee: 10,00 EUR
Payment in advance: no
Death certificate / certified printout from the death register

Legal basis

Author

The text was automatically translated based on the German content.

Technically approved by

Thuringian Ministry of the Interior and Municipal Affairs

Professionally released on

05.12.2023

Source: Zuständigkeitsfinder Thüringen (Linie6Plus)

No competent authority found

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