After a death: what to do in the first 72 hours

The first hours: only the essentials

A death brings with it the feeling that everything needs handling at once. That isn't true. In the first hours, really only one thing matters: confirming the death. If someone dies at home, call the emergency line or the family doctor so a death certificate (Totenschein) can be issued. If the death happens in a hospital, care home or clinic, staff take care of this step automatically — there is nothing for you to organise here.

After that, you can pause. There is no obligation to book a funeral director the same night, call relatives around the world, or fill out forms. Most of the deadlines that matter below count in days or weeks, not hours.

Day one: funeral director, prepayment plans, wishes

Once the death certificate has been issued, usually the following day, you can start thinking about a funeral director. Importantly: you are not obliged to accept the first offer you are given, even if a hospital or care home recommends a particular provider. Funeral costs vary considerably between providers, often by several thousand euros for comparable services. Getting a second quote is normal and reputable funeral directors won't take offence.

At the same time, it's worth checking whether there is a funeral prepayment plan (Bestattungsvorsorge), an organ donor card, or written wishes about the type of funeral. These documents turn up in unexpected places: a folder, a desk drawer, sometimes already held by a funeral home the person contacted in advance. If a prepayment plan exists, the process and often the costs are already settled — that takes noticeable pressure off this phase.

Day two to three: reporting to the registry office

A death must be reported to the registry office (Standesamt) in the district where the person died. Under § 28 of the Personenstandsgesetz, this must usually happen by the third working day after the death at the latest. That sounds tight, but in practice rarely is: most funeral directors handle this reporting routinely once engaged. Simply ask.

The registry office typically needs:

• the medical death certificate,
• the deceased's ID card or passport,
• the birth certificate,
• for married people the marriage certificate, or for divorced people the final divorce decree.

From this report, the registry office issues the death certificate (Sterbeurkunde) — the document you will need constantly over the coming weeks. Order several copies right away, ideally as an international death certificate if there is any cross-border element.

Altogether, ten to fifteen copies is realistic for most estates. Ordering a few extra up front is cheaper than reordering later, which costs waiting time again.

The first two weeks: authorities, insurers, the bank

Once the death certificates are available, the round of notifications follows. The employer should be informed promptly, not least because of final salary payments and paperwork. If the deceased was retired, or a spouse received survivor benefits, the spouse should contact the German pension insurance provider. Widows and widowers often benefit from the so-called Sterbevierteljahr: for the first three months after death, the deceased's pension continues to be paid at its previous amount, if a claim existed. That provides financial breathing room while other matters are sorted out.

With insurers, speed matters most for a life insurance policy: many policies require the death to be reported within a few days, sometimes 48 hours for accidental death riders. Checking the policy documents or calling the insurer clarifies the exact deadline.

The bank should be informed once things are settled. It will usually then block sole access to accounts, even for a spouse, unless a suitable power of attorney is on file. A power of attorney surviving death, granted by the deceased during their lifetime, still allows necessary payments, such as funeral costs. Without one, the bank typically requires a certificate of inheritance (Erbschein) — a court document confirming the line of succession, which can take several weeks to months depending on the probate court.

At home: house, pets, post, phone

Alongside dealings with authorities, there are practical matters that are often overlooked because they seem unremarkable. Pets need someone to look after them immediately. Post should be collected regularly so important letters don't pile up unnoticed. The home needs someone to check on it occasionally — watering plants, clearing the fridge, keeping an eye on the heating in winter.

The deceased's phone is often more useful in this phase than expected: it holds contacts who need informing, and sometimes access to banking apps or email accounts. If the passcode is known, it's worth securing and charging the device early. If it isn't, that's no reason to worry — our guide on locked phones explains the available routes, even though they take some patience.

Afterwards: digital accounts

Only once these things are handled is it worth looking at digital accounts, subscriptions and online contracts. They matter, but they are never the most urgent thing — unlike a registry office deadline, nothing runs out here in the first days. When the time comes, our guide on cancelling accounts and contracts helps you find the order that saves the most time. For a broader overview of digital estate matters, our complete guide covers it in depth.

Preparing for your own case

If you're living through these days right now, you don't need to plan anything for yourself — there will be time for that later. But many people tell us that this exact experience is what led them to put their own affairs in order: a power of attorney, a list of the most important accounts, a few clear wishes, written down for the day they're needed. There's no rush. Whenever you're ready, you can start calmly.