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Death in the Family in Dresden

What to do when a family member passes away

Progress0 of 6 steps completed
6 Schritte · ca. 4 Minuten0%

✓ Du bist in 4 Minuten fertig

Step 1

Call doctor & death certificate

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Frist: Immediately · Without a death certificate, no burial can take place.

A doctor must certify the death and issue the death certificate. For expected death, call the family doctor, otherwise call emergency services (112).

📄 Required Documents

💡 Tips
  • Family doctor: often free for patients
  • Emergency services (112): for unexpected death
  • Medical on-call service: 116 117
  • Death certificate needed for registry office
Medical on-call service↗
Step 2

Hire funeral home

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Frist: Within 36 hours · In Saxony, burial must take place within 8 days.

A funeral home takes care of the transfer and helps with all formalities. Compare offers – prices vary greatly!

📄 Required Documents

💡 Tips
  • Funeral director usually handles all official matters
  • Get at least 2-3 quotes
  • Check funeral insurance
  • Social burial possible with low income
Find funeral home in Dresden↗
Step 3

Register death at registry office

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Frist: 3 working days · Without a death certificate, no contracts can be terminated or accounts closed.

The death must be reported to the registry office within 3 working days. The registry office then issues death certificates.

📄 Required Documents

💡 Tips
  • Funeral director usually handles this for you
  • Order at least 5-10 death certificates
  • Certificate is free for pension insurance
  • Online ordering of certificates possible
Order death certificate online↗
Step 4

Inform pension insurance

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Frist: As soon as possible · Overpaid pension must be repaid! Report quickly.

The German Pension Insurance must be informed of the death. There may be entitlement to widow's/widower's pension or orphan's pension.

📄 Required Documents

💡 Tips
  • Free hotline: 0800 1000 4800
  • Death quarter: 3 months full pension for survivors
  • Widow's pension: 55% or 60% of pension
  • Orphan's pension for children under 27 (in education)
Contact pension insurance↗
Step 5

Cancel contracts & memberships

All ongoing contracts of the deceased must be cancelled: rent, insurance, phone, subscriptions, memberships.

⚠️Contracts continue and cost money until cancelled!
⏰ Within 4 weeks💰 0 €

📄 Required Documents

💡 Tips
  • Create checklist: electricity, gas, phone, internet, insurance
  • Inform bank about death (account will be blocked)
  • Have life insurance paid out
  • Rental contract: special termination right for heirs
Consumer advice – cancel contracts↗
Step 6

Apply for certificate of inheritance

The certificate of inheritance proves you are an heir. It is applied for at the probate court and is needed for real estate and bank accounts.

⚠️Without a certificate of inheritance, you cannot access accounts or real estate of the deceased.
⏰ As needed💰 Abhängig vom Nachlasswert (0,5%)

📄 Required Documents

💡 Tips
  • District Court Dresden: Roßbachstraße 6
  • With a will, certificate often not needed
  • Costs: 0.5% of estate value
  • Rejection of inheritance: 6 weeks deadline
Probate Court Dresden↗

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

How long do I have time?
Sofort
What does it cost?
0 € (bei Hausarzt evtl. Kosten), Ab ca. 2.000 € (stark variierend), 12 € pro Urkunde (für Rente kostenlos), 0 €, 0 €, Abhängig vom Nachlasswert (0,5%)
What happens if I miss the deadline?
Ohne Totenschein kann keine Bestattung stattfinden.

🔗 Related Topics

Organizing careDresdenApplying for pensionDresden