How long do I have time?

Spätestens 3 Werktage nach Tod

12 € pro Urkunde, ab 3.000 €, Abhängig vom Nachlasswert, 0 €, 0 €, Abhängig vom Nachlasswert (0,5%)

What happens if I miss the deadline?

Ohne Sterbeurkunde keine weiteren Schritte möglich!

Death in the family Frankfurt 2026 – Checklist, deadlines & authorities

Step 1⏱ 5–10 Min

Apply for death certificate

🚨

Frist: Within 3 working days after death · Without death certificate no further steps possible!

The death certificate must be applied for at the Frankfurt registry office. For deaths in hospital, the hospital often handles this.

📄 Required Documents

Complete all required documents first

Death certificate (from doctor)(Required)

ID of deceased(Required)

Original – will be collected and invalidated by registry office

Birth certificate of deceased(Required)

Marriage certificate (if married)(Optional)

If married – from registry office where married (approx. €12)

🏛️ Lokale Behördeninfo

•Registry office: Bornestraße 38, 60322 Frankfurt

•Phone 069 212-31515

💡 Weitere Tipps

Order multiple copies (bank, insurance, etc.)
Funeral director can handle authorities

Registry office Frankfurt↗

Opens the official city page in a new tab

Step 2⏱ 5–10 Min

Organize funeral

🚨

Frist: Within 10 days · Observe legal burial obligation!

A funeral must take place in Germany within 10 days after death. A funeral director helps with organization.

📄 Required Documents

Complete all required documents first

Death certificate(Required)

From registry office – original or certified copy

Burial directive (if available)(Optional)

💡 Weitere Tipps

Main cemetery Frankfurt: Eckenheimer Landstraße 194
Compare funeral directors (prices vary greatly)
Social funeral possible in financial hardship
Check funeral insurance

Cemeteries Frankfurt↗

Opens the official city page in a new tab

Step 3⏱ 5–10 Min

Apply for certificate of inheritance

🚨

Frist: When needed · Without certificate no access to accounts!

The certificate of inheritance is applied for at the probate court and officially identifies the heirs. It is needed for banks and land registry.

📄 Required Documents

Complete all required documents first

Death certificate(Required)

From registry office – original or certified copy

Will (if available)(Optional)

If available – was with deceased, notary, or district court (Central Register of Wills)

Family register(Optional)

If available – contains all family certificates, was with deceased

ID of applicant(Required)

🏛️ Lokale Behördeninfo

•District court Frankfurt: Gerichtsstraße 2, 60313 Frankfurt

💡 Weitere Tipps

Phone 069 1367-01
Notarized will: certificate often not needed
Costs: 0.5% of estate value

District court Frankfurt↗

Opens the official city page in a new tab

Step 4⏱ 5–10 Min

Inform pension insurance

🚨

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

Complete all required documents first

Death certificate(Required)

From registry office – original or certified copy

Pension decision of deceased(Optional)

If available – was in the deceased's documents

Marriage certificate(Optional)

For widow's pension – from registry office where married (approx. €12)

💡 Weitere Tipps

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↗

Opens the official city page in a new tab

Step 5⏱ 5–10 Min

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

Complete all required documents first

Death certificate (copy sufficient)(Required)

From registry office – copy is sufficient for most cancellations

Power of attorney or certificate of inheritance(Optional)

Needed for some contracts – certificate of inheritance from probate court (Frankfurt)

💡 Weitere Tipps

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↗

Opens the official city page in a new tab

Step 6⏱ 5–10 Min

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

Complete all required documents first

Death certificate(Required)

From registry office – original or certified copy

Will (if available)(Optional)

If available – was with deceased, notary, or district court (Central Register of Wills)

Family register(Optional)

If available – contains all family certificates, was with deceased

ID card(Required)

Your own valid ID – for identity verification at court

🏛️ Lokale Behördeninfo

•Probate court: District Court Frankfurt: Gerichtsstraße 2, 60313 Frankfurt (Tel: 069 1367-01)

💡 Weitere Tipps

With will, certificate of inheritance often not needed
Costs: 0.5% of estate value
Rejection of inheritance: 6 weeks deadline

District Court Frankfurt am Main↗

Opens the official city page in a new tab

Step 7⏱ 2–5 Min

💚 Check life insurance & provisions

🚨

Statute of limitations: life insurance claims expire after 3 years – don't wait too long!

After a death: check if the deceased had life or risk life insurance. These must be actively reported to the insurer – they are not automatically paid out. Also for your own provision: now is the moment to protect your family.

🏛️ Lokale Behördeninfo

📞� Contact insurer directly with death certificate

💡 Weitere Tipps

📋 Check documents: policies, bank statements, tax assessments
🏦 German Life Insurance Database (DaLiD): free search
💡 For own provision: protect dependants now – from €5/month

👉 Compare life insurance free*💚 Compare life insurance ↗

⏱ 2 Minuten💰 Kostenlos🔒 Unverbindlich

Death in Family in Frankfurt

Apply for death certificate

📄 Required Documents

Organize funeral

📄 Required Documents

Apply for certificate of inheritance

📄 Required Documents

Inform pension insurance

📄 Required Documents

Cancel contracts & memberships

📄 Required Documents

Apply for certificate of inheritance

📄 Required Documents

💚 Check life insurance & provisions

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

📋What you should do next: