This is where the first hard deadline appears: the death must be reported by the third following working day. Usually the funeral director does it, but it is worth confirming — and order the certificate in multiple copies right away.
The death certificate: a very short deadline
A death must be reported to the registry office by the third working day after it. The certificate is needed in many copies — order spares immediately.
✓ Verified: 01/08/2026
WHAT TO DO
AUTHORITY
Standesamt
Municipal authorityMarriage, birth and death certificates, and leaving the church (in most states) all go through your town's Standesamt — often in the same Bürgerbüro.
Where to go in your city →› Details and tips
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Max recommends:
I ordered two copies and then went back twice for more. Take spares — it costs almost nothing compared with another trip.
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Lea recommends:
The funeral director usually files the notification themselves. Ask in the first conversation: the three-working-day deadline is otherwise easy to miss.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is the deadline for reporting? ▾
The law requires notification by the third working day following the death. The deadline is short and runs regardless of whether you feel able to deal with arrangements.
Who has to report it? ▾
The duty falls on a defined group of people, but in practice the funeral director almost always handles it as part of their service. Clarify that when engaging them, so the deadline does not end up belonging to nobody.
How many copies should I order? ▾
More than you expect: insurers, banks, the pension authority, the landlord, the employer and a notary will each ask and each keep one. Ordering six to eight at once is cheaper and faster than requesting them individually.
What if the deceased was a foreign national? ▾
The certificate is issued in the same way, but use abroad may require an international version or an apostille. Mention it at the registry office straight away, otherwise a second visit becomes necessary.