Death abroad Notarisation of Germans without domestic residence

If a German or a German without a permanent residence in Germany dies abroad, you can subsequently have the death certified at the competent German registry office.

A death that occurred abroad can also be notarized, i.e. registered, in a German death register at your request. The so-called re-certification also applies to Germans who died abroad and who did not have their residence in Germany.

In addition to the notarisation abroad, i.e. in addition to the entry in the death register of the country in which the death occurred, an entry in a German death register is made with the subsequent certification.

Under certain conditions, you can apply for subsequent certification at the responsible German registry office.

Responsible for certification is the registry office in whose jurisdiction the foreign-born person has his domicile or last had or has his habitual residence; if the deceased person had his last domicile or habitual residence in Germany, the registry office responsible for that place certifies the death. If there is no jurisdiction thereafter, the registry office certifies the civil status case in whose jurisdiction the applicant has his domicile or last had or has his habitual residence. If there is no jurisdiction thereafter, the Standesamt I in Berlin notarizes the civil status case.

In addition to the information to be included in the death record, you must provide the necessary certificates or other documents that you have.

In particular, the following documents are required:

• Your identity card/passport as an applicant
• Foreign death certificate of the deceased person (if necessary with translation and certification by the competent foreign authority (apostille) or legalisation by the German mission abroad; the submission of a multilingual form may be sufficient)
• the marriage or partnership certificate of the last marriage or civil partnership of the deceased person and/or proof of its dissolution,
• the birth certificate of the deceased person,
• proof of the last residence of the deceased person
• for naturalised persons: certificate of naturalisation

• the death of a German has occurred abroad
• The following are eligible to apply:
  • the parents of a child who died abroad, the child of the deceased person, and spouses or partners
  • Persons who can assert a legal interest in notarisation vis-à-vis the registry office

You submit the application for subsequent certification of a death at the competent German registry office.

• Contact the responsible German registry office in writing, by telephone or in person, describe your request and ask for the documents you need to submit.
• Submit the application for subsequent certification and attach the required documents.
• The registry office checks your information as well as the evidence you have submitted and, if necessary, carries out the subsequent certification of the death.
• You have the possibility to apply for the issuance of a German death certificate at the same registry office.

For the certification by a Hessian registry office, fees of 47.00 are incurred, unless the municipality has set a different fee by statute; additional fees may apply.