Source: BUS Sachsen-Anhalt (Linie6PLus)

Applying for a death certificate for Germans abroad without German residence

Description

A death that has occurred abroad can also be notarized, i.e. entered, in a German death register at your request. The so-called post-certification also applies to Germans who died abroad and were not domiciled in Germany.

With the post-certification, in addition to the notarization abroad, i.e. in addition to the entry in the death register of the country in which the death occurs, an entry in a German death register is made.

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

Prerequisites

the death occurred abroad
Eligible to apply are
- the parents of a child who died abroad, the child of the deceased person and spouses or life partners
- Pwho can assert a legal interest in notarization against the registry office

Required documents

For the information to be included in the death record, you must provide the necessary documents or other documents in your possession.

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 legalization by the German mission abroad; it may be sufficient to submit a multilingual form)
the marriage or civil partnership certificate of the deceased person's last marriage or partnership and or proof of their dissolution,
the birth certificate of the deceased person,
proof of the deceased person's last place of residence
for naturalized citizens: certificate of naturalization

Responsible body

Responsible for the application is the registry office in whose area the deceased person had his habitual residence in Germany. If the deceased person did not have a national residence, the registry office in whose area you as the applicant have your domicile or habitual residence is competent. If none of the aforementioned alternatives apply, you can submit the application to the registry office I in Berlin.

Procedure

You submit the application for subsequent certification of a death to the responsible German registry office.

Contact the responsible German registry office in writing, by telephone or in person, describe your concerns and ask for the documents you have to submit.
Submit the application for post-certification and attach the necessary documents.
The registry office will check your details as well as the evidence you have submitted and, if necessary, carry out the subsequent certification of the death.
You have the possibility to apply for the issuance of a German death certificate for a fee at the same registry office.