Notarization of deaths abroad of Germans without domestic residence

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

• Contact the relevant 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 enclose the required documents.
• The registry office will check the information you have provided and the documents you have submitted and, if necessary, carry out the subsequent certification of the death.
• You have the option of applying for a German death certificate from the same registry office for a fee.

• The registry office responsible for thehe registry office in whose area the deceased had their habitual residence in Germany is responsible for the application.
• If the deceased person had neither residence nor habitual abode in Germany, the registry office in whose area you as the applicant have or last had your residence or habitual abode is responsible.
• If none of the above alternatives apply, you can submit the application to Registry Office I in Berlin.

Registry Office I in Berlin
Schönstedtstr. 5
13357 Berlin (Mitte)
Phone: + 49 30 90 269-5000
Fax: + 49 30 90 269-5245

Opening hours:
Mon closed
Tue 09:00 - 12:00
Wed closed
Thu 14:00 - 17:00
Fri closed

• the death occurred abroad
• The following are entitled to apply
  • the parents of a child who died abroad, the child of the deceased person and spouses or partners,
  • Pany persons who can assert a legal interest in the notarization vis-à-vis the registry office and
  • the German diplomatic mission abroad in whose jurisdiction the death occurred.

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

In particular, the following documents are required:

• Your identity card/passport as the applicant,
• the foreign death certificate of the deceased person (if necessary with translation and certification by the competent foreign authority (apostille) or legalization by the German diplomatic mission abroad; Within the European Union, the submission of a multilingual form may replace the translation,
• the marriage or civil partnership certificate of the last marriage or civil partnership of the deceased person and, if applicable, proof of its dissolution
• the birth certificate of the deceased person,
• proof of the deceased's last place of residence,
• in the case of naturalized personsstateless persons, homeless foreigners and recognized foreign refugees: Certificate of naturalization or proof of special status.

• § Section 36 of the Civil Status Act (PStG)

31.08.2021