Apply for a death certificate for a family member

Prerequisites

An application for a death certificate can be made by:

• the last spouse,
• the last life partner within the meaning of the Act on Registered Life Partnerships,
• Ancestors and descendants of the deceased person or
• siblings with legitimate interest,
• Close relatives, such as aunts and uncles, who can prove a legal interest, for example through a letter from the probate court

Documents required

When applying, you must submit:

• ID card or passport
• Evidence of kinship, such as
  • birth certificate
  • marriage certificate
  • civil partnership certificate
• if picked up by a representative:
  • written power of attorney of the authorized person,
  • their ID and
  • your own ID card
• for other people, such as close relatives:
  • Proof of legal interest, such as
    • certificate of inheritance
    • land register extract

Please note

There are the following hints:

• You can apply for death certificates in writing (letter post, e-mail, fax). It is not possible to apply by telephone.
• If you no longer know the location of the event registered in the registry office, please contact the general register of the Hamburg registry offices in writing or by email. There you can find out which registry office has notarized the civil status case.
• For civil status cases (birth, marriage, death) that have been certified in a Hamburg registry office since 2009, further certificates can be issued in all Hamburg registry offices.

These documents are provided with the addition "Certificate according to § 67 paragraph 3 of the Personal Status Act". Please note that these certificates are not recognized abroad. For such purposes, please use documents that were issued by the originally responsible registry office.

• For death certificates of deaths more than 30 years ago, please contact the Hamburg State Archives (see links).
• You can have the death certificate provided with an apostille (= additional authentication) at the Office for Migration. For this purpose, it must not be older than 6 months.

Deadlines

no

Procedure

You must apply for the death certificate at the responsible registry office in person, in writing or electronically.
Personal application:

• Visit your local registry office during opening hours to apply for a death certificate.
• You must present your identity card or passport for legitimation.
• You can also apply for the death certificate and have it picked up by a person you trust. In addition to a written power of attorney, this person must also present their own identity card or passport (original or certified copy).

Application by post, fax or e-mail:

• Send an informal letter to the relevant registry office asking them to issue a death certificate for you.
• Provide your full name, address and family relationship to the deceased.
• Your letter should address your eligibility to apply.
• The letter must contain the following information about the deceased:
  • Name first Name
  • Date and place of birth
  • Date and place of death
  • if applicable, details of the spouse of the deceased
  • Registry office and certification number (if known)
• Enclose a certified copy of your identity card or passport with the letter.

Processing time

For processing the application: usually 3 to 10 days

Fees

• 18.00 EUR, each additional one in the same processing step 8 EUR.


• Certificates for pension purposes are free of charge.

Legal remedies

Application for a court decision at the District Court of Hamburg, Sievekingplatz 1

Legal basis

• Civil Status Act §55
  
  
  
  • http://§ 55 Personal Status Act (PStG)
  
  


• Civil status law §60
  
  
  
  • http://§ 60 Personal Status Act (PStG)
  
  


• Civil Status Act §62
  
  
  
  • http://§ 62 Civil Status Act (PStG)