Mehrsprachiges Formular zur Sterbeurkunde beantragen

If you need to present a German death certificate in another European country, you can apply for the issuance of a multilingual form at the registry office.

The death certificate is a document that certifies the death of a person. Any death must be reported to the registry office in whose jurisdiction the death occurred.

You can apply for the death certificate as a family member in the event of death. You can submit the application as soon as the death has been recorded in the death register.

The death certificate is important, for example, for:

• burial and its preparation, for example for coffin and transfer,
• the settlement of the estate as well as
• the use of statutory or private insurance benefits.

You can apply for the death certificate at the responsible registry office.

However, it may happen that you have to present a German death certificate in another European country. In this case, you can apply for a multilingual form at the registry office. The form replaces the translation of the German death certificate, which is generally required.

• for close relatives:
  • Proof of kinship, such as
    • Birth certificate
    • Marriage certificate
    • Civil partnership certificate
  • ID card or passport
• for siblings of the deceased person:
  • Proof of the relationship
  • Proof of legitimate interest, such as family or genealogy research
  • ID card or passport
• in case of collection by a representative:
  • written power of attorney of the entitled person
  • their identity card or passport and
  • your own ID card or passport
• for other persons without any family connection:
  • ID card or passport
  • Proof of legal interest, such as
    • Certificate of inheritance
    • Land register excerpt

You can also obtain the multilingual death certificate if you do not already have a death certificate. It is important that the deceased person is entered in the death register. Once it is registered there, you can also apply directly for a multilingual death certificate.

• You are the last spouse or
• You are the last life partner within the meaning of the Act on Registered Civil Partnership or
• You are an ancestor or descendant of the deceased person, or
• You are a sister or brother with a legitimate interest or
• They are part of the closer relationship, such as aunt and uncle, who can make a legal interest credible, for example by writing from the probate court.
• You are at least 16 years old.

Processing time may vary.

The 30-year deadline for the registry office to keep the death register must not have expired.

Application for a judicial decision to the competent district court

• Multilingual form for issuing death certificates
• Apply for a multilingual death certificate form if a German death certificate must be presented in another European country
• Form replaces translation of death certificate
• competent authority: competent registry office that maintains the corresponding death register entry or has direct access to it

Please contact the competent registry office that issued the German death certificate.