Sterberegister, Nachbeurkundung eines Sterbefalls im Ausland durch ein deutsches Standesamt

• § 36 Personenstandsgesetz (PStG) – Geburten und Sterbefälle im Ausland
• Sächsisches Kostenverzeichnis (SächsKVZ), Lfd. Nr. 75 Personenstandsrecht, öffentliches Namensrecht

Properly issued death certificates from abroad are generally recognised in Germany. There is no obligation for subsequent certification.

However, the subsequent entry in the death register can be advantageous because the local registry office (Standesamt) can then issue you with a German death certificate. Any translations and notarisations of the foreign death certificate will therefore no longer be necessary in future.

Please note:
In the case of certificates from another EU member state

• no further legalisation is required and
• it is possible to obtain translation assistance from the issuing authority for certain documents (e.g. birth, marriage and death certificates, registration certificates). A translation by an interpreter in Germany is then generally no longer required.

Tip: The translation aid is issued together with the civil status certificate - it should therefore be applied for at the same time.

Point of contact

The registry office of the city or municipality is responsible for notarisation,

• in which the deceased person had their last place of residence or habitual abode
• If there is no jurisdiction: the registry office of the place of residence or habitual abode of the person making the application
• If neither the deceased nor you as the applicant were ever resident in Germany, please contact the Standesamt I in Berlin:

—-> Standesamt I Berlin

• Foreign death certificate with translation, if necessary with legalisation/apostille
• Identity card or passport of the applicant (or a recognised substitute personal document)

Documents of the deceased:

• Proof of marital status (e.g. marriage certificate, divorce decree)
• Birth certificate

If the deceased was naturalised, entitled to asylum, stateless, homeless foreigner, homeless foreigner or refugee: additionally:

• Naturalisation certificate or proof of special status
• In the case of representation: written authorisation from the applicant

Further documents may also be required - please enquire in advance at the registry office.

Subsequent certification of the death is possible if the deceased person

• was a German citizen or
• was stateless, a homeless foreigner, a homeless foreigner or a foreign refugee with habitual residence in Germany

Authorised applicants:

• the children
• the parents
• the spouse or partner of the deceased person
• the German diplomatic mission abroad in whose jurisdiction the death occurred

• Notarisation in the death register: EUR 75.00
  
  • When reviewing a foreign judgement in marriage and civil partnership matters, the fee is increased by: EUR 35.00
  • if an application for recognition of a foreign judgement in matrimonial matters is to be submitted to the state administration of justice: EUR 33.00 in addition
• Death certificate/certified printout from the death register/international death certificate EUR 15.00
• each additional certificate (if issued at the same time): EUR 7.00

You may incur additional costs for further services such as the issuing of an apostille or translations.

The entry of a death abroad in the German death register can be applied for in person or in writing at the department responsible. (If you are unable to attend for important reasons, you can be represented by an authorised representative).

• Compile the necessary documents and go to the registry office.
• The registrar will check whether notarisation by a German registry office is possible.
• If the requirements are met, the entry can be made in the death register.

If required, the registry office will issue you with a death certificate once the entry has been made in the register.