Sterbefall im Ausland Beurkundung bei Sterbefällen auf Seeschiffen

You can apply for the subsequent certification of a death on a foreign sea-going vessel in a German death register at the competent German registry office.

A death that occurred abroad can also be certified in a German death register at your request. The so-called subsequent certification also applies to deaths on foreign sea-going vessels.

Deaths on foreign sea-going vessels are deaths abroad with the special feature that the place of death is a foreign sea-going vessel.

With the subsequent notarization, an entry is made in a German death register in addition to the notarization abroad.

You can apply for the subsequent notarization at the competent German registry office.

In addition to the information to be included in the death entry, you must submit the necessary certificates or other documents.

In particular, the following documents are required:

• Your identity card/passport as the 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 diplomatic mission abroad; it may be sufficient to submit a multilingual form)
• Proof of marital status (e.g. marriage certificate, divorce decree)
• the birth certificate of the deceased person
• proof of the last place of residence of the deceased person
• for naturalized citizens, persons entitled to asylum, stateless persons, homeless foreigners and recognized foreign refugees: Certificate of naturalization/proof of special status

It may also be necessary to submit further documents - please enquire about this in advance at the registry office.

• The death occurred on a foreign sea-going vessel
• The death occurred during a sea voyage outside the sea-going vessel - but not on land or in an inland port - and the deceased person was picked up by a foreign sea-going vessel
• The deceased person was a German national at the time of death or had the status of a stateless person, a homeless foreigner or a foreign refugee within the meaning of the Convention relating to the Status of Refugees having their habitual residence in Germany.
• Entitled to apply are
  • the parents of the deceased person
  • the children of the deceased person
  • the spouse or partner of the deceased person
  • persons who can assert a legal interest in the notarization vis-à-vis the registry office

The application for subsequent certification of a death on a foreign sea-going vessel must be submitted to the competent 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 for a fee.

• Deaths abroad Notarization of deaths on sea-going vessels
• Subsequent certification of a death on a foreign sea-going vessel in a German death register.
• The application for subsequent notarization can be submitted to the competent German registry office under certain conditions.
• Fees are charged by the registry office.
• The subsequent certification is a prerequisite for the issue of a German death certificate.
• Responsible:
  • The registry office in whose area the deceased had their (last) place of residence or habitual abode in Germany is responsible for the application.
  • If the deceased person did not have a place of residence or habitual abode in Germany, the registry office in whose area the applicant has or last had their place of residence or habitual abode is responsible.
  • If none of the above alternatives apply, the application can be submitted to Registry Office I in Berlin.

• The registry office in whose area the deceased person had their (last) domicile or habitual residence in Germany is responsible for the application.
• If the deceased person did not have a place of residence or habitual abode in Germany, the registry office in whose area you as the applicant have or last had your place of residence or habitual abode is responsible.
• If none of the above alternatives apply, you can submit the application to Registry Office I in Berlin.