Required documents:
- applicant's passport;
- deceased person's passport (kept by the authority);
- medical death certificate.
Procedure for Obtaining an Official Death Certificate
An official death certificate is a legal document that certifies the fact of death. It is required for a number of legal and administrative actions, such as inheritance procedures, closing bank accounts, receiving insurance payments, and other matters. The process of obtaining the document includes several stages.
Stage 1: Confirmation of Death
First, the fact of death must be confirmed by a medical institution, such as a hospital, morgue, or another facility. On this basis, a medical death certificate is issued, which is required to obtain the official death certificate.
Stage 2: Applying to the Civil Registry Office
With the medical death certificate received, you need to contact the civil registry office (ZAGS). The following documents must be submitted to ZAGS:
- medical death certificate;
- passport of the deceased;
- applicant's passport (relative or representative);
- documents confirming kinship (if the applicant is a relative).
Stage 3: Completing the Application
At ZAGS, you must complete an application to obtain the official death certificate. ZAGS staff will help complete the application correctly and check all submitted documents.
Stage 4: Receiving the Official Death Certificate
After checking the documents and application, ZAGS issues the official death certificate. This process usually takes several days, but it may be expedited in urgent cases.
Importance of the Official Death Certificate
The official death certificate is an important document required for:
- processing inheritance;
- closing the deceased person's bank accounts;
- receiving insurance payments;
- arranging pensions and benefits;
- terminating the deceased person's legal and financial obligations.
Obtaining this document is important in order to avoid delays in resolving legal and financial matters connected with the death of a loved one.