Someone has died
Did the person die at home?
If so, call the family doctor.
Did the person nothave a family doctor?
Or can’tyou reach the family doctor?
Then call this number immediately:

116 117

You can call this number to ask for a doctor.
A doctor will come.
Or a female doctor will come.
The doctor will issue a death certificate .
Then call a funeral director (a funeral home).

You’ll need a funeral home.
These people will then take care of the burial.

A burial is often a ceremony.
During the ceremony, the deceased is laid to rest in the ground.

In Germany, you have to register a funeral.
The family of the deceased does this.
Or a funeral home handles it.

There are different types of funerals.
For example:

• Burial
  In a burial, the deceased is placed in a coffin and laid to rest in the ground.
• Cremation
• In a cremation, the deceased is cremated.
  The ashes are placed in an urn.

The ashes of the deceased must also be placed in a cemetery.
Or to a forest cemetery.
This is required by law.
The law is called the “cemetery requirement.”
There is one exception:
The ashes of the deceased may also be scattered at sea.

Who is responsible for arranging the burial?
This is clearly defined.

The following individuals are responsible for the burial in this order:

• Spouse or (a difficult word:) registered domestic partner,
• children
• Grandchildren
• Parents
• Grandparents
• Siblings

The family fulfills the final wishes of the deceased.
Did the deceased person have no wishes?
Then the family decides.

No one is taking care of the burial?
Then the municipality takes care of the burial.

Do you have to pay for the burial?
Don't have enough money?
Then read on here:
Death: Who Pays for the Funeral?

In Germany, funerals are generally arranged by the next of kin or by a funeral home. Depending on the region, you can choose between

• burial
• Cremation (forest burial, burial at sea, urn burial)
• Anonymous burial

A funeral may take place no sooner than 48 hours after death. The local health department may grant exceptions for compelling reasons. With the exception of burial at sea, all funerals are subject to the legal requirement of burial in a cemetery.

The following individuals are responsible for arranging the burial, in this order:

• Spouse or registered domestic partner,
• Children
• Grandchildren
• Parents
• Grandparents
• Siblings

If no one arranges for the burial, the municipality with jurisdiction over the place of death or discovery must arrange for the burial.