Notification of death

Current information on recording a death, deadline for notification of death, right to issue a death certificate of a register extract death etc.

General information

Once the death has been recorded by a doctor, the notification of death must be carried out at the registry office. Here you will also be issued with a death certificate or the death register excerpt.

The person responsible for reporting the death to the relevant authorities is described in the "procedure" section.

Requirements

• The death has already been recorded by a doctor
• The "Notification of death" form (and the enclosed "Verification of death certificate") is available

Deadlines

The notification of death must be carried out no later than the next working day.

Competent authority

The civil status authority responsible for the place of death (e.g. the location of the hospital or nursing home):

• The Registry Office or Registry Office Association^{German text} for the municipality
• In Chartered Cities: the Registry Office^{German text} of the municipal executive
  • In Vienna: the Registty Offices in Vienna^{German text}

Procedure

The notification of death must be carried out at the registry office. The following have a legal duty to notify the death, in the order shown:

• The manager of the hospital where the person has died
• The doctor who has recorded the death
• The agency or police office investigating the death
• The spouse, registered partner or other relative
• The most recent provider of accommodation
• Other people who are aware of the death on the basis of their own perception

The person who notifiy the death must prove their legitimacy by means of an identification card (preferably official photo official photo ID). The registry office must receive the "Notification of death" and the enclosed "Verification of death certificate" issued by the doctor who recorded the death.

The entry in the central civil register (ZPR) is undertaken by the registrar.

Once the death has been entered in the central civil register, the registrar issues the death certificate.

Required documents

• "Notification of death" form
• Own official photo ID
• The deceased's personal documents – if available:
  •  Birth certificate
  • Proof of citizenship or certificate of residence
  • Marriage certificate/registererd partnership certificate
  • Proof of the last main residence of resident abroad
• For divorces: all of the above documents, as well as
  • Divorce ruling or divorce degree
• For registered partners: all of the above documents, as well as
  • Ruling on the dissolution of a registered partnership
• Possibly documentary proof of academic degree

Costs and fees

• Notification of death: No fee
• Issuing a death certificate or a death register excerpt:
• • Federal fee: 7,20 Euro
  • Federal administration: 2,10 Euro
• Verification of death certificate (for social security): No fee

Further information

If you require an additional death certificate or a death register excerpt (e.g. a copy in the event of loss or theft), you can submit a request to each registry office.

The following have a right to the issuance of a death certificate or a death register excerpt:

Provided there are no overriding personal interests that conflict with the registration, the following can request a death register excerpt:

• People to whom the entry refers, as well as other people whose civil status is affected by the entry
• People who have a legal interest in the entry, which can be substantiated

Link to form

Online-Service Death Notification via oesterreich.gv.at