Have death certificate issued

Procedure

As soon as a person has died, a medical examination must take place.

• A doctor must be notified immediately by the person responsible, i.e. without culpable hesitation. If possible, the family doctor of the deceased person or a representative should be notified.
• The physician or health care professional will make a determination of death and issue a death certificate (6 copies).
• The death certificate is given to the person who is obliged to report the death.
  
  • 1 copy must be submitted to the registrar's office.
  • 2 copies must be submitted to the Institute of Forensic Medicine no later than the next business day (Saturday is not considered a business day).
  • 1 copy may be taken from the physician who issued the death certificate.
  • 1 copy for the coroner may be taken by the physician who issued the death certificate.
  • 1 copy of the death certificate remains with the corpse.

Legal bases

• Gebührenordnung für Ärzte (GOÄ)
• § 3 bis 6 Gesetz zum Leichenwesen

More information

• Transport of the body without the death certificate is not permitted.
• If the deceased person's main residence was outside the state of Bremen, the Institute of Forensic Medicine must send a copy of the death certificate to the authority responsible for the main residence.