To begin with
The funeral, phone calls, letters and concerns about money often come all at once. First, distinguish between what you need to protect, what you must report and what you do not yet have to decide.
"Sometimes a practical problem must be protected immediately, while the final choice follows later."
Your questions, step by step
The first days call for an overview. Start with people and practical safety; you do not have to decide everything at once.
Read below what needs attention today. For questions about heirs and supporting documents, read how the succession of heirs is established or discuss your case with the office.
On this page
Start with people and practical safety
The first concern is the determination and declaration of the death and the organisation of the funeral. The doctor and undertaker handle their parts. Have one trusted person keep track of who has already been contacted. This prevents different family members from calling the same service and giving conflicting instructions.
Also think about the home: who has a key, are pets being cared for, is there risk of leakage or damage? Note which necessary measures have been taken and keep invoices. Securing and safeguarding is different from dividing the household contents amongst each other.
Practical tip. Create one folder with four parts: family, assets, debts and received letters. This may be on paper. Overview is more important than a perfect system.
Who needs to be informed?
Ask the undertaker what notification he has made. Also contact the banks and the civil-law notary's office. See which other parties are involved: employer, pension institution, health insurance fund, insurers, landlord and suppliers. Not every service is informed in the same way.
Clearly state what you are requesting at each notification. Do you only want to report the death, have an invoice paid or cancel a contract? These are different actions. Ask which documents and authorisations are needed for that.
Practical tip. Do not simply cancel insurance for a still existing home. First ask the insurer which coverage remains necessary, especially during vacancy. Also have checked who can legally request cancellation.
What should you better not do without consultation?
Do not simply use the bank card or access codes of the deceased. Do not sell or divide goods when the choice about the inheritance is unclear. Certain actions can be considered tacit acceptance. Then you cannot easily reject the inheritance later if a debt emerges.
A simple example
A son takes his father's car to sell it and divide the proceeds later. He means it practically. Nevertheless, selling can express a legal choice. First checking who is authorised and which inheritance choice applies prevents a practical solution from having unintended consequences.
What do we discuss in the first meeting?
You tell who has died, how the family is composed and what is urgent. We discuss which documents are needed, which investigations follow and who takes which task. Also report any uncertain debt, a child living abroad or tension regarding the home.
You may start with: “I do not know what to do.” Bring the information you do have. At the end of the meeting, we want to have clear what must happen first, who takes care of it and when we need the missing information.
The civil-law notary and the office
Clarifies the legal priorities and the assignment. Explains which decisions have not yet been made.
You as heir
Also tells what is not on paper: worries, unknown accounts, previous promises and urgent financial shortage.
And when grief overwhelms everything?
Agree who may help you with organising the administration, without thereby automatically granting decision-making power. Feel free to request to receive information also in writing. You do not have to remember a complicated explanation after one meeting.
For support with grief, you can contact the CAW. There you can discuss what you need to continue with the loss. Legal guidance and support with grief can coexist.
Frequently Asked Questions
FROM READING TO PREPARATION
Already a first answer.
What can I do if many things happen to me at once?
Start with one overview: contacts, received letters, ongoing appointments and questions. Use the topics and checklist on this page to divide the preparation. Immediately mention dated letters to the office.
Must one heir collect everything alone?
You can divide practical tasks among yourselves and keep track of who has which information. That alone does not indicate who may legally act. Discuss with the office who provides information and who should be involved in decisions.
Where can I find help with administration?
Our separate page about administration after death bundles practical information for subscriptions and services. The inheritance guide also assists you with the documents for the civil-law notary and the progress of the declaration.
Help with subscriptions and administrationEASY PREPARATION
Your first overview after a death
Note who has already been notified, which services continue and what you want to discuss first. The general checklist helps you organise the next steps.
Useful websites on this topic
RELIABLE CONTINUED READING
FROM FIRST QUESTION TO NEXT STEP
You do not have to figure it out alone.
Getting an overview
We bring together those involved, available documents and your questions.
Understanding choices
We discuss what needs to be examined and which decisions lie ahead.
Further settlement
We agree on which formalities the office will handle and what else is required from you.
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