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Declaration of Death
Verified 29 April 2024 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)
The declaration of a death in a town hall is a mandatory procedure. In the event of a death in a hospital or nursing home, it is up to the institution to take care of it. The rules are different for people who die at home or on the street. We'll tell you what you need to know.
What applies to you ?
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Following death, the following documents must be completed:
- Death certificate from physician
- Declaration of death by the registrar of the municipality of death.
Please note
When the declaration of death has been made, you can obtain death certificates from the registry office of the municipality of death.
Death in hospital or nursing home
General case
It's a doctor who records the death and establishes the death certificate.
Please note
On an experimental basis, a nurse may record the death and establish the death certificate when the person has died in a Ehpad: titleContent.
Violent death
In case of violent death (e.g. accidental death, suicide), the police or national gendarmerie should be alerted.
Funerals can only take place after obtaining judicial authorization, called record for burial.
It shall be drawn up by a judicial police officer, on the order of the public prosecutor.
The institution is responsible for the declaration of death to the civil registry office of the municipality of death (or the civil registry office of the hospital).
Please note
The establishment can ask for the family record book or an identity document of the deceased.
The institution must report the death within 24 hours.
Following the declaration of death, the City Hall establishes a death certificate.
Please note
The mortuary chamber of a health facility receives the deceased free of charge for 3 days (then at the daily rate). The reception in a private funeral room (or funeral home) is paid from the 1ster day. In addition, admission must be made within 48 hours of death. Conservation care is not mandatory.
Death at home
General case
It's a doctor who records the death and establishes the death certificate.
Please note
On an experimental basis, a nurse may record the death and establish the death certificate when the person has died at home.
Violent death
In case of violent death (for example, accidental death, suicide), you should alert the police or the national gendarmerie.
Funerals can only take place after obtaining judicial authorization, called record for burial.
It shall be drawn up by a judicial police officer, on the order of the public prosecutor.
Any person of age can declare death, preferably a relative. For example, a parent or person with vital statistics information.
Please note
If a funeral director declares the death (cost fixed by the contract), the funeral director must present a mandate.
To report a death, you must surrender to the town hall where the death occurred, irrespective of the nationality of the deceased.
You must present yourself with the following documents:
- Your ID
- If possible, the death certificate issued by the doctor, police station, or gendarmerie
- Any document concerning the identity of the deceased (family record, identity document or birth certificate for example).
Who shall I contact
Following the declaration of death, the City Hall establishes a death certificate.
Death must be certain and established by examination of the body of the deceased.
In case of disappearance, you must go through a judicial declaration of death.
Who shall I contact
There's no reporting time.
You should do this as soon as possible to then perform the other death-related procedures.
Please note
The mortuary chamber of a health facility receives the deceased free of charge for 3 days (then at the daily rate). The reception in a private funeral room (or funeral home) is paid from the 1ster day. In addition, admission must be made within 48 hours of death. Conservation care is not mandatory.
Deaths on public roads
General case
It's a doctor who records the death and establishes the death certificate.
Violent death
In case of violent death (for example, accidental death, suicide), you should alert the police or the national gendarmerie.
Funerals can only take place after obtaining judicial authorization, called record for burial.
It shall be drawn up by a judicial police officer, on the order of the public prosecutor.
After a doctor's report, any adult can declare the death, preferably a relative. For example, a parent or person with vital statistics information.
However, if the cause of death is suspicious, the police forces take care of the declaration of death.
FYI
Specific rules apply in certain cases, for example at sea.
General case
To report a death, you must surrender to the town hall where the death occurred, irrespective of the nationality of the deceased.
You must present yourself with the following documents:
- Your ID
- If possible, the death certificate issued by the doctor, police station, or gendarmerie
- Any document concerning the identity of the deceased (family record, identity document or birth certificate for example).
Suspicious death
The police officer shall transmit the information to the registrar of the place where the person died.
He writes the death certificate and informs the registrar of the residence of the deceased.
Following the declaration of death, the City Hall establishes a death certificate.
Death must be certain and established by examination of the body of the deceased.
In case of disappearance, you must go through a judicial declaration of death.
Who shall I contact
There's no reporting time.
You should do this as soon as possible to then perform the other death-related procedures.
Please note
The mortuary chamber of a health facility receives the deceased free of charge for 3 days (then at the daily rate). The reception in a private funeral room (or funeral home) is paid from the 1ster day. In addition, admission must be made within 48 hours of death. Conservation care is not mandatory.
Death certificate
Post-death operations
Experiment in which a nurse can sign a death certificate
FAQ
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