Declaration of death

A death certificate is a legal civil registry document. It is an authentic document, signed by the declarant and the civil registry officer. A death certificate is established upon the death of a person. The copy or extract of a death certificate is a full or partial reproduction of the information appearing on the death certificate.

The Civil Registry Department draws up the death certificate based on the certificate produced by the doctor (declaration of death): the death certificate is drawn up by the civil registry officer upon declaration, if possible, of one of the closest relatives or neighbours, when a person has died outside his/her home, of the person in whose home he/she died or from the funeral home.

A copy or extract of this document is often required during certain administrative processes, such as applying for a survivor’s pension, executing the will, or arranging the burial.

Documents to be produced for burial

  • Hospital declaration of cause of death
  • Family booklet if the deceased was married, respectively marriage certificate, otherwise a true copy of the birth certificate
  • Reporter ID Card

Documents to be produced for cremation

  • Hospital declaration of cause of death
  • Family record book if the deceased person was married, otherwise a true copy of the birth certificate
  • Doctor’s note that the deceased did not have a pacemaker
  • Authorisation of a close family member for cremation (file available in the Civil Registry) or the deceased was a member of “Flamma” or expressed his/her wish to be cremated in a will
  • Reporter ID Card

More information: http://www.guichet.public.lu/citoyens/fr/certificats/etat-civil-authentification/etat-civil/acte-deces/index.html