What to do immediately after a death in Switzerland: the first steps

First step: Have the death certified (0-2 hours)

The very first step after a death is to have the death officially certified by a doctor. This step is a legal obligation in Switzerland and must be carried out as quickly as possible, ideally within two hours following the death.

The procedure varies depending on the place of death:

• Death at home: Contact the deceased's treating doctor immediately. If they are not available, call the emergency service (144) or the on-call doctor in your municipality.

• Death in hospital or care home: The medical staff of the establishment automatically takes care of certifying the death.

• Death in a public place: Contact the police immediately (117) who will dispatch the relevant services.

The doctor will issue the medical death certificate, an essential official document that indicates the cause and circumstances of death. This certificate will be necessary for all subsequent administrative procedures, particularly the death declaration to the civil registry.

Keep this document carefully and plan to make several copies, as it will be requested on multiple occasions in the following days.

Second step: Declare the death to the civil registry (24-48 hours)

Once the death has been medically certified, you have two working days to declare the death to the civil registry office of the municipality where the death occurred. This death declaration is a legal obligation that allows you to obtain the official death certificate.

Several people can make this declaration:

• A close family member (spouse, children, parents)

• The appointed funeral home

• The director of the establishment (hospital, care home) where the death occurred

To complete this procedure, you must present yourself to the civil registry office with the medical death certificate and several documents belonging to the deceased. The civil registrar will then issue the official death certificate, a document that will serve as the basis for all subsequent death formalities.

It is recommended to request several certified true copies of the death certificate (generally 5 to 10 copies), as this document will be required by numerous organisations: insurance companies, banks, pension funds, notaries, etc.

Good to know: In most cases, funeral homes can take care of this procedure for you, allowing you to focus on supporting the family.

Documents required for the procedures

To facilitate all death procedures in Switzerland, it is essential to quickly gather the deceased's documents. Here is the list of essential items:

• Identity card or passport of the deceased (valid if possible)

• Medical death certificate issued by the doctor

• Family record book or marriage certificate (for married persons)

• Birth certificate (sometimes requested depending on the canton)

• Will if one exists (to be submitted quickly to the relevant authority)

• Insurance contracts (life, health, accident, funeral)

• Bank documents and account details

• AHV/IV certificates and pension fund documents

Practical advice: As soon as you have gathered these documents, make several photocopies. This will save you from having to search for the originals for each new procedure and will considerably speed up the formalities.

Keep all originals in a secure folder and use the copies for sending to different organisations.

Third step: Contact a funeral home (24-48 hours)

Within 24 to 48 hours following the death, it is recommended to contact a funeral home. These professionals play an essential role in supporting families, both logistically and administratively.

Services offered by funeral homes generally include:

• Transport and coffining of the deceased from the place of death

• Preservation of the body until the funeral (mortuary)

• Complete organisation of the funeral (ceremony, burial or cremation)

• Support with administrative procedures (civil registry declaration, notifications)

• Provision of the coffin and funeral items

• Coordination with the cemetery, crematorium and places of worship

To choose a funeral home, several criteria are important:

• Request several detailed quotes to compare services and prices

• Favour businesses recommended by those around you or recognised locally

• Check their availability and ability to intervene quickly

• Ensure they offer personalised support adapted to your needs

Funeral homes can take charge of a large part of the funeral procedures, thus allowing you to focus on grieving and supporting your family. Do not hesitate to delegate the most complex administrative formalities to them.

Wolky offers you a detailed directory of Swiss funeral homes, including services offered, opening hours, languages spoken and emergency numbers.

Fourth step: Inform those around you and publish a death notice (48-72 hours)

Once the first formalities have been completed, it is time to inform those around you of the death. This step, although painful, is essential to allow close friends and acquaintances to offer their condolences and participate in the funeral.

For close family and intimate friends, favour personal contact by telephone or in person. For the wider circle, publishing a death notice is the most appropriate solution.

The death notice fulfils several important functions: it officially announces the death, informs of the date and place of the funeral, and allows all people who knew the deceased to be informed.

Several publication channels are available in Switzerland:

• Local and regional newspapers: traditional publication, wide distribution but high cost

• Municipal websites: often free, local reach

• Specialised online platforms: modern, accessible 24/7, possibility to create an interactive tribute

To choose the best channel according to your needs and budget, consult our detailed guide on where to publish a death notice in Switzerland.

Writing a death notice requires respecting certain conventions whilst personalising the message. If you need help with this step, our article writing an obituary complete guide and templates will guide you with concrete examples and free templates.

On Wolky.ch, you can easily and quickly publish a death notice, allowing you to communicate instantly.

Fifth step: Notify organisations and institutions (48-72 hours)

In the days following the death, you will need to notify different organisations and institutions of your loved one's death. This step is crucial to avoid subsequent administrative and financial complications.

Here is the list of main organisations to contact:

• Deceased's employer: for the final salary and any benefits

• AHV/IV compensation fund: to stop pensions and any survivor benefits

• Health insurance: mandatory termination within 3 months following the death

• Supplementary insurance: notification and termination

• Pension fund (2nd pillar): for survivor benefits

• Banks and financial institutions: blocking or transfer of accounts

• Life and accident insurance: for any benefits

• Landlord or property management company: for the rental lease

• Energy and telecommunications providers: termination or transfer of contracts

For each notification, it is strongly recommended to:

• Make the notification in writing with acknowledgement of receipt

• Attach a certified true copy of the death certificate

• Keep a copy of all letters sent

• Note the dates of sending and receipt of acknowledgements

This documentation will be valuable for following up on procedures and for the estate.

Priority organisations to contact

Among all the organisations to notify, some must be contacted as an absolute priority within the first 72 hours:

1. AHV/IV compensation fund

Notifying the AHV is a priority as it allows the payment of pensions to be stopped and opens rights to any survivor pensions (widow/widower's pension, orphan's pension). The limitation period for these benefits is limited, hence the importance of acting quickly.

2. Health insurance (LAMal basic insurance)

Health insurance must be terminated within 3 months following the death. Beyond this, you may have to continue paying premiums. Send a registered letter with a copy of the death certificate.

3. Employer

If the deceased was still working, the employer must be informed quickly for payment of the final salary, any unused holiday days, and 2nd pillar benefits. The employer can also direct you to the pension fund.

4. Banks

Inform banks quickly to avoid undue automatic debits and to organise the blocking or transfer of accounts. Caution: certain banking operations may require the intervention of a notary as part of the estate.

Common mistakes to avoid

In the stress and emotion that follow a death, certain mistakes are frequently made. Here are the main ones to avoid to spare yourself additional complications:

1. Delaying medical certification of death

Some families hesitate to call the doctor immediately, wishing to spend a final moment with the deceased. However, medical certification must be carried out quickly, especially in the case of death at home. A delay can complicate administrative procedures.

2. Forgetting to declare the death to the civil registry within the deadlines

The deadline of two working days for the civil registry declaration is strict. A delay can cause complications for organising the funeral and obtaining the official death certificate.

3. Scattering or losing important documents

In the commotion, it is easy to misplace essential documents. Create a centralised folder from the start where you will keep all originals and copies. This will greatly facilitate all death formalities.

4. Making hasty financial decisions

Avoid making important decisions concerning bank accounts, real estate or investments before consulting a notary or legal adviser. The estate follows precise rules that must be respected.

5. Neglecting to notify certain organisations

Forgetting to notify an organisation (health insurance, insurance, employer) can result in undue debits or the loss of benefits to which you would be entitled. Use a checklist to avoid forgetting anything.

6. Not asking for help

Wanting to manage everything alone is a common mistake. Do not hesitate to seek help from your family, funeral homes or social services in your municipality. These professionals are there to support you in these procedures after a death.

Cantonal particularities to know

Switzerland being a federal state, certain procedures related to death may vary from one canton to another. Whilst the general framework remains the same across the territory, local specificities exist and deserve your attention.

Main cantonal differences:

• Declaration deadlines: Although generally set at 2 working days, this deadline may vary slightly depending on the canton

• Competent authorities: In some cantons, it is the municipal civil registry office that is competent, in others, it is a centralised regional office

• Procedures for burials and cremations: The necessary authorisations and deadlines may differ

• Funeral regulations: Some cantons have specific regulations concerning cemeteries, cremation urns or the scattering of ashes

• Administrative costs: Fees for death certificates vary from one municipality to another

To know the specificities of your canton, several resources are at your disposal:

• The civil registry office of your municipality can provide you with precise information

• Local funeral homes are perfectly familiar with regional particularities

• The official website of your canton generally offers a section dedicated to procedures in case of death

It is therefore essential to check local specificities from the start of your procedures to avoid any delay or administrative misunderstanding.

Checklist: The first 72 hours after a death

To help you organise death procedures in Switzerland methodically, here is a chronological checklist of actions to be carried out in the first 72 hours:

⏰ Within 0-2 hours:

• Have the death certified by a doctor (treating doctor, emergency service or on-call doctor)

• Obtain the medical death certificate

• Make several copies of the medical certificate

📅 Within 24-48 hours:

• Gather the deceased's documents (identity card, family record book, will, insurance)

• Declare the death to the municipal civil registry office (within 2 working days)

• Obtain several certified true copies of the death certificate (5 to 10 copies)

• Contact a funeral home

• Begin organising the funeral (date, place, type of ceremony)

• Search for the will if one exists and submit it to the relevant authorities

📢 Within 48-72 hours:

• Inform close family and intimate friends personally

• Write and publish a death notice (newspapers, municipality, online platforms)

• Notify the deceased's employer

• Contact the AHV/IV compensation fund

• Inform the health insurance and supplementary insurance

• Notify banks and financial institutions

• Inform the pension fund (2nd pillar)

• Contact life and accident insurance

• Inform the landlord or property management company

💡 Practical advice: Print this checklist or save it on your phone to tick off the steps as you go. This will allow you to keep an overview and not forget anything during this difficult period.