Swiss legislation stipulates certain procedures that the bereaved have to deal with after the death of a loved one. Certain matters must be dealt with immediately, others have two to three days. Many things can also wait until after the funeral.
Overview of Immediate Measures – The First Steps
Immediately after a death, these steps must be taken without delay:
- Notify a doctor & obtain a death certificate:
- If death occurs at home: Immediately contact the family doctor or an emergency doctor (emergency call 144). They will issue the medical death certificate.
- In a hospital, nursing home, or retirement home: The staff on site will notify the doctor and arrange for the death certificate to be issued.
- In case of unnatural death (e.g., accident, suicide, act of violence):
- Immediately notify the police (emergency call 117) AND an emergency doctor (emergency call 144).
- Important: Do not alter the body or the surroundings until the police arrive!
- Inform next of kin & close friends: Notify the people who were closest to the deceased.
- Check organ donation status:
- Is there an organ donor card, an advance directive, or another declaration of will?
- Inform the doctor of the deceased's known wishes regarding organ donation.
- Care for pets: Ensure that any pets are immediately cared for and looked after.
This checklist serves as an initial guide. Detailed information and all other necessary steps can be found in the comprehensive article below.
Compact Checklist for Switzerland to Print (PDF Download)
For a practical checklist to tick off: Download our Checklist Death in Switzerland (First 24-48 Hours) as a PDF. This will help you keep track of all important points.
Table of Contents
What to do immediately after death?
After the initial immediate measures (see box above) have been taken, here are the next important steps in detail that need to be addressed directly after a death in Switzerland.
Death at home
If the person died at home, a doctor must be contacted immediately to officially confirm the death and obtain the death certificate.
- Notify the family doctor immediately. They will confirm the death and issue the necessary medical death certificate.
- If the family doctor is unavailable (e.g., at night, on weekends, due to holidays), call the emergency doctor via the emergency number 144.
This medical death certificate is a central document for all further steps in Switzerland.
Death in an institution – Hospital, nursing home, or retirement home
If a person dies in a hospital, nursing home, or retirement home, the staff there will initiate the first steps:
- The nursing staff will inform the responsible doctor, who will issue the medical death certificate.
- The institution usually also assists in forwarding the death certificate to the civil registry office and informs the relatives.
The death certificate allows for the subsequent transport of the body. A viewing can also take place directly at the place of death or in the institution, depending on wishes and possibilities.
Unnatural death
In case of signs of an unnatural death (e.g., due to an accident, suicide, or act of violence), you must immediately alert the police (emergency call 117) AND an emergency doctor (emergency call 144).
- Important: Do not change anything at the scene or on the body until the police arrive.
- In these cases, a medical death certificate will also be issued, often after police clearance.
Organ donation
The doctor confirming the death will raise the question of possible organ donation. It is helpful if the deceased's wishes in this regard are known.
- Check if an organ donor card, an advance directive, or another written declaration of will from the deceased exists (e.g., in personal documents, wallet).
- Were there any verbal statements on the subject of organ donation to relatives?
- Inform the doctor of the known wishes. Clear documentation or knowledge facilitates the decision and can, in the best case, save lives.
Notify next of kin, close friends, and employer
Notifying the deceased's social circle is an important, albeit painful, step:
- Inform the closest family members and friends on the day of death. This may give them the opportunity to say goodbye at the deathbed.
- Other relatives, acquaintances, and possibly clubs can be informed in the following days.
- Notify the deceased's employer.
- Also inform your own workplace. In Switzerland, in the event of the death of a direct relative, you are generally entitled to compassionate leave (usually up to three days). Clarify this with your employer.
Declaration of will for death in the documents
Search the deceased's personal documents for papers рекорд wishes for the event of death or the time thereafter:
- These can be specific funeral wishes, dispositions for death, or an advance directive.
- Ideally, these are stored in an easily findable place and known to the next of kin.
- Important: Instructions for the immediate time after death should not be exclusively in the will, as it is often officially opened weeks later, which would be too late for these initial steps.
Pets
Think about the immediate care of any pets the deceased may have left behind.
- Ensure that food, water, and necessary care (e.g., dog walking) are provided immediately.
- Clarify who can look after the animals инфекции and long-term. For animals that suffer greatly from the loss (e.g., dogs), it may be advisable to find a permanent, loving solution early on or, if necessary, seek professional help (e.g., animal shelter, animal welfare organizations).
Things to do within two to three days
After the initial immediate steps, tasks now follow that should generally be completed within two to three days of the death. This particularly includes the official reporting of the death and the initial planning of the farewell.
Report the death to the competent civil registry office
Reporting a death in Switzerland must be done at the competent civil registry office. This is a legally prescribed step.
- Deadline: Usually within two days (48 hours) of death.
- Basis: The medical death certificate.
- Competent office: Usually the civil registry office at the place of death. The civil registry office of the place of residence will also be informed if different.
- Who reports?
- If death occurs at home: Relatives.
- In a hospital/home: The institution often takes care of this or provides support (clarify directly).
For reporting the death to the civil registry office, you will need the following documents:
Prepare the following documents for the appointment at the civil registry office (originals, if available):
- Medical death certificate
- Family record book (Familienausweis/livret de famille) of the deceased (if married or had children)
- Confirmation of registration (Meldebestätigung/attestation de domicile) or certificate of deposit of personal documents (Schriftenempfangsschein/récépissé de dépôt des actes d'origine) of the deceased
- Passport or identity card of the deceased
- For foreign nationals: Foreigner's permit (Ausländerausweis/permis de séjour) and possibly passport of the deceased
- Identity card or passport of the reporting person
A personal appointment at the civil registry office is usually necessary. During this appointment:
- the death is officially registered.
- the death certificate (Todesurkunde/acte de décès) is applied for (essential for many further procedures).
Also bring any existing declarations of will from the deceased regarding the funeral. If there are no wishes, the next of kin will decide on the type and manner of the funeral.
Important decisions for the funeral to be clarified at the civil registry or funeral office
At the civil registry office or the (depending on the municipality) competent funeral office, fundamental decisions about the funeral are made:
- Type of funeral:
- Burial: Interment of the body in a coffin in an earth grave.
- Cremation: Incineration of the body and subsequent interment of the urn.
- Type of grave:
- For burials: e.g., row grave, family grave.
- For urn interments: e.g., urn grave, urn niche, communal grave.
- The available grave types may vary depending on the cemetery and municipality.
In addition to the classic forms, there are other options in Switzerland for the interment of ashes after cremation:
- Keeping the urn at home.
- Natural burials (e.g., in a memorial forest, scattering ashes in nature – local regulations and consideration for third parties must be observed).
Inquire with your municipality about specific options and regulations.
Planning the funeral service
Consider the deceased's wishes (if known) or plan the following aspects for the funeral service, which serves as a farewell and tribute:
- Location of the funeral service: Church, cemetery chapel, funeral hall, only at the graveside, at home, in nature, or at another significant place.
- Eulogy: Who should speak? A pastor, a lay celebrant, family members, or friends?
- Other contributions: Opportunity for other short speeches by relatives or friends.
- Design elements:
- Musical accompaniment (favorite songs, live music, organ).
- Floral arrangements, candles, photos, or personal items.
- Seating arrangement (if relevant).
- Condolence book: Providing a book for mourners to sign and leave messages of condolence.
Planning the burial
The burial (interment) is the committal to the final resting place, often following the funeral service. Important points for planning:
- Date and location: In consultation with the parish office, cemetery administration, and possibly a funeral home.
- Guest list and invitations: Who should be informed and invited? (See also Death notice cards).
- Floral arrangements: Casket spray, urn decoration, funeral wreaths, hand-tied bouquets. Clarify if donations are desired instead of flowers.
- Musical accompaniment at the graveside: If desired.
- Funeral reception (Leidmahl/Traueressen, "Zvieri"): A communal meal or gathering after the burial to share memories. This should be planned early and a venue reserved if necessary.
- Transport: Organization of the transport of the coffin or urn.
Death notice card
With a death notice card, you personally inform the extended family, friends, and acquaintances about the death. It often also serves as an invitation to the funeral service and/or burial.
- Content: Name of the deceased, dates of birth and death, a short personal text, a verse of mourning or poem, names of the next of kin, information about the funeral service and burial (date, time, location).
- Additional information: Possibly a note about a donation account instead of flowers, address for condolence letters.
- Dispatch: As soon as possible after the dates for the funeral service and burial have been set.
Obituary
The obituary (also known as a death announcement or Leidzirkular) makes the death known to a wider public.
- Traditional: Publication in regional or national newspapers. The costs for this can be considerable. More information on this can be found in our article "How much does a newspaper obituary cost?".
- Modern & Digital: Increasingly, online obituaries are used. These are often more cost-effective and can be easily shared via email, WhatsApp, or social media to reach people who do not read newspapers.
An obituary typically contains the following information:
- Full name of the deceased
- Possibly profession, title, or special achievements
- Dates of birth and death (or age)
- Names of the bereaved relatives (usually the closest family)
- Details of the funeral service and burial (date, time, location)
- Possibly a verse of mourning, quote, or religious symbol
- Indication of a wish for donations instead of flowers or wreaths
- Address for condolence letters
- Optional: Photo of the deceased, symbols
Tasks after the burial
Even after the burial, there are still some important matters to attend to. This phase is often characterized by administrative tasks, but also by further grief processing and remembrance.
Acknowledgements
With an acknowledgement, you express your appreciation to all those who stood by you during the difficult time of farewell and expressed their condolences.
- Form: Classically as a printed card or modernly as an online acknowledgement, which you can easily share via email, WhatsApp, or social media.
- Content: A short, personal text expressing your thanks. You can mention special support or comforting words.
- Timing: Usually a few weeks after the funeral service.
Gravestone
The gravestone is a visible sign of remembrance of the deceased person. Its design should reflect the character and life of the deceased.
- Selection: Discuss your wishes with a stonemason or sculptor. They can advise you on materials, shapes, and inscriptions.
- Timing of installation:
- For urn graves, the gravestone can often be placed relatively soon after the interment.
- For earth graves, the soil must first settle. This usually takes six to nine months before a heavy gravestone can be stably installed.
Grave care
Caring for the grave is an expression of ongoing connection and respect.
- Scope: Planting (seasonally adjusted), keeping clean (removing leaves and weeds), possibly winter protection.
- Responsibility: Relatives often take care of it themselves.
- Alternative: Many cemetery administrations or gardeners offer grave care contracts if you cannot or do not wish to provide the care yourself. Inquire with the responsible cemetery administration about options and regulations.
Cancelling contracts, insurance policies, and memberships
After a death, many administrative tasks need to be completed. An overview of the most important notifications and cancellations:
Inform authorities and institutions:
- AHV/AVS compensation office: Report the death for pension claims (e.g., widow's/widower's pension, orphan's pension).
- Pension fund (Occupational pension): Clarify claims for survivor's benefits.
- Health insurance: Cancel the deceased's policy.
- Other insurance policies: Life insurance, accident insurance, liability, household insurance, etc. check and, if necessary, cancel or adjust.
- Banks and PostFinance: Have accounts blocked or access regulated for heirs (certificate of inheritance required), check standing orders.
- Post office: Set up a mail forwarding order if necessary.
- Tax office: Inform about the death for the final tax return.
- Road traffic office: If a vehicle is owned (see below).
Cancel ongoing contracts and memberships:
- Rental agreement for the apartment (observe statutory notice periods)
- Telephone, internet, mobile phone, and TV connections
- Newspaper and magazine subscriptions
- Memberships in clubs, associations, gyms, etc.
- Public transport passes
- Electricity, gas, water contracts (for own house/apartment)
- Other subscriptions and ongoing contracts
Deceased's vehicle:
- De-registration/Re-registration: At the competent road traffic office. This usually leads to the automatic cancellation of vehicle tax and insurance.
- License plates: Return or transfer.
- Sale or transfer of the vehicle.
Digital estate:
Also think about the digital estate. It is helpful if the deceased has left a list of important online accounts and access data (or instructions on how to access them via a password manager).
- Online accounts: Email accounts, social media profiles (Facebook, Instagram, etc. – there are often options for memorialization or deletion).
- Cloud services: Access to stored photos, documents.
- Digital subscriptions: Streaming services, software licenses.
- Online banking, payment services (PayPal), cryptocurrencies.
Search the documents for information on contracts and obligations. Failure to cancel can lead to unnecessary costs.
Inheritance
Settling the estate (inheritance) involves several steps and requires careful attention. A clearly formulated will can help avoid ambiguities and conflicts. The basic steps in the inheritance process in Switzerland typically include:
- Finding and submitting the will: Any will found must be immediately submitted to the competent cantonal authority (often a district court or notary). This applies even if it is considered invalid. If a will has been officially deposited, the authority will take action.
- Opening of the will: The authority officially opens the will and informs the appointed and statutory heirs of its content.
- Applying for a certificate of inheritance: The entitled heirs can apply for a certificate of inheritance (Erbschein/certificat d'héritier). This document legitimizes them as heirs to third parties (e.g., banks) and is required to dispose of the estate.
- Acceptance or renunciation of the inheritance: Heirs generally have three months (from knowledge of the death or their appointment as heir) to renounce the inheritance, for example, if it is over-indebted. To clarify the situation, a public inventory can be requested.
- Community of heirs and division of the estate: Multiple heirs initially form a community of heirs and must jointly dispose of the estate. The division of the estate among the heirs can be complex and often requires agreement.
- Protective measures: If necessary, measures such as sealing or a security inventory can be requested to protect the estate.
In-depth information on wills and inheritance law:
The creation of a will and the details of Swiss inheritance law (statutory succession, compulsory shares, inheritance agreement, etc.) are extensive. For a detailed guide, templates, and legal principles for drafting a will, we recommend our comprehensive article:
Guide: Creating a Will in Switzerland
Due to the complexity of inheritance matters and varying cantonal responsibilities, it is often advisable to seek expert support (e.g., from a notary or a lawyer specializing in inheritance law) early on, especially in cases of complex assets or if conflicts among heirs are foreseeable.
Household clearance
The deceased's household belongings are part of the estate. The heirs jointly decide what happens to personal items, furniture, and the rest of the inventory.
- Secure important documents: Before starting the clearance, all important documents (contracts, insurance policies, bank statements, personal papers) should be kept in a safe place.
- Division among heirs: Items can be divided among the heirs. Mementos often have high emotional value.
- Sale, donation, disposal: What is not taken by the heirs can be sold, donated, or properly disposed of. There are specialized companies for household clearances.
Specific situations:
- Rented apartment:
- The rental agreement passes to the heirs.
- Termination in compliance with statutory notice periods or an attempt to find a new tenant.
- Clarify the return of the apartment and the repayment of the rent deposit.
- Room in a retirement or nursing home:
- Discuss termination modalities with the home management.
- Organize the clearance of the room.
- Clarify the refund of any advance payments or deposits.
- Residential property (house/apartment):
- Heirs decide on sale, rental, or personal use.
- If vacant, ensure maintenance (heating, ventilation) to prevent damage.
Concluding words
The time after a death is challenging. Structured tasks can reduce overwhelm and show respect. Do not hesitate to accept support.
Consciously take time for your grief. Memories and feelings are important. Honorable remembrance helps to keep the deceased in loving memory.
Sources and useful links
- Detailed Checklist at ch.ch
- Simple, free obituaries as Word templates to download (obituary.design)
Information on the situation in Germany:
- Checklist after a death: The first 24-48 hours (traueranzeigeonline.de)
- What does a funeral cost in Germany? (traueranzeigeonline.de)