Declaration of Death - Death at home

Verified 07 décembre 2023 - Legal and Administrative Information Directorate (Prime Minister)

Your situation

Death at home

A doctor records the death and issues the death certificate.

Please note

On an experimental basis, a nurse may, in the absence of a doctor, record the death and establish the death certificate at home in certain regions (Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Center-Val de Loire, Ile-de-France, Occitanie, Réunion).

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.

Who shall I contact

Office of the Commissioner

Police Department

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 set by the contract), the funeral director must present a mandate.

To declare a death, you must go to the municipality of the municipality where the death occurred, regardless 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

Town Hall

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.

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 1st^er day. In addition, admission must be made within 48 hours of death. Conservation care is not mandatory.