Obtain permission for cremation
Second post-mortem examination and approval of the cremation of the deceased by the public health department or cemetery office.
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Damit wir Obtain permission for cremation mit dem zuständigen Friedhofsamt in Ihrer Stadt anzeigen können.
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Quick answer
- 1
Documents you need
Death certificate · Identification card or passport
- 2
Responsible authority
The authority of your main residence
- 3
How to do it
In person or by post at the office
- 4
Costs
Je nach Gemeinde und Leistung – beim zuständigen Amt erfragen
How to proceed
- 1
Arrange for a second postmortem examination
By a doctor appointed by the public health department; this is usually arranged by the funeral home.
- 2
Apply for a cremation permit
Through the funeral home at the Cemetery Office/Public Health Department.
- 3
Burial of the urn
Within the time limit prescribed by state law.
Responsible authority
The authority of your main place of residence is responsible.Find authority →
The essentials before applying
Who is eligible?
Surviving family members or the funeral homes they have hired.
Income limit
Processing time
Nationwide: approx. 3 days
Success rate
approx. 98.0 % (estimate)
Most common mistakes
- •The deceased’s cremation directive has not been submitted (required if available)
- •Documents are incomplete—check the checklist before submitting
Common reasons for rejection
- •Second autopsy reveals evidence of an unnatural cause of death
Alternatives
- Check related services in the application assistant
- Use social counselling before applying
If rejected
Read the decision carefully: often submitting missing documents or reapplying helps more than an objection.
Related services
Questions & Answers
How much does it cost to obtain approval for a cremation?▼
This varies by municipality and service—check with the appropriate agency.
How long does it take to get approval for a cremation?▼
Usually about 3 business days—depending on the agency and its workload.
Freshness & source
- Maintenance
- Continuously reviewed & updated
- Source
- Bundesportal (verwaltung.bund.de)
- Data quality
- 100 %