What documents are needed after a death in Romania, step by step

When you lose someone close, the last thing you need is a fight with bureaucracy. Unfortunately, a few steps must be taken quickly — some have a 3-day deadline. This guide puts everything in one place, in order, so you do not lose time searching.

The correct order, in short

The medical death certificate — from the doctor. Nothing can be done without it.
Declaration at the civil status office, within 3 days of the death, in the locality where it occurred.
Death certificate + burial permit — issued on the spot, free of charge. The permit is mandatory for funeral services.
Everything else — death benefit, succession, notifying institutions — can follow after the funeral.

What can wait, without rushing

Only the first three steps are urgent. The succession at a notary, the survivor’s pension and closing accounts have no deadline of a few days, so you do not have to handle them during those difficult days. One piece of advice: do not postpone the succession for years — the more time passes, the more complicated and expensive it becomes, especially if further heirs appear in the meantime.

One practical thing that helps

Ask the civil status office for several copies of the death certificate, if possible. They will be requested in parallel by the bank, the pension house, the notary, the insurer and utility providers — and extra trips for duplicates are exactly what you do not want during that period.

Steps to follow

Obtain the medical death certificate. Issued by the doctor who confirms the death — the family doctor, the hospital doctor or, where required, the forensic doctor. This is the document everything else follows from and must be obtained in the first days.
Gather the deceased person's documents. The deceased's identity document, birth certificate and, where applicable, marriage certificate. You also need your own identity document, as the declarant.
Declare the death at the civil status office within 3 days. The declaration is made at the civil status service of the locality where the death occurred, within 3 days of the date of death. For violent deaths or deaths of unexplained cause, the term is shorter and clearance from the police or prosecutor is also required.
Receive the death certificate and burial permit. The civil status office draws up the death record and issues the death certificate, plus the burial or cremation permit — the document without which funeral services cannot proceed. The deceased's identity document is handed in to the civil status office.
Apply for the death benefit. The death benefit is claimed from the pension house or, in certain situations, from the employer. It is granted to the person who bore the funeral costs, based on the death certificate and documents proving the expenses.
Open the succession at a notary. To transfer assets to the heirs, the succession is settled before a public notary. The resulting certificate of heir becomes the title document for inherited assets — needed at the land registry, at the bank or to transfer a car.
Notify institutions and close accounts. With the death certificate, notify the pension house (to stop the pension and, possibly, claim a survivor's pension), the bank, utility providers, insurers and the local tax office.

Required documents

The medical death certificate
The deceased person's identity document (handed in to the civil status office)
The deceased's birth certificate
The marriage certificate, where applicable
The declarant's identity document
Clearance from the police or prosecutor — for violent deaths or deaths of unexplained cause

Costs

What you pay	Cost	Notes
Death registration and death certificate	Free	Issuing the death certificate is not charged
Burial or cremation permit	Free	Issued together with the death certificate
Death benefit	You receive it, you do not pay it	Amount set annually by the social insurance budget law; half the amount for the death of a family member. Check the current value with the pension house
Settling the succession at a notary	Variable	Notarial fee, depending on the value of the estate

Fees change over time. Always check the current amounts on the official websites listed under “Official sources”.

How long it takes

The death certificate is usually issued on the spot, the same day as the declaration. The legal deadline for declaring a death from natural causes is 3 days. The succession can be settled later, but should not be postponed for years.

Frequently asked questions

Who can declare the death?

Any family member or, failing that, any person who learned of the death — including a representative of the institution where it occurred (hospital, care home). The declarant needs their own identity document.

What happens if I miss the 3-day deadline?

Late registration of a death is still possible, but the procedure becomes more complicated — it may require additional approvals or, for long delays, a court decision. Do not postpone this step.

Where do I get the death benefit and how much is it?

It is claimed from the territorial pension house (or from the employer, in certain situations) by the person who bore the funeral costs. The amount is set annually by the state social insurance budget law, and for the death of a family member half the amount is granted. Check the current value directly with the pension house.

Do I really have to go to a notary for the succession?

To legally transfer assets to the heirs, yes. Without a certificate of heir you cannot sell the home, transfer the car or access the deceased's bank accounts. Postponing complicates matters for the next generations.

What about the deceased's pension?

Notify the pension house with the death certificate so payments stop. Amounts wrongly received after the death must be returned. Separately, the surviving spouse and children may be entitled to a survivor's pension — that requires a separate application.