Assumption of funeral costs
<p>In Germany, burial is compulsory.</p>
<p>This means that the relatives of the deceased person must take care of the funeral (in the order stipulated by law). If you, as a relative, are not one of the heirs, dependants or persons obligated under the Funeral Decree, you can claim the costs of the funeral from this group of people.</p>
<p>In the case of these "obligated parties", the Office for Social Security will, under certain conditions, cover the necessary funeral costs. The "necessary costs" of a burial are deemed to be total costs of up to 3,600 euros (including grave memorial) for burials in the city of Munich. For cremations, the amount is up to 3,000 euros. In principle, however, the individual case must be considered, as the costs vary greatly.</p>
<p>Depending on the income and assets of the person making the application, the Office for Social Security may cover the necessary funeral costs if this is applied for promptly after becoming aware of the obligation to bear the costs.</p>
<p>However, the Social Security Office will only cover the costs if claims, for example against the heirs, have already been exhausted.</p>
<p>People who feel morally obliged to commission the funeral but have no legal obligation to do so (e.g. neighbours, friends and partners) cannot have the costs reimbursed.</p>
<p>If no one commissions the funeral, the regulatory authority (Munich Municipal Cemeteries) will take care of it. In case of doubt <strong>,</strong> it should be clarified with the regulatory authority and the responsible social community centre whether there is a legal obligation and whether the funeral costs are reasonable.</p>
<p><strong>Special contact points</strong></p>
<ul>
 <li>Deaf residents of Munich should contact the <a href="https://stadt.muenchen.de/service/info/sozialdienst-fuer-gehoerlose/10317054/" target="">social services for the deaf</a>.</li>
 <li>Munich residents without their own home should contact the <a href="https://stadt.muenchen.de/service/info/zentrale-wohnungslosenhilfe/10259278/" target="">Central Assistance Centre for the Homeless</a>.</li>
</ul>
Assistance Assumption Become Burial Certificate Certificates Citizen Claim Compulsory Conditions Cover Cremation Deaf Funeral Health Homeless Individual Legal Making Municipal Obligation Social Wohnungslos Wohnungsloser against cemeteries certain commission exam exhaust graves reasons without

# Assumption of funeral costs

## Summary

In Germany, relatives of deceased persons must make funeral arrangements. In some cases, the Office for Social Security covers the costs.
## Description

In Germany, burial is compulsory.

This means that the relatives of the deceased person must take care of the funeral (in the order stipulated by law). If you, as a relative, are not one of the heirs, dependants or persons obligated under the Funeral Decree, you can claim the costs of the funeral from this group of people.

In the case of these "obligated parties", the Office for Social Security will, under certain conditions, cover the necessary funeral costs. The "necessary costs" of a burial are deemed to be total costs of up to 3,600 euros (including grave memorial) for burials in the city of Munich. For cremations, the amount is up to 3,000 euros. In principle, however, the individual case must be considered, as the costs vary greatly.

Depending on the income and assets of the person making the application, the Office for Social Security may cover the necessary funeral costs if this is applied for promptly after becoming aware of the obligation to bear the costs.

However, the Social Security Office will only cover the costs if claims, for example against the heirs, have already been exhausted.

People who feel morally obliged to commission the funeral but have no legal obligation to do so (e.g. neighbours, friends and partners) cannot have the costs reimbursed.

If no one commissions the funeral, the regulatory authority (Munich Municipal Cemeteries) will take care of it. In case of doubt **,** it should be clarified with the regulatory authority and the responsible social community centre whether there is a legal obligation and whether the funeral costs are reasonable.

**Special contact points**

* Deaf residents of Munich should contact the [social services for the deaf](https://stadt.muenchen.de/service/info/sozialdienst-fuer-gehoerlose/10317054/).
* Munich residents without their own home should contact the [Central Assistance Centre for the Homeless](https://stadt.muenchen.de/service/info/zentrale-wohnungslosenhilfe/10259278/).

## Responsible Department

SOZ
## Required Documents

Proof of income and assets of the applicant and, if applicable, proof of inheritance and certificate of inheritance.

## Fee Range

There are no fees.

## Processing Time

The processing time can take several months, as enquiries may have to be made to the probate court.

## Legal Basis

§ Section 74 of the Twelfth Book of the Social Code (SGB XII)

## Keywords

* Assistance
* Assumption
* Become
* Burial
* Certificate
* Certificates
* Citizen
* Claim
* Compulsory
* Conditions
* Cover
* Cremation
* Deaf
* Funeral
* Health
* Homeless
* Individual
* Legal
* Making
* Municipal
* Obligation
* Social
* Wohnungslos
* Wohnungsloser
* against
* cemeteries
* certain
* commission
* exam
* exhaust
* graves
* reasons
* without
