Leistungen A-Z

Cremation consists of two elements, namely the cremation of the deceased person and the subsequent burial of the urn with the ashes.

Cremation (cremation) may only be carried out in a coffin.

The urn with the ashes of the dead is to be buried in a cemetery. The type of grave depends on the offer of the municipality or the church that runs the cemetery. Burial in the ground, in an urn stele, in an urn wall, in an underground crypt or above-ground grave building or the scattering of the ashes on an ash meadow are permitted by law. With the consent of the church, the urn may also be buried in a church. A burial at sea is only permitted if the deceased person has wished to do so and this is not contrary to other legal provisions. A burial at sea is only allowed on the high seas and not in Brandenburg waters.

In some municipalities, "burials in the forest" are offered. Legally, these are cemeteries under the auspices of a municipality or a church, whereby they sometimes make use of a private person who runs the cemetery for the sponsor.

In the case of cremation, a second post-mortem examination is required.

• Carrying out the two post-mortem examinations, this does not apply to miscarriages,
• notarization of the death,
  • in the case of stillbirths, the certification of the birth must be proven by a civil certificate before burial
  • in the case of miscarriages, a medical certificate must be submitted stating the date, circumstance of the miscarriage and the name and address of the mother,
• Expiry of the waiting period or approval of the lower health authority to carry out the funeral before the expiry of the waiting period,
• Acquisition of a right of use at a grave site, unless a burial at sea takes place.

Please inquire about the other requirements at your funeral home.

Death certificate or proof from the competent registry office that the notarization has been deferred.

What other documents and evidence are required, please ask your commissioned funeral home or the municipality or church in whose cemetery the burial is to take place.

At a minimum, there are costs for:

• the performance of post-mortem examinations (not in the case of miscarriages),
• the notarizations,
• cremation,
• the right to use the grave ("acquisition" of the grave site),
• the coffin,
• the urn,
• the funeral home.

If you hold a funeral service, there will be additional costs, e.g. for the funeral hall, the person giving the funeral speech, catering, etc.).

The amount of the costs depends on the type of burial and must be obtained from the funeral home commissioned by you and the owner of the cemetery where the burial is to take place.  

If you cannot afford the costs, contact your local social welfare office quickly.

Quickly hire a funeral home you trust to carry out a funeral in accordance with the law. He will take care of everything else.

Cremation must be carried out within 10 days of the discovery of death. The lower health authority (= district or district-free city) can order an earlier cremation for reasons of hygiene. It may also allow cremation at a later date if there are no hygienic reasons to the contrary.

Kreisfreie Stadt, amtsfreie Gemeinde, Amt, Verbandsgemeinde

Kreisfreie Stadt, amtsfreie Gemeinde, Amt, Verbandsgemeinde,

Funeral directors

• §§ 19 to 25 Brandenburg Funeral Act, High Seas Contribution Act, Cemetery Statutes
• § 5a Obligations of the project developer in the case of marine geoengineering measures, High Sea Contribution Act (HoheSeeEinbrG)

Ministry of the Interior and Municipal Affairs of the State of Brandenburg, Department 24