When someone dies — the complete guide, in order

The 4 scenarios — the first step differs

What you do first depends on where the death happened. The table below covers the four situations you may face.

The first hours: what matters and what can wait

You don't have to do anything in the very next minute. Don't move or prepare the body — wait for authorised staff. If the death happened at home, call the family doctor or 112; a doctor must certify the death and issue the medical death certificate (certificatul medical constatator). In hospital, the on-duty doctor does this automatically.

Once you have the certificate, call a funeral home. From that point, the family doesn't need to run between offices: the team collects the deceased in a licensed vehicle and handles the formalities. The urgent steps of the first hours are detailed in the guide first steps after a death.

The first 3 days: paperwork and the funeral

The death must be registered at the Civil Registry (Starea Civilă) within 3 calendar days. On the basis of the medical certificate, the official death certificate is issued — the document without which nothing else can proceed. The funeral home can collect it on your behalf with a simple power of attorney.

At the same time, arrange the ceremony: the package, the church and priest, the date, the clothes for the deceased, the wreath, and the memorial meal. The family makes these decisions; everything else — the casket, transport, sanitary permits, preparation — is the funeral home's responsibility. If you're unsure what a funeral package includes, the complete funeral package page explains it in detail. For a day-by-day plan from the time of death to the memorial meal, see the guide organising a funeral step by step.

Money: the state funeral aid and costs

For insured or retired persons, the state pays a funeral aid of 9,192 RON in 2026. It can be obtained by assignment of rights (cesiune), so the family doesn't advance the money — the amount is paid directly to the funeral home and deducted from the bill. For the basic packages, the aid covers the full cost.

Remaining costs depend on the package chosen and any optional extras (burial plot, monument, later memorial meals). Always ask for a written itemised quote, as required by ANPC consumer-protection rules.

Administrative steps in the first weeks

The funeral is not the last step. In the weeks and months that follow, the family has a number of administrative matters to resolve. The list below is a guide — for complex situations, consult a notary or a lawyer.

• Estate proceedings — handled at a notary, ideally within the first year after death; involves inventorying assets, paying stamp duty, and dividing the estate by law or will; read the guide documents needed after a death
• Bank — banks block access to accounts on official notification of death; access is restored through the certificate of inheritance issued by the notary after probate; if the deceased was a joint account holder, the other holder can continue using the account
• Survivor's pension — the surviving spouse and minor children may apply for a survivor's pension at the Casa de Pensii (pension house); the CNPP funeral aid is a separate benefit
• Utilities and subscriptions — transfer or close contracts for gas, electricity, cable, and phone; each provider usually needs the death certificate and a written request
• Property — if the deceased held a rental contract or owned property with a mortgage, consult a notary for the correct steps
• Cancelling identity documents — the national ID is handed in at the Civil Registry; the passport, driving licence, and vehicle registration are cancelled at the relevant offices

Memorial services (parastase) and remembrance

• 3 days — first remembrance at home or at the cemetery; organisation details at memorial services
• 9 days — traditional remembrance
• 40 days — first major memorial service, with a church service and meal
• 6 months, 1 year, 3 years, 7 years — main memorial services in the Orthodox calendar
• The headstone — usually erected 3–6 months after burial, once the ground has settled

Common mistakes to avoid

A few mistakes come up repeatedly in the first hours and can cost time, money, or lost entitlements. It's worth knowing them in advance, so you can sidestep them when you're under pressure.

• Moving or preparing the body before the doctor arrives — always wait for medical certification; unauthorised transport is prohibited under Romanian Law 102/2014.
• Signing a contract without a written itemised quote — ask for a line-by-line offer, as required by ANPC rules.
• Missing the 3-day deadline for registering the death — late registration is still possible but involves extra steps.
• Missing out on the funeral aid out of ignorance — it can be claimed up to 3 years after death, including by assignment to the funeral home.
• Paying all costs upfront in cash without checking what the 9,192 RON aid or your chosen package covers.
• Delaying the estate proceedings — there is no deadline that cancels them, but delay complicates access to bank accounts and assets.

How we can help

We are a family funeral home. We answer on the first ring, day and night, and handle everything — collection, preparation, paperwork, ceremony. We cover Bucharest and Ilfov, with a team at your address within 60–90 minutes.

If you are not in an urgent situation and are reading this to be prepared, you can contact us at any time for a conversation with no obligation.