Documents After Death

After a death, families spend a great deal of time looking for paperwork. Which documents are actually required depends on the country, the family situation and the organizations involved — but the categories repeat: identity, estate, insurance, banking, property, tax, online accounts and professional contacts. This page walks through those categories and says when to involve a professional.

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No list is universal

Required documents vary by jurisdiction, marital property regime, whether a will exists, and the nature of the assets. Any list presented as “mandatory everywhere” is wrong by construction.

This page has a different aim: to help you understand what is useful to locate, why, and who will ask for it. Each country’s public authorities publish the official lists that apply; they are linked in the sources.

Identity and civil records

This is the starting point of almost every procedure: with no proof of death and no proof of identity, no organization opens a file.

  • Medical certificate of death, then the official copies organizations request.
  • The person’s identity documents and social insurance or equivalent numbers.
  • Birth and marriage certificates, divorce decree where applicable.
  • Citizenship, immigration or military service records.

Estate documents and wishes

These determine who has the right to act. Until they are found, everything else stalls.

  • Will, codicils, and the contact details of the notary or lawyer holding them.
  • The appointment of the executor or liquidator.
  • Powers of attorney, mandates and any trusts.
  • Funeral wishes and any prepaid arrangements.

Insurance, banking, property and tax

This is the financial side, the one with deadlines. Some benefits must be claimed within specific time limits that differ between organizations.

  • Insurance: life, mortgage, disability, home, auto, employer group coverage.
  • Banking: accounts, loans, cards, safety deposit boxes, active direct debits.
  • Property: titles, deeds, leases, mortgages, vehicles, assets held abroad.
  • Tax: prior-year returns, assessments, retirement plan documents.

Online accounts, subscriptions and digital records

A growing share of the file only exists on a screen: paperless statements, policies delivered by email, invoices inside a customer portal, photos stored only in the cloud.

The list of accounts, the main email address, and legacy tools already switched on (Inactive Account Manager, Legacy Contact) save weeks of searching.

  • The main email address: it is the key to nearly everything else.
  • Subscriptions and recurring charges to stop or transfer.
  • Documents received only in digital form.
  • Photos, videos and recordings with no local copy.

Professional contacts, and when to consult one

Notary, lawyer, accountant, financial adviser, insurance broker, employer: their contact details belong in the file just as much as the documents.

Consult a professional as soon as there is doubt about a will’s validity, a business, assets in several countries, significant debt, family disagreement or a tax question.

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Frequently asked questions

Which documents should a family look for first after a death?

The death certificate and identity documents, then the will and the contact details of the notary or lawyer. Everything else depends on those.

How many copies of the death certificate are needed?

It depends on how many organizations must be contacted and what each accepts: some take a copy, others require an official document. The government portals in the sources set out the applicable rules.

What about documents that only exist digitally?

They count as much as paper. Identify the main email address, the customer portals in use and the storage accounts: that is usually where policies, statements and invoices live.

Can this file be prepared in advance?

Yes, and it is the single most effective way to spare a family weeks of work: gather the documents by category, write down where they are, and list the professionals involved.

Sources & Further Reading

Last reviewed : 2026-08-21

Solexi does not replace a legal will, a notary or a lawyer. Solexi helps you gather, organize and pass on your information.

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