Who to notify after a death: the complete list

After a death, many organisations must be notified, and no single online service alerts them all at once: each must be contacted separately. This list orders them from the most urgent to the most distant to help you move forward without forgetting anything.

The document requested almost everywhere is a copy of the death certificate. Request several copies from the town hall right away: they are free and unlimited in number. This text is general information and replaces neither a notary nor the organisations concerned.

Within 24 to 48 hours

A doctor first issues the death certificate. The death is then declared at the town hall of the place of death, which issues the official death record. When the death occurs in an institution (hospital, care home), the institution handles the declaration.

• The doctor, for the death certificate (a prerequisite for any other step).
• The town hall of the place of death, for the declaration and the death record.
• The funeral company, to arrange the funeral.

In the first few days

Next come the organisations with short deadlines, to avoid undue debits or payments. Notifying the bank and the employer early limits later adjustments.

• The deceased's employer, or France Travail (formerly Pôle emploi) where relevant.
• The bank(s), to report the death and review the accounts.
• Credit institutions, for any outstanding loans and credit.

Within the month

This step is about updating the situation with social bodies and cancelling or transferring current contracts. One point of caution: for home and car insurance, the law requires informing the insurer within fifteen days of the death. A file listing the deceased's contracts in advance saves considerable time here.

• Health insurance (CPAM or MSA) and the supplementary health cover.
• Pension funds, both basic (Carsat) and supplementary (Agirc-Arrco).
• The CAF (family allowance fund), to reassess entitlements and stop undue benefits.
• Home and car insurance (to be informed within 15 days).
• Energy, water, phone and internet providers.
• The landlord or building manager, and recurring subscriptions (press, platforms).

Within six months

Some steps fall within a longer timeframe. The inheritance declaration to the tax authorities must in principle be filed within six months of a death occurring in mainland France; the notary, whose involvement is required in several situations, assists with this step.

• The notary, in particular where there is real estate, a will or a gift.
• The tax authorities, for the inheritance declaration (six-month deadline in mainland France).
• The tax office, for the deceased's income tax return (at the next filing campaign).

The documents to gather

Most organisations ask for the same documents. Gathering them once avoids repeated back-and-forth.

• Several copies of the death certificate (requested from the town hall, free of charge).
• The family record book and the applicant's ID.
• Bank details (RIB) for any payments.
• The contract and customer numbers of the organisations concerned.

Keep a record, and plan ahead

Noting each organisation contacted, the date and the status of the step helps you forget nothing and avoid duplicates. This is exactly what Vitalegis prepares in advance: during their lifetime, the person gathers the list of their contracts and designates who will receive it, so their loved ones do not have to investigate at the worst possible moment.