Death and Dying in Luxembourg

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Death and Dying in Luxembourg

Many administrative procedures required after a death can be handled by a funeral company but there are some tasks which should be performed by the family.

This is an overview of the processes in Luxembourg and where to get assistance.

Initial Procedure

In the event of a death occurring in the home, a medical doctor should always be contacted. The doctor will confirm the date and time of death, including any obvious cause and provide the paperwork which will allow the death to be properly registered. The doctor prepares a death declaration (déclaration de decès) detailing the identity of the deceased and the date and time of death.

The police should be called only if there are any suspicious circumstances. The doctor will call the police if necessary.

Reporting the Death

A death must be reported and registered at the earliest possible opportunity at the Civil Registrar's office (Bureau de l'Etat civil) of the commune where the death occurred. This can be done by anyone, including the funeral company/undertaker or a relative of the deceased.

• For more information: Click here (in French) 
• For a list of cantons and their communes and contact details: Click here 

A death certificate (acte de decès), is issued by the Civil Registrar together with two transport permits (permis de transport) for the remains. One of the transport permits must be given to the funeral company, the other is for the administration office of the commune where the burial is to take place.

The following documents must be presented when declaring a death:

• The death certificate issued by the doctor (certificat de decès)
• The family booket (livret de famille) or all identity documents of the deceased (birth certificate, wedding certificate, passport and identity card; the driving licence of the deceased may also be required)
• A will or similar document, if one exists
• If the deceased will be buried in a different commune, a certificate of burial (certificat de mise en bière) is required
• If the deceased will be cremated:
  • certificat de mise en biere (certificate of burial)
  • a death certificate stating that the death was not violent
  • a medical certificate stating that the deceased person did not have a pace-maker

If the burial is not taking place in the same commune where the death took place, then it will be necessary to obtain a burial authorisation from the commune where it will be held.

The family or funeral director makes the arrangements for a burial or cremation date with the local administration. In the case of cremation, the authorisation for cremation can only be given by the next of kin.

Burial must take place between 24 to 72 hours after death, though extensions are possible if a medical inspector certifies it is necessary. In cases of cremation, the body may not be moved for cremation until 24 hours after death and cremation must take place within 72 hours of the death.

Before ashes can be interred or scattered, permission must be obtained from the commune where the death took place. At this time a declaration of whether the ceremony will be civil or religious must be made. If the scattering or interment of the ashes will take place in the same municipality where the death took place, this permission can be obtained when declaring the death.

• For more information on how to register a death: Click here (in French)

Registering the death with a foreign embassy

If the deceased was a citizen of a foreign country, the death should also be registered at the deceased's home country Embassy in Luxembourg. This will simplify repatriating remains and administrative formalities in the deceased's home country (although Luxembourg death certificates are recognised by many countries). For information on registering a death of a foreign national, see the following links:

• Australian nationals (register at the Australian Embassy in Belgium), for contact information: Click here 
• Canadian nationals (register with the Canadian Consulate in Luxembourg): Click here 
• UK nationals (register at the UK Embassy in Luxembourg): Click here
• US citizens (register at the US Embassy in Luxembourg): Click here 

Funeral Arrangements

After death, the deceased is brought to the mortuary or funeral home where a civil or religious ceremony will take place before interment. Embalming is generally not done in Luxembourg, therefore services are closed-casket.

If a body is to be transported outside of Luxembourg, the deceased's remains can be embalmed. The funeral home can make these arrangements and there is an additional fee for this service.

Wooden caskets are common in Luxembourg, however, zinc-lined, hermetically sealed caskets are required for transport of remains more than 350 Km or by airplane. The funeral home can assist with the purchase of a casket.

In Luxembourg, burial is much more common than cremation, although cremation is growing in popularity. Ashes may not be kept in a private residence and must either be deposited in a columbarium, scattered in a designated plot or garden, or taken outside of Luxembourg (the funeral home can arrange for shipment abroad). If a decision has not been made regarding how the ashes are to be dealt with, they can be left temporarily at a funeral home until arrangements are made.

Burial plots and family vaults are owned by the local commune and rented for 15 or 30 year periods. Only those with a valid licence (obtained from the commune) and their direct ascendants and descendants (and spouses) may be buried in Luxembourg. Burial in Luxembourg is not limited to residents. The commune maintains cemeteries however it is up to the families to maintain their family tomb.

The purchase of a memorial marker (gravestone) can be arranged through the commune or funeral home; they are relatively expensive (from several thousand Euros each).

Funeral Allowance

In the event of the death of a person insured by Luxembourg Social Security (or a stillborn child) it is possible to claim a small state benefit. This is to cover burial costs, the coffin, flowers, transportation, cremation or burial, obituary and Town Hall taxes and expenses. The benefit is reduced to 20 percent of the funeral allowance in the event of the death of a still born child and 50 percent of the allowance for children under six. These benefits will be paid directly to the funeral home, with any leftover money paid to survivors who lived with the deceased. The benefits are capped and reviewed on a yearly basis.

• For information from the Ministry of Social Security (Ministère de la Sécurité Sociale) on the funeral allowance: Click here (in French) 

Repatriation of Remains

If burial or cremation is to take place outside of Luxembourg the funeral home will make many of the arrangements to transport the remains to the final resting place. A funeral home at the final destination must be secured and should coordinate with the Luxembourg funeral home.

If a coffin is to be transported, it must be zinc-lined, hermetically sealed and must be accompanied by the death certificate and a statement from the funeral home that the only contents are the remains of the deceased. If ashes in an urn are being transported, they must also be accompanied by the death certificate and a statement from the funeral home that the only contents are the ashes of the deceased.

If the death is a result of an accident, murder or suicide, repatriation of remains will take longer than if the death occurred due to natural causes.

The death must be registered (as outlined above) and whoever reports the death must state that the body is to be repatriated so that documentation can be prepared. 

• For UK citizens, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has a detailed section on repatriation and they can help British nationals: Click here 
• US citizens can get information on the process for repatriation from the US Embassy: Click here 
• Australian citizens can obtain information from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade on repatriation: Click here 

After Burial

Generally, the Commune will issue several copies of the death certificate. Copies will need to be sent to the following administrations:

• Social Security Office (Caisse de maladie), invoices for funeral costs should also be submitted for reimbursement 
• Death Benefits Office (Caisse de décès) 
• To the Caisse médico-chirurgicale if the deceased was affiliated
• Relevant Pensions Office (Caisse de pension compétente): if applicable, the marriage certificate for the marriage to the surviving spouse may also be required
• School (schools of children and grand-children)
• Life insurance company (if applicable)
• Bank(s): a statement from a notary may also be required
• Notary: if a will had been drawn up
• Société Nationale de Contrôle Technique (SNCT) if the deceased person owned a vehicle; a statement from a notary may also be required
• Consulate or Embassy, including an international death certificate model C (from the commune) and the deceased's passport or identity card

Inheritance

A Declaration of Succession (déclaration de succession) must be made within six months of the death to the Administration de l'Enregistrement et des Domaines. Documents required include:

• The death certificate of the deceased
• If the deceased was married and had a prenuptial agreement, a statement from a notary to that effect
• If the deceased owned property in Luxembourg, a copy of the "extrait cadastral" which identifies the property. 
  • For information on the extrait cadastral: Click here (in French)
  • To apply for an extrait cadastral online: Click here (PDF in French)

Euthanasia/Assisted Suicide

Euthanasia was legalised in Luxembourg in 2009 and requires the patient to make repeated requests and obtain the approval from two doctors as well as a panel of experts.

Organ Donation in Luxembourg

A person can express their intention to give their organ(s) after death, without limitation of age. Residents of Luxembourg can obtain a donor card, known as a passeport de vie from their doctor, local hospital, pharmacy or Town hall (Commune). Donor cards are also available from the Health Office (Direction de la Santé).

• Tel: 24 78 55 69
• Luxembourg Organ Donation website (in French)

The person's organ donor card is not officially registered anywhere, it is therefore recommended to keep the card together with the holder's identity card or passport.

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