🕯️ Wegweiser Grief & Bereavement

15 topic pages for people who have lost someone close to them, and for everyone who advises or supports them. Each page first explains the topic briefly and with empathy – and below that in detail, with deadlines, legal bases and figures.

How this page works. At the top you can search all topics by keyword. Each topic page begins with the section In brief in plain, empathetic language. Below it you will find, where available, step-by-step guides and the most important deadlines, typical mistakes and a collapsible specialist section, "In depth", for advisory work with legal bases and figures.

As of September 2026. Two areas are deliberately not presented as uniform across Germany, because they are not: the duty and deadline to arrange a burial (a matter for the 16 federal states) and paid leave from work after a death (depends on a collective agreement or employment contract; there is no uniform statutory entitlement). Where a statement could not be verified beyond doubt from official sources, this is stated explicitly on the page in question instead of guessing. The information does not replace legal advice.

Frequently searched

📋 Death: the first steps ⚱️ Organising a funeral and costs ⏳ Disclaiming an inheritance and its deadlines 💍 Widow's pension and widower's pension 💶 Death grant and coverage of funeral costs 🕯️ Grief support: forms and contact points 💼 Grief at work and time off 📞 Advice and support services for grief

All topic areas

🕊️Overview and basicsGetting started: the first questions after a death at a glance.1 topic ⚱️Death and funeralWhat to do in the first days: notifications, funeral, costs.3 topics 📜Estate and inheritanceInheritance, disclaiming an inheritance and digital estate.3 topics 💶Pensions for survivorsWidow's pension, widower's pension and orphan's pension.2 topics 🕯️Grief support and everyday lifeSupport with grief and time off work.2 topics 💔Special grief situationsChildren, sudden loss, loss during pregnancy.3 topics 📞Advice and support servicesWho helps with which concern.1 topic

🕊️ Overview and basics

Getting started: the first questions after a death at a glance.

🕊️Grief and bereavement: an overviewAfter a death, many questions arise at once – organisational, financial and deeply personal. This overview shows where you can start.

⚱️ Death and funeral

What to do in the first days: notifications, funeral, costs.

📋Death: the first stepsWhat needs to be done formally in the first hours and days after a death – and who can help you with it. ⚱️Organising a funeral and costsThe duty to arrange a burial and the burial deadline are state law: what applies in one federal state cannot be transferred to another. 💶Death grant and coverage of funeral costsThe statutory death grant of the health insurance funds was abolished in 2004. What exists today instead – and what does not.

📜 Estate and inheritance

Inheritance, disclaiming an inheritance and digital estate.

📜Estate and inheritance: the basicsOn death, the entire estate passes automatically to the heirs – assets and debts alike. ⏳Disclaiming an inheritance and its deadlinesYou can only disclaim an inheritance within six weeks – in cases involving other countries, within six months. 💻Digital estateAccounts, data and online contracts are part of the estate like any other asset – the Federal Court of Justice settled this at the highest level in 2018.

💶 Pensions for survivors

Widow's pension, widower's pension and orphan's pension.

💍Widow's pension and widower's pensionSmall or large widow's/widower's pension – and why a late application can cost real money. 🧒Orphan's pensionHalf-orphan's pension when one parent dies, full orphan's pension when both are gone – usually until the 18th birthday, or the 27th if in training.

🕯️ Grief support and everyday life

Support with grief and time off work.

🕯️Grief support: forms and contact pointsGrief support is a voluntary, low-threshold service – not a substitute for psychotherapy, but often the right first step. 💼Grief at work and time offThere is no uniform statutory entitlement to several paid days off after a death – contrary to what many assume.

💔 Special grief situations

Children, sudden loss, loss during pregnancy.

🧸Grief in children and young peopleChildren grieve differently from adults – often in short phases rather than continuously. This is normal, not a sign of coldness. 🚨Sudden loss and crisis interventionAn accident, a suicide or an act of violence changes the situation of relatives further – specialised help exists for this. 🤍Grief after miscarriage and loss of a childSince June 2025 there have been staggered maternity protection periods from the 13th week of pregnancy – an important legal improvement.

📞 Advice and support services

Who helps with which concern.

📞Advice and support services for griefWho is responsible for what – and where can you get support quickly and usually free of charge?

For reference

📕Keyword indexAll terms from A to Z, with links to the matching topic pages. 📜Sources and methodWhere the information comes from and what is expressly uncertain. 🏠Other target groupsTo the overview of all Wegweiser portals.

A question about your situation that this page does not answer? Write to us or use the contact form – we will tell you which office is responsible and what to bring. Free of charge, without individual legal advice.