The Documents That Arise After Death — and Who Issues Them
Akte van overlijden, B-formulier, verklaring van erfrecht. A short field guide to what you'll need, who provides each document, and why you should order ten copies immediately.
After a person dies in the Netherlands, several official documents are created in quick succession. Each serves a specific purpose. Knowing which is which — and who issues what — saves considerable confusion in a period when you have very little capacity for confusion.
The five documents
| Document | Issued by | When | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| A-verklaring | Doctor | Immediately after examining the body | Death registration at the gemeente + funeral permission |
| B-formulier | Doctor | Immediately after examination | CBS statistics — sealed envelope, you do not open it |
| Akte van overlijden | Gemeente | After registration of death | Official civil registry record |
| Uittreksel van de akte | Gemeente | Upon request | Certified copy of the death certificate — for banks, notary, insurers, pension funds |
| Verlof tot begraving/crematie | Gemeente | After registration | Funeral permission — nothing can proceed without this |
How the process actually works
The doctor issues the A-verklaring and B-formulier directly after the lijkschouw. You receive them, or they are handed to the uitvaartondernemer (funeral director) who typically handles the rest.
To register the death formally and obtain the akte van overlijden, the death must be reported to the gemeente where it occurred. The deadline is no later than 5 business days.
In practice, the uitvaartondernemer handles the registration on your behalf. If you want to do it yourself, visit the gemeentehuis with: your identity document, the A-verklaring, and the B-formulier (sealed). Registration is free of charge.
Who needs the uittreksel
The certified copy of the death certificate will be requested by:
- Bank — to freeze or unfreeze accounts
- Insurance company — for payouts under the uitvaartverzekering or levensverzekering
- Employer — to process the overlijdensuitkering (one month's salary to the family)
- SVB — to apply for the ANW-uitkering (survivor's benefit)
- Pension fund — to arrange partnerpensioen
- Notary — to prepare the verklaring van erfrecht
- Belastingdienst — for inheritance tax
- Landlord or mortgage lender — for transfer of contracts
The verklaring van erfrecht — the notarial step
This document is different from everything else on this list. It is not a municipal document — it is issued by a notary, and it confirms who the legal heirs are.
Banks and insurance companies routinely require it before they will unfreeze accounts or release funds. Without it, money that the family needs for the funeral may be inaccessible.
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Cost | €200–500 (online notaries from €349) |
| Timeline | 2–6 weeks |
| Required by | Most banks, insurers, and pension funds |
The funeral often has to be paid before the verklaring van erfrecht is ready. The bank can release a limited amount for funeral costs on presentation of the A-verklaring — ask them specifically about this.