What to Do After the Death of a Loved One: A Practical Checklist for the First 30 Days (Poland)

The death of a loved one is a tremendous stress, and at the same time, a time when many formalities must be handled in a specific order and within deadlines. This guide leads you step by step through the first hours, days, and weeks – from the declaration of death, through the death act and funeral, to matters with ZUS, banks, and inheritance. The most urgent tasks are only two: the declaration of death (death certificate) and registering the death at USC. The rest has longer deadlines. The most important document you will need multiple times is the copy of the death act.

Step 1. The First Hours and First Day

Declaration of Death and Death Certificate

A doctor must declare the death and issue a death certificate – without it, neither registration at USC nor burial can take place. Who issues the certificate depends on the place of death:

• Hospital, hospice, or care home – the doctor of the facility issues the death certificate. The staff usually instructs the family on what to do next.
• Death at home – during office hours, call the family doctor (POZ), and outside of hours or in an emergency, call the ambulance (112 or 999).
• Unclear, sudden, or suspicious circumstances (accident, suicide, violence) – call the police (112). The prosecutor or forensic doctor decides on the autopsy and issuing the certificate in this case.

What to Do at Home in Case of Natural Death

• Do not change anything in the surroundings if the police have been called.
• After the declaration of death and issuance of the certificate, call the funeral home (they operate 24/7) – the company will collect the body and transport it to the morgue.
• Locate the deceased's documents, especially the ID card.

Choosing a Funeral Home

• You have complete freedom to choose the company – no hospital or institution can impose one on you.
• You can ask several funeral homes for quotes, as prices and range of services vary greatly.
• The funeral home usually helps with formalities: they can collect documents, report the death at USC, and submit an application for the funeral allowance. Make sure they do this with your consent and that you know what you are signing.
• Keep all receipts and invoices for the funeral – they will be needed for the funeral allowance.

Step 2. The First Days – Registration of Death and Death Act

Register the Death at USC

The death is registered at the USC appropriate for the place of death, not the deceased's place of residence.

• Who can report: the spouse or children of the deceased, closest relatives or in-laws. In practice, the funeral home usually does this on behalf of the family.
• Deadline: the report should be made within 3 days of the issuance of the death certificate, and within 24 hours in the case of an infectious disease.
• What to bring: the death certificate (USC receives it from the doctor or the funeral home), the ID of the person reporting, and, if you have it, the ID of the deceased.
• Fee: the registration of death and the first copy of the short death act are free of charge.

Death Act – The Most Important Document

After registration, USC prepares the death act and issues copies. Take several short copies right away – in practice, it is worth having 5 to 7. They will be needed separately for ZUS or KRUS, banks, insurers, employers, utility providers, and for inheritance matters with a notary or in court. The first copy is free, subsequent ones incur a stamp duty (22 PLN for a short copy, 33 PLN for a full copy). Additional copies can be ordered later online through your account on gov.pl or at any USC.

Step 3. Funeral and Funeral Allowance

As of January 1, 2026, the funeral allowance from ZUS is 7,000 PLN (previously 4,000 PLN). The date of death, not the application date, is decisive. A member of the closest family receives the full 7,000 PLN regardless of costs, while a person outside the family receives reimbursement up to the amount of incurred costs, not exceeding 7,000 PLN. The deadline for the application (form Z-12) is 12 months from the date of death. Details are described in a separate guide on funeral allowance.

Step 4. Whom to Notify About the Death

Some institutions are notified automatically (USC sends data to the PESEL register, the deceased's ID is automatically invalidated), but most need to be notified.

Step 5. Financial Matters

• Bank Account – after reporting the death, the bank blocks the account. If the deceased previously made a death disposition, designated persons from the closest family can withdraw funds outside the inheritance, within the statutory limit. The bank also reimburses funeral costs from the deceased's account to the person who presents the invoices. If you do not know where the deceased had accounts, use the Central Information on Accounts (through any bank or SKOK).
• Unrealized ZUS Benefits – the last, uncollected pension or annuity of the deceased. We describe them in a separate guide.
• Family Pension – a regular income for the eligible family. Separate guide.
• Funds from ZUS Subaccount and OFE – one-time money for designated persons or heirs. Separate guide.

Step 6. Inheritance – First Decisions and 6-Month Deadline

You have 6 months to submit a declaration of acceptance or rejection of the inheritance. The deadline runs from the day you learned about being called to inherit (usually from the day of death). If you do nothing during this time, by law, you accept the inheritance with the benefit of inventory, meaning you are only liable for debts up to the value of the inherited assets.

Three possibilities:

• Direct Acceptance – you inherit assets and debts without limitation (risky if you do not know the debts).
• Acceptance with Benefit of Inventory – you are liable for debts only up to the value of assets (usually reasonable).
• Rejection of Inheritance – you inherit nothing, but the inheritance then passes to the next heirs, including children (for minors, rejection requires court approval).

Check if the deceased left debts and if there is a will (this can be verified in the Inheritance Register). Formal confirmation of inheritance can be obtained through an act of confirmation of inheritance from a notary (faster) or a court ruling on inheritance acquisition. Details in separate guides on inheritance and wills.

Step 7. Current Matters

• Electricity, gas, water – transfer or terminate the contract (death act needed).
• Phone, internet, television – terminate or transfer, check the notice period.
• Rental, cooperative, community – report the death, check who enters into the rental relationship.
• Property insurance and subscriptions (gym, press, apps, RTV subscription).
• Post – collect correspondence from the deceased, as this is often the first signal of debts or benefits.
• Accounts and social media – Facebook, Google, Apple, and others have their own procedures after reporting a death (usually require the death act). Also, check for linked automatic payments.

Step 8. Comprehensive Checklist

Day 1:

• The doctor declares death and issues the death certificate.
• In case of death at home, call POZ or ambulance, and in unclear circumstances, the police.
• Choose a funeral home and arrange for the collection of the body.
• Secure the deceased's documents.

Days 2 to 7:

• Register the death at USC (or delegate this to the funeral home) within 3 days.
• Receive the death act, take 5 to 7 short copies.
• Organize the funeral, collect receipts, and submit the application for the funeral allowance.

Weeks 2 to 4:

• Notify ZUS or KRUS, the employer, the bank, and insurers.
• Establish the inheritance situation, check debts and the will.
• Transfer or terminate contracts, deal with subscriptions and online accounts.
• Plan to submit the inheritance declaration (6-month deadline).

Documents worth having on hand: copies of the death act, ID of the person handling matters, funeral receipts, data for ZUS and KRUS, policy numbers, contracts with providers, will, bank account details, and powers of attorney if multiple people are handling matters.

Step 9. For the Polish Diaspora – When Death Occurs Abroad

This is a common and organizationally challenging situation. When a loved one dies abroad, contact the nearest Polish consulate – they assist with formalities and the organization of repatriating the body or ashes to Poland. A foreign death act usually needs to be translated (sworn translator) and registered at the Polish USC. If you live abroad and the deceased was in Poland, most matters can be handled through a proxy or online. A full description can be found in a separate guide for the Polish diaspora.

Related Guides

• Funeral Allowance 2026 – Amount and Application Z-12
• Bank Account After the Death of a Spouse – Blocking, Disposition, Reimbursement
• Inheritance in Poland – Inheritance, Debts, Legitim
• Will – How to Write a Valid One and Avoid Mistakes
• Family Pension from ZUS
• Matters in Poland After Death – A Guide for the Polish Diaspora from Abroad