Folder, documents and pen for preparing funeral arrangements

Medical documents, civil registration records and cemetery paperwork serve different purposes. Check the requirements for your particular circumstances rather than assuming one document completes the whole process.

Medical confirmation and the civil death certificate

Medical confirmation of death belongs to the medical procedure. The civil death certificate is issued by the registry office. JKP Pogrebne usluge explains that the doctor’s or hospital’s documentation is the basis for obtaining the registry extract needed to schedule burial or cremation.

Ask the person coordinating arrangements which document already exists, where to collect it and who obtains the next one. This can prevent unnecessary trips to the wrong office.

A practical preparation list

Gather the documents and information already available:

  • Identification for the deceased.
  • Identification for the person arranging the funeral.
  • Medical confirmation and hospital documents, if issued.
  • The civil death certificate, if obtained.
  • Records identifying an existing grave.
  • Pension information if eligibility for the Serbian PIO funeral benefit is being checked.

This is a preparation list for the conversation, not a universal set of compulsory documents. The relevant authority decides what must be submitted, shown or obtained through its procedure. Check before ordering translations or extra copies.

If the family has an existing grave

Prepare the cemetery name, plot and grave number, and the name of the registered holder of the right of use. Do not rely solely on family recollection or a photograph of the headstone. Ask the cemetery to check its records and specify the documents and permissions needed for another burial.

Cremation and international transport

Cremation requires additional checks concerning the application and the eventual placement of the urn. Transport from abroad involves requirements in the country of death and at the competent Serbian consulate. A domestic checklist will not cover every international case.

Keep originals together and copies separately. Record who received each original and why. Send documents containing personal information only to a verified institutional contact or the provider you have appointed.

Can a funeral director obtain the documents? Agree the scope of administrative assistance, any authorisations and applicable charges.

Is the list the same for every funeral? No. The place of death, type of farewell, grave arrangements and transport may require additional steps.

Silans assists with documentation within the agreed scope of work. Call 060 164 1234 to check what is needed in your circumstances.

Sources and verification

Information checked on 22 September 2026.

Last updated: 22. 09. 2026. · For questions about your situation, call Silans.

All articles and advice