Who to notify, and in what order
Expect around thirty letters or calls. Each one requires a death certificate. Deal first with whatever pays money out or costs money: pensions, bank, insurance, energy.
General information, not individual legal advice.
01Banks and accounts
As soon as a bank learns of the death, the deceased's accounts are frozen and powers of attorney lapse. A joint account can often keep working for the surviving half, depending on the agreement signed.
- Notify each institution in writing with a death certificate.
- Funeral costs can generally be paid from the frozen account on presentation of the invoice.
- Ask for a statement of balances as at the date of death: the notary will need it.
- Safe deposit box: opening takes place with the notary present or under the bank's procedure.
- Direct debits: list them before the freeze, otherwise unpaid items appear.
02Social security and pensions
The CNS (health fund) and the CNAP (pension fund) must be informed. Entitlements often exist for the spouse and children: funeral allowance and survivor's pension.
- CNS: cancellation of affiliation, application for the funeral allowance.
- CNAP: stopping the deceased's pension and applying for a survivor's pension for the spouse or partner, and for the children.
- Pensions paid after the death will have to be repaid: report quickly to avoid an overpayment.
- If the deceased worked abroad or was a cross-border worker, both countries' funds must be notified.
03Employer or ADEM
The employer closes the employment contract and settles the balance: salary, untaken leave, any severance. Many Luxembourg employers hold group death cover the family knows nothing about.
- Ask explicitly whether a death benefit or group policy exists.
- Collect the last few months' payslips for the tax file.
04Insurance
Life, death, accident, outstanding balance cover on a loan, home, liability, motor. Outstanding balance insurance is often forgotten: it can clear the mortgage.
- Life insurance: the capital goes to the named beneficiary, outside the estate division.
- Outstanding balance insurance: check the loan agreement, repayment may be full or partial.
- Home insurance: do not cancel it while the property is unsold. An empty uninsured house is a serious risk.
- Tell the insurer the property is vacant: some policies restrict cover after a few weeks of non-occupancy.
05Housing, energy, telecoms
Tenant or owner, the home keeps generating bills. Read the meters as at the date of death.
- Ongoing lease: notify the landlord in writing; whether the lease transfers or ends depends on the contract and the household.
- Electricity, gas, district heating, water: transfer or cancellation with a meter reading.
- Internet, telephone, television: cancellation on presentation of the death certificate.
- Post: arrange redirection to the heir managing the file.
06Vehicle
The registration must be transferred or the vehicle deregistered with the SNCA. Motor insurance remains necessary while the vehicle is registered.
- Sale to a third party: the transfer goes through the estate, not through simply handing over the keys.
- Roadworthiness test and road tax remain due.
07Tax
The direct tax administration (ACD) expects a return covering 1 January to the date of death. The surviving spouse is subject to particular rules in the year of death and afterwards.
- Keep all supporting documents for the current year.
- Funeral costs may, under conditions, be taken into account for tax.
08Subscriptions and digital life
Anything on direct debit keeps being debited. Go through twelve months of bank statements so nothing is missed.
- Clubs, associations, press, streaming services, online storage.
- Email accounts and social networks: request closure or memorialisation.
- Digital wallets and cryptocurrency: without the access details the assets are lost. Look for the credentials before shutting down a computer.
A method that saves weeks
Open a folder or a shared document for all the heirs. One line per organisation: name, date sent, document enclosed, reply received. That avoids duplication, omissions, and the tension between heirs who each assume the other is handling it.