What to do in the first 72 hours after a death in Portugal

Losing someone is never easy! When it happens in Portugal – whether you are a long-term resident, a recent arrival, or a family member visiting from abroad – the practical steps can feel overwhelming on top of the grief.

This guide explains exactly what needs to happen after a death in Portugal, in plain English, in the right order. We have written it specifically for people on Madeira, though the process is the same across mainland Portugal and the Azores.

Step 1 – Get the medical certificate (Boletim de Óbito)

The first step is a medical certificate confirming the death. In most cases, this happens automatically:

 

• • If the death occurred in a hospital or care home, the medical team issues the certificate. You do not need to request it – the institution handles this as standard procedure.

• • If the death occurred at home, you must call a doctor. Contact the person’s GP or the nearest health centre (Centro de Saúde). If out of hours, call the health line on 808 24 24 24.

• • If the cause of death is unclear or unexpected, the authorities may need to be notified and a forensic examination may be ordered. This is handled by the police — you do not need to arrange this yourself.

The medical certificate (boletim de óbito) is a yellow multi-copy form. Keep one copy – you will need it.

Step 2 – Choose a funeral director

In Portugal, the funeral home (agência funerária) plays a central role in the process. They are not just responsible for the funeral – they also register the death officially on your behalf with the civil registry (Conservatória do Registo Civil), which is a significant administrative task.

On Madeira, several funeral homes operate island-wide and are familiar with the process for both Portuguese nationals and foreign residents. See the RIP Madeira Services Directory for verified local providers.

 

• • Contact a funeral home as soon as possible – within 24 hours where possible.

• • The funeral home will take possession of the boletim de óbito and handle the formal registration.

• • They will advise on all choices – burial, cremation, repatriation if applicable – and the associated timelines and costs.

Step 3 – Official death registration

The funeral home registers the death with the civil registry on your behalf. This results in the official death certificate (certidão de óbito), which is the document you will need for everything that follows – bank accounts, property, pensions, legal matters.

You can request additional certified copies of the certidão de óbito from the civil registry or online via the Civil Online portal (conservatoria.mj.pt). Certified copies cost a small fee. Request at least three — you will likely need one each for the bank, the tax authority and any property matters.

Info:  The certidão de óbito is different from the boletim de óbito. The boletim is the initial medical certificate. The certidão is the official registered death certificate issued by the state. Make sure you know which document is being requested before you send anything.

Step 4 – Notify the relevant authorities

Once you have the certified death certificate, you will need to notify several institutions. The order matters less than making sure none are missed:

 

• • Finanças (Portuguese tax authority) – notify via their portal or in person at your local Finanças office. This closes the deceased’s tax file and is required before any estate matters can be resolved.

• • Social Security (Segurança Social) – if the deceased was receiving any Portuguese state pension or benefit, notify Segurança Social to stop payments.

• • Bank – bring the certified death certificate in person to the deceased’s bank. Accounts are frozen on notification. Withdrawal of funds before notification is a legal issue.

• • Utilities and services – electricity, water, phone, internet. These can usually be handled by letter or in-person with a copy of the certificate.

• • If the deceased was a foreign national – contact their home country’s consulate or embassy in Lisbon for guidance on notifying authorities in their home country. The British Consulate, Irish Embassy and other EU missions have dedicated bereavement support lines.

Step 5 – Wills and the estate

If the deceased left a will (testamento), it will have been registered with a Portuguese notary (notário). Wills are not automatically executed in Portugal — a probate-like process (habilitação de herdeiros) is required to establish the legal heirs before any assets can be transferred.

If there is no Portuguese will but the deceased owned property or assets in Portugal, Portuguese intestacy law applies to those assets regardless of any will made in another country. This is a complex area – take qualified legal advice before proceeding.

Tip:  RIP Madeira’s Services Directory lists qualified solicitors and legal professionals serving Madeira who have experience with estate matters for both Portuguese nationals and expat residents.

A note on repatriation

If the deceased was a foreign national and the family wishes to repatriate the body, the funeral home handles the necessary documentation. This includes a certificate of embalming, a sealed coffin certificate, and coordination with the destination country. Allow several days for the paperwork and ensure travel insurance or specialist repatriation cover is in place – standard travel insurance rarely covers repatriation costs, which can be significant.

We are here to help

RIP Madeira can support you through any of these steps. Reach out in complete confidence – see our contact page.