Funeral in Berlin: Waiting times are hampering relatives in their grief!

Funeral in Berlin: Waiting times are hampering relatives in their grief!

In Berlin, relatives are often faced with the challenge of having to wait weeks for a funeral date. This situation affects many mourners who are confronted with bureaucratic hurdles at an already emotionally stressful time. The waiting times often arise due to missing documents or a lack of staff, which delays the entire process. The Berlin-Brandenburg Broadcasting (rbb) reports that permission for burial usually has to be applied for at the relevant registry office, which can also take time.

Another problem is that cemetery administrations, especially municipal ones, are often difficult to reach. In some districts, such as Steglitz-Zehlendorf, an online calendar has been introduced to make it easier to find appointments, but this does not solve all problems. In Reinickendorf there were sometimes even delays because an excavator driver was missing. Storms or other circumstances can also cause cemeteries to be temporarily closed.

Regulations and deadlines

There are different regulations regarding the deadlines for burials, which depend on the type of burial. In Berlin there is no set deadline for burials in the ground, while there is a deadline of six months for urn burials, which is particularly important for Muslim relatives who want a prompt burial for religious reasons. In neighboring Brandenburg, burial must take place within ten days of death, which further increases the pressure on relatives.

In addition to the time restrictions, there are also legal requirements regarding who is responsible for the funeral. The obligation to bury people in Germany has its roots in the Middle Ages and is confirmed by legal regulations in the General Prussian State Law of 1806. According to these regulations, it is the next of kin who have to arrange the burial, unless the deceased made the arrangements themselves. This includes, for example, a funeral provision contract or death benefit insurance. The Undertaker.de clarifies that the obligation to bear the costs is borne by the heirs who are responsible for the funeral costs, as these are part of the estate's liabilities.

In rural cemeteries it is often the case that only a few burials take place per year, which constantly limits the availability of staff. Under certain conditions, corpses can be stored for several weeks by embalming or refrigeration. However, open casket farewells should no longer take place after eight weeks, which is another consideration for relatives.

A significant problem in the current situation is cost distribution. While relatives often have to pay for cooling during the waiting times, it is also important to know that the funeral obligation is linked to the relatives' financial possibilities. If an heir cannot bear the funeral costs, an exemption from this obligation can be granted under certain circumstances.

In summary, it is clear that the challenges surrounding funerals in Berlin and Brandenburg are not only of an organizational nature, but also of an emotional and legal nature. Relatives not only have to deal with the grief, but also with the many bureaucratic hurdles that exist in this sensitive area. Changes and improvements are necessary to meet the needs of those grieving and legal requirements. Further information on the legal framework for burial is available here evati.de to find.