Memorial
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Parents' WordsFree Questions & Memoir Will
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& ChukmunSpirit tablet for the rite
PhotoHD/Restore Memorial
VideoAI Motion Tribute
Video3-5min Slideshow Pet
MemorialAI Portrait Pet
FarewellWhat the law allows GraceNote
Occasion WriterObituary/Invite/Thanks StoryKeep
Parents' WordsFree Questions & Memoir Will
CheckFree · 5 requirements Sangju
GuideWhat to do, and by when Belongings
GuideWhat not to throw away Jibang
& ChukmunSpirit tablet for the rite
What has to be done, and by when.
Losing a parent is the first time most people face funeral procedures and post-death paperwork. Missing a legal deadline turns grief into a fine or an inherited debt. The checklist below is free — no email, no payment.
We are sorry for your loss.
🏥
Nearing the end
Before the funeral · I want to prepare in advance
🕯️
Funeral in progress
What to do over the 3 days, from the mourning room to the funeral procession
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After the funeral
Paperwork: death registration, inheritance and more
1
Get plenty of copies of the death certificate (사망진단서) or post-mortem examination certificate (시체검안서)
📍 Administration office (원무과) of the hospital where the death occurred
Banks, insurers, the community service centre (주민센터) and the courts each ask for an original. Getting more later is a hassle, so take 7–10 copies at the start. The fee is usually about KRW 10,000–20,000 per copy.
2
Choose the funeral hall (장례식장) and the type of funeral
📍 A hospital funeral hall or an outside funeral hall
A hospital funeral hall is convenient, but costs vary widely. First estimate the size of the mourning room (빈소) and the number of visitors. If you have a funeral service plan (상조), contact them at this point.
3
Prepare the memorial portrait (영정사진)
📍 A photo you already have, or AI restoration
This is the item most often overlooked. If there is no suitable photo, one can be restored even from an old photo or a group photo.
Prepare a memorial portrait →
4
Send the death notice (부고)
📍 Text messages / group chats
Write the mourning room (빈소), the date and time of the funeral procession (발인) and the chief mourner (상주) accurately in a single message; fewer people will need to contact you again to ask.
Write the death notice text →
5
Book the cremation (if cremating)
📍 The national funeral information system e하늘 장사정보시스템 (15774129.go.kr), or the funeral hall books it for you
★ By law, cremation can take place only after 24 hours have passed since the death. In busy periods the cremation slots fill quickly, so book right after the body is laid in the mortuary (안치). Funeral halls often make the booking for you, so check with them first.
6
Encoffining (입관) · funeral procession (발인)
📍 Funeral hall (장례식장)
For a three-day funeral (3일장): day 1, the body is laid in the mortuary and the mourning room is set up; day 2, encoffining; day 3, the funeral procession. If the family has a religion, request the relevant rite in advance (e.g. Catholic prayers for the dead (연도), a Protestant encoffining service (입관예배)).
7
Keep the funeral expense receipts
📍 Funeral hall / funeral service plan (상조)
Funeral expenses are deducted when inheritance tax (상속세) is calculated. Without receipts you cannot claim the deduction, so keep every one.
Legal deadlines
8
Death registration (사망신고)
Within 1 months
📍 Any community service centre (주민센터, anywhere in the country) or a city/county/district office (시·군·구청)
Due within 1 month of the date you learned of the death. If it is late, a fine (과태료) is imposed. Bring the death certificate (사망진단서) and the ID card of the person reporting. It is easiest to apply at the same time for the one-stop inheritance inquiry service (안심상속 원스톱) below.
9
Apply for the one-stop inheritance inquiry service (안심상속 원스톱 서비스)
12 months from end of month of death
📍 Community service centre (주민센터) or Government24 (정부24)
It looks up the deposits, insurance, shares, pensions, real estate, vehicles, taxes and debts of the deceased in one request. Many people do not know about it, look each one up separately, and miss the inheritance deadline. Apply when you register the death. The deadline is 1 year from the last day of the month in which the death occurred.
10
Decide on renouncing the inheritance (상속포기) or limited acceptance (한정승인)
Within 3 months
📍 The family court (가정법원) with jurisdiction over the address of the deceased
★ Within 3 months of the date you learned that the inheritance began. Once this period has passed, the debts are inherited as well, as they are. If you do not know whether there is debt, first check the results of the one-stop inheritance inquiry above. If the decision is difficult, be sure to consult a lawyer or the Korea Legal Aid Corporation (법률구조공단) before this deadline.
11
Transfer registration of an inherited car (if there is one)
Within 6 months
📍 Vehicle registration office (차량등록사업소) of the city/county/district office (시·군·구청)
Within 6 months of the date the inheritance began. If you miss it, a fine (과태료) is charged. Even if you plan to scrap or sell the car, the transfer registration often has to be done first.
12
File and pay inheritance tax (상속세)
6 months from end of month of death
📍 The tax office (세무서) with jurisdiction over the address of the deceased, or Hometax (홈택스)
Within 6 months from the last day of the month in which the death occurred (for residents of Korea). The deductions for a spouse and children are large, so even if the tax actually comes to KRW 0, it is better to file anyway. If the amount is large, we recommend consulting a tax accountant (세무사).
13
Inheritance registration of real estate (상속등기) · acquisition tax (취득세)
6 months from end of month of death
📍 Registry office (등기소) / tax department (세무과) of the city/county/district office
The registration itself has no legal deadline, but acquisition tax must be filed and paid within 6 months from the last day of the month in which the death occurred to avoid a penalty tax (가산세).
14
Claim the National Pension survivor pension (유족연금) or lump-sum death benefit (사망일시금)
Within 60 months
📍 A National Pension Service (국민연금공단) branch office (1355)
The claim period is 5 years. If the deceased was receiving a pension or had any period of enrolment, the family may be eligible for a survivor pension, so be sure to ask.
15
Claim insurance payouts
Within 36 months
📍 The insurance company
The right to claim an insurance payout expires after 3 years (statute of limitations). If you do not know which policies exist, you can check through the one-stop inheritance inquiry or at the insurance lookup service 내보험찾아줌 (cont.insure.or.kr).
16
Cancel the mobile phone, cards and subscription services
📍 Each mobile carrier and card company
Automatic payments often keep going out. Most places ask for a copy of the death certificate (사망진단서).
17
Third-day rite (삼우제) · 49th-day rite (49재), if you hold them
Date of death + 49 days
The third-day rite is held on the third day after the funeral, and the 49th-day rite on the 49th day from the date of death. Many families do not hold them, so do what suits your circumstances.
Please read: this is general guidance, not legal or tax advice. Deadlines and required documents can differ by case — confirm with your local community centre, family court, or tax office. For inheritance debt or a large estate, speak to a lawyer or a tax accountant before the deadline.
📅 Your own dated schedule: enter the date of death and we calculate every deadline as a real date with a countdown, keep only what applies to you, and lay it out in order. First use is free.