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.

#사망신고기한#장례절차#안심상속원스톱#상속포기#상속세신고

We are sorry for your loss.

Where are you right now?

🏥 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 📋 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.

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.

Date of death

Your relation

What applies? (so we can drop the rest)

The deceased owned a car The deceased owned property

Anything you are worried about? (optional)

Email (free trial / credits)

What has to be done, and by when.

📅 Your schedule

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