Toneriko

Guides for life events

What to check after a family member dies

There are many procedures, but you do not have to do them all at once. Start with the nearest deadlines, one at a time. Family members can share the tasks.

Good to know

The "Okuyami Corner" at your city office

Some municipalities have a desk that explains, in one place, which municipal procedures you need after a death and helps you fill out the forms. You do not have to figure it all out alone.

It is not something you must file or visit — the procedures can be done without it, and not every municipality has one. When you submit the death notification, just ask whether there is an Okuyami Corner.

Procedures at the pension office, tax office, Legal Affairs Bureau and family court are done at each of those offices.

Sources: 内閣府 規制改革ホットライン No.1190（デジタル庁の回答） / デジタル庁ニュース「住民を待たせない窓口へ」（2026年5月）

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Within 7 days

  • Submit it with the death certificate written by the doctor. There is no fee. After it is accepted, the municipality updates the resident register.

    Deadline
    Within 7 days of learning of the death (3 months if the death occurred abroad)
    Where
    The municipal office of the place of death, the deceased's registered domicile, or the notifier's address
    Who
    Relatives, housemates, landlords, guardians, etc. (a relative living together comes first by law)

    Please note: Day 1 is the day you learned of the death. Make a copy of the death certificate before submitting it — you may need it for survivors' pension claims.

    Sources: 法務省「死亡届」 / e-Gov法令検索「戸籍法」 (Checked 2026-09-25)

  • A cremation permit is required. You will need it at the crematorium and again when placing the remains in a grave or columbarium, so keep it safe.

    Deadline
    Before the cremation (issued by the municipality that accepted the death notification; cremation is not allowed within 24 hours of death)
    Where
    The municipality that accepted the death notification
    Who
    The person arranging the cremation (usually the family)

    Sources: e-Gov法令検索「墓地、埋葬等に関する法律」 (Checked 2026-09-25)

Within 14 days

  • If the deceased received a pension, it must be stopped. Payments received for months after the death will have to be returned.

    Deadline
    Within 10 days (Employees' Pension) / 14 days (National Pension). Usually not needed if the deceased's My Number is registered with the Japan Pension Service
    Where
    A pension office or pension consultation center (mail or online also possible). The municipality if the deceased received only a basic disability or basic survivors' pension
    Who
    Family members

    Please note: Even when this notice is not needed, the claim for unpaid pension (below) is still required. If the deceased also received a pension from a mutual aid association, check with that payer too.

    Sources: 日本年金機構「年金を受けている方が亡くなったとき」 (Checked 2026-09-25)

  • Money you can receive or get back

    Pension amounts not yet paid — up to the month of death — can be received by the family.

    Deadline
    As soon as possible, using the same form as the pension stop notice
    Where
    A pension office (mail accepted) or pension consultation center
    Who
    Family who shared a livelihood with the deceased, in this order: spouse, child, parent, grandchild, grandparent, sibling, other relatives
    Amount
    Up to the month of death (amount varies)

    Please note: Only the highest-priority eligible person can receive it. A tax return may be needed.

    Sources: 日本年金機構「亡くなった方の未支給年金を受け取れるとき」 (Checked 2026-09-25)

  • Report that coverage has ended and return the insurance documents. Ask the office which documents to bring.

    Deadline
    Within 14 days
    Where
    The municipal office where the deceased lived
    Who
    The head of household, etc.

    Please note: If the deceased had employer health insurance, contact the employer.

    Sources: e-Gov法令検索「国民健康保険法施行規則」 / e-Gov法令検索「高齢者の医療の確保に関する法律施行規則」 (Checked 2026-09-25)

  • If the deceased held a long-term care insurance card (e.g. aged 65+), report it and return the cards.

    Deadline
    Within 14 days
    Where
    The municipality where the deceased lived
    Who
    Family members

    Please note: Ask whether it can be done together with other procedures.

    Sources: e-Gov法令検索「介護保険法施行規則」 (Checked 2026-09-25)

  • If the deceased was the head of household and two or more family members remain, register a new head. Not needed if only one person remains.

    Deadline
    Within 14 days
    Where
    Your municipal office
    Who
    The new head of household, etc.

    Please note: Other cases: please ask the office.

    Sources: e-Gov法令検索「住民基本台帳法」 (Checked 2026-09-25)

Within a few months

  • If there are large debts, you can renounce the inheritance at the family court, or accept it only up to the value of the assets. If 3 months pass with no action, you inherit everything, including debts.

    Deadline
    Within 3 months of learning of the inheritance (an extension can be requested from the family court)
    Where
    The family court for the deceased's last address
    Who
    Heirs (qualified acceptance requires all heirs)

    Please note: Selling or using the deceased's assets may count as accepting the inheritance. The fee is ¥800 in revenue stamps (per person) plus postage.

    Sources: 裁判所「相続の放棄の申述」 / 裁判所「相続の限定承認の申述」 (Checked 2026-09-25)

  • A will found at home must go through probate at the family court. Do not open a sealed will yourself.

    Deadline
    Promptly after finding it
    Where
    The family court for the deceased's last address
    Who
    The person keeping the will or the heir who found it

    Please note: Notarized wills and wills stored at the Legal Affairs Bureau do not need probate. Opening a sealed will outside the court can bring a fine of up to ¥50,000.

    Sources: 裁判所「遺言書の検認」 (Checked 2026-09-25)

  • Heirs file the return for income from January 1 to the date of death. Some tax may be refunded (e.g. medical expense deductions).

    Deadline
    Within 4 months of learning of the death
    Where
    The tax office for the deceased's address
    Who
    The heirs

    Please note: Not required if public pension income was ¥4 million or less and other income ¥200,000 or less (you may still file for a refund). Only medical costs paid before death count.

    Sources: 国税庁 No.2022「納税者が死亡したときの確定申告（準確定申告）」 (Checked 2026-09-25)

  • Money you can receive or get back

    When an insured employee or their dependent dies from a non-work cause, the association pays ¥50,000. You must apply to receive it.

    Deadline
    Within 2 years (from the day after death; for burial costs, from the day after the burial)
    Where
    Your Japan Health Insurance Association branch (or your health insurance society / mutual aid association)
    Who
    A person whose livelihood depended on the deceased, etc.
    Amount
    Association: ¥50,000. If no dependent family member exists, the person who held the burial receives actual costs up to ¥50,000. Check with other insurers

    Please note: Also covered if the deceased left the job within 3 months before death. National Health Insurance members use the funeral expense instead. Work-related deaths are covered by workers' compensation.

    Sources: 協会けんぽ「埋葬料・埋葬費」 (Checked 2026-09-25)

  • Money you can receive or get back

    The person who held the funeral receives a funeral expense payment. You must apply.

    Deadline
    Within 2 years (ask when the period starts)
    Where
    The municipal office where the deceased lived
    Who
    The person who held the funeral
    Amount
    The amount differs by municipality

    Please note: If the deceased left employer insurance within 3 months before death, the former insurer may pay instead. Ask the office.

    Sources: e-Gov法令検索「国民健康保険法」 (Checked 2026-09-25)

  • Money you can receive or get back

    Medical costs above the monthly cap are refunded. Heirs can claim refunds for hospital stays before death.

    Deadline
    Within 2 years (for the Japan Health Insurance Association)
    Where
    The deceased's health insurer (or the municipality for National Health Insurance)
    Who
    The heirs (for the association; attach family register documents)
    Amount
    The amount above the cap (varies by age and income)

    Please note: For National Health Insurance, ask the municipality who can claim and which documents are needed.

    Sources: 協会けんぽ「健康保険高額療養費支給申請書」 (Checked 2026-09-25)

  • Money you can receive or get back

    A pension for family members who depended on the deceased. Eligibility and amount depend on the deceased's contributions and the family's ages and children. It does not start automatically — you must claim it.

    Deadline
    No fixed deadline, but the claim expires after 5 years
    Where
    A pension office or consultation center (the municipality if only the basic survivors' pension applies)
    Who
    Family whose livelihood depended on the deceased (spouse with children, children, etc., by priority). "Children" means up to March 31 after turning 18 (under 20 with a grade 1–2 disability)
    Amount
    Basic survivors' pension (from April 2026): ¥847,300/year plus child additions. Employees' survivors' pension: basically 3/4 of the deceased's earnings-related pension. Amounts change every fiscal year

    Please note: Contribution requirements apply. The employees' survivors' pension is scheduled to change in April 2028 (current recipients are not affected).

    Sources: 日本年金機構「遺族年金」 / 日本年金機構「遺族基礎年金」 / 日本年金機構「遺族厚生年金」 (Checked 2026-09-25)

  • Money you can receive or get back

    If the deceased paid National Pension contributions for 36+ months but never received a pension, the family receives a lump sum.

    Deadline
    Within 2 years of the day after death
    Where
    Your municipal office (or a pension office)
    Who
    Family who shared a livelihood (spouse, child, parent, grandchild, grandparent, sibling, in that order)
    Amount
    ¥120,000–¥320,000 depending on months paid

    Please note: Not paid if the basic survivors' pension is available. Choose either this or the widow's pension.

    Sources: 日本年金機構「死亡一時金」 (Checked 2026-09-25)

  • Money you can receive or get back

    Work- or commute-related deaths are covered by workers' compensation. Contact the employer or the inspection office first.

    Deadline
    Survivor benefits within 5 years; funeral benefit within 2 years
    Where
    The Labour Standards Inspection Office
    Who
    The survivors (funeral benefit: the person who held the funeral)
    Amount
    Funeral benefit: ¥330,000 plus 30 days of the base daily wage (from April 2026), etc.

    Please note: The inspection office decides whether it is work-related. Health insurance burial allowances do not apply in this case. For deaths on or before March 31, 2026, ask the office about the funeral benefit amount.

    Sources: 厚生労働省「遺族（補償）等給付・葬祭料等の請求手続」 (Checked 2026-09-25)

  • Submit the family register documents and a relationship chart, and the bureau issues certified copies free of charge. They can replace the stack of family registers in many procedures.

    Where
    The Legal Affairs Bureau
    Who
    Heirs (or a representative)

    Sources: 法務局「法定相続情報証明制度について」 (Checked 2026-09-25)

  • The bureau issues a list of real estate registered in the deceased's name, which helps avoid missing any property.

    Deadline
    No deadline (started February 2026)
    Where
    Any Legal Affairs Bureau (paper or online)
    Who
    Heirs, etc.

    Please note: It searches by name and address, so the list may be incomplete. Fee: ¥1,600 (paper), ¥1,470–1,500 (online).

    Sources: 法務省「所有不動産記録証明制度について」 (Checked 2026-09-25)

Longer deadlines

  • No return is needed if the estate is at most ¥30 million + ¥6 million × the number of statutory heirs (e.g. ¥48 million for 3 heirs).

    Deadline
    Within 10 months of learning of the death
    Where
    The tax office for the deceased's address
    Who
    Those who inherited assets (if the total exceeds the basic deduction)

    Please note: If you use special deductions (e.g. for a spouse), a return is required even if no tax is due.

    Sources: 国税庁 No.4205「相続税の申告と納税」 / 国税庁 No.4152「相続税の計算」 (Checked 2026-09-25)

  • Registering inherited real estate is mandatory; failing without good reason can bring a fine of up to ¥100,000. If the division is not settled yet, a simple heir declaration fulfills the duty for now.

    Deadline
    Within 3 years of learning you acquired the property (mandatory since April 2024)
    Where
    The Legal Affairs Bureau for the property's location
    Who
    The heir who acquired the property

    Please note: Inheritances before April 2024 that are still unregistered are also covered (generally by March 31, 2027).

    Sources: 法務省「相続登記の申請義務化について」 / 法務省「相続人申告登記について」 (Checked 2026-09-25)

  • Money you can receive or get back

    A pension paid from 60 to 65 to an eligible wife of a husband in the National Pension system. You can choose either this or the death lump-sum.

    Deadline
    Paid from age 60 until 65
    Where
    Your municipal office (or a pension office)
    Who
    A wife married 10+ years to, and supported by, a husband with 10+ years of National Pension contributions
    Amount
    3/4 of the husband's old-age basic pension amount

    Please note: Not paid if the husband had received a pension, etc. Please confirm the latest conditions.

    Sources: 日本年金機構「寡婦年金」 (Checked 2026-09-25)

Local support

Procedures are handled at your municipal office. For questions, or if you want to talk about how you feel, you can also contact your local Council of Social Welfare.

Put what you want to say at the office on one pageFor those who have lost someone (support groups and helplines)

Please confirm at the office

Programs change, and eligibility depends on your situation (income, insurance, etc.). This page summarizes national programs based on official sources. Please confirm the latest details and your eligibility at each office. The details are in Japanese.

Last checked: 2026-09-25