Family law in Denmark: divorce, children and inheritance
Family matters such as separation, children and inheritance are often both legal and deeply personal. Below are 50 questions people ask about divorce, child contact, custody, inheritance and death in Denmark, answered in plain language. Each answer lists the official sources it is based on, so you can check the rules yourself.
You apply digitally to Familieretshuset (the Family Law Agency). If you both agree, you can apply for a direct divorce or for a separation first. If you disagree, Familieretshuset invites you to a meeting and then decides.
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Deadline: Six months of separation before you can apply for a divorce after separation.
Good to know
A divorce after separation requires six months of separation and agreement on everything.
A separation means you live apart. If you move back in together during it, the separation no longer counts.
A fee applies for the application, and more if a negotiation meeting is needed. Check the current amounts on borger.dk.
Dividing property (bodeling), maintenance and arrangements for children are part of the process and may need separate agreements.
The same rules apply to registered partnerships.
What to do
Talk through the big questions: children, housing, money and property.
Apply on borger.dk with MitID for a direct divorce, a separation, or a divorce after separation.
If you disagree, attend the meeting at Familieretshuset, which can help you reach an agreement.
Get advice on property division and maintenance before you sign anything.
In 2026, Familieretshuset charges 875 DKK to process a separation or divorce. If a terms negotiation (vilkårsforhandling) is held, a further 2,150 DKK is added. Dividing property through the probate court (skifteretten) and any lawyer are separate costs.
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Note: The amounts are the 2026 fees. Check borger.dk for the current ones before you apply.
Good to know
The 875 DKK fee covers processing a separation or divorce case, whether it is a direct divorce, a separation or a divorce after separation.
A terms negotiation is optional if you agree and required if you disagree on whether to divorce, on spousal support or on a shared rental home. If you agree on everything and Familieretshuset still requires a meeting, there is no meeting fee.
If you cannot agree on dividing your property, you can ask the probate court to decide. That costs a basic fee of 750 DKK, and more if an authorised estate administrator (bobehandler) is appointed.
Free legal aid (fri proces) may be possible for the property division.
What to do
Check the current fees before you apply, since the amounts are set per year.
Try to agree on property, spousal support and any rented home first, so a terms negotiation is not needed.
Ask the probate court for help with the division only if you cannot agree.
Familieretshuset currently reports an average processing time of 5 weeks, counted from receiving your application to the decision. A divorce after separation requires 6 months of separation first, and disagreement or a terms negotiation can make the process take longer.
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Deadline: A divorce after separation can be applied for when the separation has lasted six months, or earlier if you both agree.
Good to know
The 5-week figure is an average. Familieretshuset gives it as the current processing time without a date, so check the page for the latest number.
If you both agree, you can divorce directly without a separation. If one of you disagrees, you can separate and, after six months of separation, divorce even if your spouse disagrees.
If you disagree, Familieretshuset may request more information or hold a terms negotiation. You can expect to hear from it within 15 days after your deadline for submitting material.
The mandatory reflection period was abolished on 1 July 2020.
Dividing your property is a separate matter: you agree yourselves, or the probate court decides.
What to do
Apply digitally on borger.dk with MitID. Only one of you needs to start the application.
Answer any request for information within the deadline you are given.
Attend the terms negotiation if you are called to one.
Yes. You have the right to separate even if your spouse disagrees, and after six months of separation you have the right to divorce. You can also seek a direct divorce on special grounds: two years of separation, adultery, violence, bigamy or child abduction.
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Deadline: Adultery must be raised within six months of discovery, and violence within one year of learning about it.
Good to know
Familieretshuset must hold a terms negotiation (vilkårsforhandling) if you disagree. If the conditions for a direct divorce are not met, your spouse only has the right to a separation.
Two years of separation counts only if you have lived apart because of disagreements, not just for practical reasons.
An application based on adultery must be sent within six months of discovery. An application based on violence must be sent within one year of learning about it.
A separation lapses if you do not move apart within three months, or if you move back in together.
If you still disagree on spousal support or who keeps a shared rental home, Familieretshuset decides those points.
What to do
Decide whether you apply for separation or for a direct divorce on special grounds.
Apply on borger.dk with MitID. Your spouse is notified automatically via e-Boks or letter and can respond there.
Attend the terms negotiation by video or in person.
If you disagree with the decision, you can appeal it within four weeks of receiving it.
There is no divorce and no special division rules for unmarried couples. As a starting point, each of you keeps what you own and settles your own debts. Exceptions include property you bought together. Any children are dealt with separately under the rules on custody and contact.
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Note: Unmarried partners are not covered by the divorce rules on property division or spousal support.
Good to know
Unmarried couples cannot claim spousal support from each other.
If you rent your home and have lived together for at least two years, one of you may stay and take over the lease. If you disagree, the courts decide.
Jointly bought property and significant joint purchases are the exceptions to the rule that each keeps what they own.
Parental responsibility for children is not linked to the breakup itself. Unmarried parents have joint custody only in the cases set out in the law.
What to do
Make a list of what each of you owns, owes and bought together.
Agree in writing on who keeps what, and on who stays in a rented home.
Contact Familieretshuset about custody, residence and contact if you have children.
Under the default rules (formuefællesskab, often called fælleseje) the surpluses of both spouses are equalised on divorce. Each spouse calculates assets minus debts, and separate property (særeje) is left out. If you cannot agree, the probate court (skifteretten) decides.
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Note: The cut-off date is normally the day the application is submitted, so what you acquire afterwards is not divided.
Good to know
Your community of property ends at the end of the day your application is submitted to Familieretshuset, unless you agree on another date. Assets and debts acquired after that date are left out.
If both spouses have a surplus, it is equalised: surpluses of 10,000 kr. and 40,000 kr. become 25,000 kr. each. If one has a deficit, only the surplus is shared and the debt is not.
Under the default rules, gifts, inheritances and property owned before the marriage are divided too, unless they are særeje.
Personal items, personal compensation and reasonable pension rights are normally not divided.
The probate court charges a basic fee of 750 kr. for a request to divide the estate.
What to do
List all assets and debts as they stood at the cut-off date (ophørsdato).
Calculate each spouse's surplus or deficit (bodel) and agree on how to equalise.
Put the agreement in writing, and agree on who receives which assets.
If you cannot agree, ask the probate court to decide.
Særeje is separate property that is not divided on separation or divorce. It is created by a marriage contract (ægtepagt), which must be registered with the land registration court (Tinglysningsretten) to be valid. A giver or testator can also decide that a gift or inheritance is særeje.
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Note: A marriage contract is only valid once it is registered with Tinglysningsretten.
Good to know
Without særeje, the default rules apply and the whole estate is divided, including property owned before the marriage and gifts and inheritances received before or during it.
A marriage contract can cover all your property, only part of it or specific items, and it can be time-limited.
If one spouse has very large særeje that would leave the other unreasonably badly off, the probate court can order compensation.
Personal items, personal compensation and non-transferable rights such as copyright and goodwill are also outside the division.
What to do
Decide which assets you want to keep outside the division.
Draw up a marriage contract, ideally with legal advice.
Have the contract registered with Tinglysningsretten, otherwise it is not valid.
If a gift or inheritance should be særeje, make sure the giver or testator states it.
As a starting point nothing happens to your or your spouse's pension on divorce. Each of you keeps your own, as long as the pensions are reasonable. Workplace pensions are normally considered reasonable. Pensions judged unreasonable can be divided, and compensation may be possible.
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Note: Your former spouse's income and assets may continue to be counted for the state pension unless you notify your municipality of the divorce.
Good to know
The rule covers capital pensions, rate pensions and schemes with ongoing payments, whether workplace or individual.
Fællesskabskompensation may be possible if you saved less for pension during the marriage because of family responsibilities, such as staying home or working reduced hours.
Rimelighedskompensation may be possible if there is a large difference in pension size and you are treated unfairly. It requires a marriage of more than about 15 years.
A marriage contract can set a different arrangement for pensions.
After a divorce, insurance payouts from your pension automatically go to your children, if you have any, instead of your former spouse.
What to do
Collect a pension overview for both of you.
Check whether your schemes include a spouse's pension and who is named as beneficiary.
Agree on any compensation yourselves, or let the probate court decide.
If you receive the state pension, tell your municipality about the divorce.
It depends on whether you own or rent. An owned home is part of the property division (bodeling), where you agree who receives which assets, or the probate court decides. For a rented home, Familieretshuset decides who stays if you disagree. You have up to three months to move apart after separation.
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Deadline: After a separation, you must move apart within three months, or the separation lapses.
Good to know
One spouse cannot sell the family's main home without the other's consent.
For a direct divorce without special grounds, you must agree on who stays in a rented home. If you disagree, a terms negotiation is needed and Familieretshuset decides.
If you are separated, you have up to three months to move apart, otherwise the separation lapses.
While you are married and one of you stays, each of you pays property value tax (ejendomsværdiskat) on your own share of the home.
Before the estate is divided, the spouse who moves out can rent out their share to the one who stays. The rental income is taxable.
What to do
Find out whether the home is owned jointly, by one spouse, or rented.
Agree on who stays and how the other is compensated, or on selling.
Agree on who stays in a rented home, or be prepared for a terms negotiation.
Ask the tax authority (Skatteforvaltningen) if you are unsure how tax on the home is affected.
Spousal support (ægtefællebidrag) can be agreed or set by Familieretshuset when you separate or divorce. It is normally one-fifth of the difference between your incomes and normally lasts no more than 10 years. It ends automatically if the recipient remarries or the payer dies.
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Note: An amount you agree yourselves cannot later be changed by Familieretshuset, so get advice before you sign.
Good to know
If you agree on the amount yourselves, Familieretshuset cannot change it later. Only a court can, and only if circumstances have changed significantly.
Familieretshuset can reduce support to zero if the recipient lives with someone in a way that makes continued support unreasonable.
Example from borger.dk: with incomes of 20,000 kr. and 37,000 kr. a month, the difference is 17,000 kr. and the support is about 3,400 kr. a month.
If you disagree on spousal support, a terms negotiation at Familieretshuset is required.
Udbetaling Danmark can collect and pay out the support, but you must first try to collect it yourself.
What to do
Try to agree on whether support is paid, how much and for how long, and put it in writing.
If you cannot agree, apply to Familieretshuset to have the amount set.
Apply to Udbetaling Danmark for collection and payment, attaching your decision, judgment or agreement.
Report changes such as remarriage or moving abroad to Udbetaling Danmark immediately.
There are no fixed rules on how much contact a child must have. It should fit the child's needs. Agree between you, and if you can't, contact Familieretshuset first. It can help you reach an agreement or make a decision.
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Note: If you disagree about contact, always contact Familieretshuset first.
Good to know
Your child has the right to contact with both parents, and it is a shared responsibility to make that work.
A written agreement can be changed at any time if you both agree.
If you can't agree, Familieretshuset can help. If it still doesn't work, Familieretshuset or the family court (familieretten) can decide. In special cases contact can be refused.
The parent the child is registered with is the resident parent (bopælsforælder). The other parent has contact (samvær), regardless of who holds custody.
What to do
Put your arrangement in a written agreement: weekdays, holidays, public holidays, pick-ups and drop-offs.
If you disagree, contact Familieretshuset before going any further.
Keep records of agreements, messages and the contact that takes place, in case doubts arise.
Take the child's age and needs into account, and revisit the agreement as those needs change.
A shared arrangement (deleordning) means the child spends about half the time with each parent, for example 7/7, 14/14 or 3/3. If you also share the child's expenses, child support (børnebidrag) is normally not set. The child still has one registered address.
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Note: Child support is normally left out only if the child is with each of you about half the time and you also share the costs.
Good to know
The parent the child is registered with is still the residence parent (bopælsforælder) in a shared arrangement, and the other is the contact parent (samværsforælder).
Child support is normally not set with a 7/7 or 8/6 arrangement when you also share the child's expenses.
To receive the full child and youth benefit (børne- og ungeydelse), the child normally has to live with that parent at least 9 of every 14 days.
Shared residence (delt bopæl) is a different thing: both parents are residence parents and make the major decisions together. It must be agreed by both and cannot be imposed by Familieretshuset or the court.
What to do
Agree on the pattern, such as weekly or fortnightly changes, and on how expenses are shared.
Write it down on Familieretshuset's agreement form and sign two copies.
Check with Udbetaling Danmark what applies to the child and youth benefit.
You can ask the family court (familieretten) for help getting the child handed over. This works if contact rests on a court judgment, a Familieretshuset decision, or a written agreement stating it can serve as a basis for enforcement. You open the case at minretssag.dk.
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Note: Without a decision, judgment or a written agreement with the enforcement wording, the family court cannot enforce contact.
Good to know
A verbal agreement cannot be enforced. A written agreement you made yourselves can only be used if it says it can "tjene som grundlag for fuldbyrdelse" (serve as a basis for enforcement).
Enforcement must be as gentle on the child as possible and must serve the child's best interests.
The same route applies if the child is not returned after contact.
Enforcement is handled by the family court. Familieretshuset can offer child-expert counselling or mediation.
What to do
Keep a record of the agreed contact and of what happened.
Check whether you have a decision, judgment or agreement that can be enforced.
Create a case at minretssag.dk asking the family court to help with the handover.
Yes. If the parent the child lives with cancels a scheduled visit, you automatically get make-up contact (erstatningssamvær) in the following week, with the same scope, time and terms. It applies whatever the reason, including if the child is sick, and you do not have to apply to anyone.
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Deadline: The make-up contact falls in the week following the cancelled visit. Raise it as soon as you are notified.
Good to know
It only covers ongoing contact arrangements, not one-off arrangements such as holidays or public holidays.
It applies whether you agreed the contact yourselves or Familieretshuset or the court set it.
It does not apply to supervised contact (overvåget samvær).
Familieretshuset cannot help enforce make-up contact. To force it, contact the family court (familieretten).
What to do
When you are told about the cancellation, tell the other parent you want the make-up contact.
Agree the day, so it has the same scope and terms as the cancelled visit.
Keep a record of the cancellation and your request.
Supervised contact means the child's time with a parent takes place at Familieretshuset with a professional child expert present. It is used only when Familieretshuset or the family court assesses that there are no other contact options. Before it starts, both parents and the child attend an introductory meeting.
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Note: Supervised contact is a last resort, used only when Familieretshuset or the family court finds that no other contact option exists.
Good to know
There are several types: protected contact (beskyttet samvær) with constant supervision, observed contact (observeret samvær) to gather information for an expert assessment, supported contact (støttet samvær) and attended contact (overværet samvær).
Protected contact is used after a concrete assessment finds no other options, for example after long periods without contact or concern about boundary-crossing behaviour or abduction.
Observed contact is not a decision on whether there can be contact in the future.
At the introductory meeting (forsamtale) the parents are told who will be present, how each session ends, their responsibilities and the expert's role.
Make-up contact (erstatningssamvær) does not apply to supervised contact.
With joint custody, Danish rules let either parent travel abroad with the child without the other parent's consent or a Familieretshuset decision. If you disagree about custody, consent is required, though Familieretshuset can allow a shorter trip. Some countries still require consent from both parents.
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Note: Danish rules may not require consent, but the destination country might. Check its entry rules before you travel.
Good to know
With sole custody, Familieretshuset's decisions on contact only apply in Denmark and the other Nordic countries. Parents can agree that the child may travel abroad during contact, and Familieretshuset can assess the trip if you disagree.
Familieretshuset says holiday trips and family visits abroad are often allowed.
Applying for the child's passport is one of the major decisions that joint custodians must agree on.
The parent the child lives with may not take holidays outside school holiday periods if that cuts into the other parent's contact, unless you agree or Familieretshuset allows it.
What to do
Check the entry rules of the destination country, since some require both parents' consent.
Tell the other parent the dates and destination in good time and agree on contact around the trip.
If you disagree, ask Familieretshuset to assess the trip before you book.
Yes, in some cases. Grandparents can apply to Familieretshuset for contact (samvær) if the child has no or very limited contact with the parent they do not live with, or if a parent has died or is unknown. The child's best interests always come first.
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Note: Only relatives of the parent the child does not live with, or of a parent who has died, can apply. The resident parent's family cannot.
Good to know
Nearest relatives such as grandparents, older siblings, uncles and aunts can apply, and so can others with a connection to the child, such as a former stepparent.
You must be at least 18 and have an existing connection to the child.
The family of the parent the child lives with (bopælsforælder) cannot apply.
If both parents have died, both sets of grandparents and other family on both sides can apply.
For an adopted child, the child's original relatives can apply once the child has come home to the adoptive parents.
What to do
Check that you meet the conditions: a connection to the child and little or no contact with the other parent.
Apply online through Familieretshuset with MitID.
Be ready to explain your connection to the child and why contact is in the child's interest.
No. According to borger.dk, the authorities cannot force a parent to take contact (samvær) if they do not want it. The child still has a right to contact with both parents, and Familieretshuset can offer child-expert counselling or mediation to help.
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Note: No one can force contact, but counselling can help the parent and the child find an arrangement that works.
Good to know
Both parents share responsibility for keeping the child in regular contact with the parent the child does not live with.
Child-expert counselling (børnesagkyndig rådgivning) is free and aims to find the best solution for the child in the current situation.
Mediation (konfliktmægling) is free and voluntary, but both parents must want it and take part.
Contact arrangements can be changed if both agree, or if circumstances have changed significantly and the change is in the child's best interests.
What to do
Talk to the other parent about what contact is realistic, and agree on it in writing.
Request free child-expert counselling or mediation through the self-service form on borger.dk.
If the situation changes, ask Familieretshuset about changing the arrangement.
If you both agree, you can change the arrangement at any time. If only one of you wants a change, Familieretshuset generally only makes a new arrangement if circumstances have changed significantly, and the change must be in the child's best interests. Free mediation can help.
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Deadline: A complaint about a decision on contact must reach Familieretshuset within 4 weeks of receiving the decision.
Good to know
A binding agreement made with Familieretshuset's form can, as a rule, only be changed if your or the child's circumstances have changed significantly since it was made.
Familieretshuset can offer guidance, and child-expert counselling and mediation are free. If you still disagree, it decides.
A child aged 10 or older can ask Familieretshuset to call a meeting about changes, but the child does not decide the outcome.
You can complain about a Familieretshuset decision. The complaint is forwarded to the family court.
What to do
Agree on the change with the other parent and put it in writing, preferably on the agreement form.
If you disagree, contact Familieretshuset and describe what has changed.
Consider free mediation or child-expert counselling.
If you disagree with the decision, send a complaint to Familieretshuset.
Agree on holidays and public holidays in advance, since holidays often cause disagreement. Examples are 2-3 weeks in summer, one week in autumn or winter, half of Easter, and Christmas and New Year in alternate years. Parents arrange and each pay for their part of the transport.
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Note: Agree on holidays early. If you disagree, Familieretshuset decides what is best for the child.
Good to know
If you cannot agree and Familieretshuset cannot help you to agree, a decision is made based on what is best for the child.
The parent the child lives with may not holiday outside school holiday periods if it cuts into the other parent's contact, unless you agree or Familieretshuset allows it.
Such a request must be well founded, for example an exceptional opportunity the parent cannot influence.
Familieretshuset normally cannot decide how transport is arranged. A common arrangement is that the contact parent collects the child at the start and the resident parent at the end.
Help with transport costs may be available in some cases, for example on a low income, by contacting your municipality.
What to do
List the holidays and public holidays and agree on how they are split.
Agree who collects and delivers the child, and who pays for which part.
Married parents have joint custody. Unmarried parents have it jointly only if they sign a declaration (or agree to it), or in certain situations set out in the law. Otherwise the mother has sole custody.
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Deadline: The declaration can be signed before the birth and in the first four weeks after.
Good to know
Unmarried parents can sign a care-and-responsibility declaration (omsorgs- og ansvarserklæring) before the birth or within four weeks after.
If the father is registered and the parents had a shared registered address in the ten months before the birth, they also have joint custody.
Joint custody continues after separation or divorce. Either parent can ask for it to end.
If one parent with joint custody dies, custody stays with the other parent.
Custody (forældremyndighed) is different from where the child lives (bopæl) and from contact (samvær).
What to do
Find out your situation: were you married, did you sign a declaration, or did you share an address at the birth?
If you are unmarried and want joint custody, sign the declaration or contact Familieretshuset about an agreement.
If you want custody changed, start with Familieretshuset.
With joint custody (fælles forældremyndighed) both parents decide the major issues together, while the parent the child lives with decides day-to-day matters. With sole custody (eneforældremyndighed) one parent decides everything. Custody lasts until the child turns 18 and does not change automatically when you separate.
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Note: An agreement on a change in custody is valid once Familieretshuset has confirmed that it has been filed.
Good to know
Major decisions under joint custody include the child's name, residence, religion, schooling and passport.
The residence parent (bopælsforælder) decides day-to-day matters such as daycare and leisure activities.
The custody holder is usually also the child's guardian (værge), responsible for the child's income and assets.
Custody does not automatically follow the child's residence. A child can live mainly with one parent while the other has custody.
You can change custody by agreement with a digital form to Familieretshuset, or without agreement through Familieretshuset and, if needed, the court.
What to do
Find out which type of custody applies to you.
Agree with the other parent on what each of you can decide alone.
File an agreement on joint or sole custody digitally with Familieretshuset.
If you disagree, submit the contact form on custody, residence and contact to Familieretshuset.
Start by writing to Familieretshuset. You are normally invited to a meeting where it tries to help you agree. Only the court (familieretten) can make a final decision on custody, and the court can end joint custody only if the parents cannot cooperate in the child's best interests.
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Deadline: The case must be sent to the court no later than four weeks after Familieretshuset has closed its handling of the case.
Good to know
Familieretshuset only handles a request to change custody if significant circumstances concerning the child have changed, or if it finds the change is in the child's best interest.
Free child-expert counselling and free mediation are offered before any decision.
If you cannot agree, Familieretshuset sends the case to the court.
Familieretshuset can make a temporary decision on custody or residence if needed.
A child aged 10 or older can ask Familieretshuset to convene a meeting about custody or residence.
What to do
Get advice from a counsellor before you apply.
Write to Familieretshuset or use the application for a change of custody.
Attend the meeting and try the free counselling or mediation.
If no agreement is reached, ask for the case to be sent to the court.
You can agree between yourselves, and Familieretshuset does not need to be involved. If you disagree, Familieretshuset helps you, and if you still cannot agree, the family court (familieretten) makes the final decision. The child's residence is the address where the child is registered in the national registry.
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Note: If you agree on where the child lives, you do not need to apply to Familieretshuset.
Good to know
With joint custody, the residence parent (bopælsforælder) decides where in Denmark the child lives. With sole custody, the parent with custody decides, in Denmark and abroad.
Shared residence (delt bopæl) has existed since 1 April 2019. Both parents are residence parents, the child has one registered address, and the major decisions are made together.
Only the parents can agree on shared residence. Neither Familieretshuset nor the court can impose it.
If you have agreed on shared residence, either parent can say they no longer want it. If you cannot agree on a new arrangement, either of you can start a residence case at Familieretshuset.
What to do
Talk about where the child should live, and involve the child.
If you agree, report the address change on borger.dk.
If you disagree, contact Familieretshuset using the contact form on custody, residence and contact.
Within Denmark, with joint custody the residence parent decides where the child lives, but you must notify the other parent at least six weeks before the move. Moving abroad, to Greenland or to the Faroe Islands with a child under joint custody requires both parents' agreement. With sole custody you decide alone.
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Deadline: You must notify the other parent no later than six weeks before the move.
Good to know
The six-week notice duty applies whether you share custody, have sole custody or have no custody. You must be able to prove that you gave notice in time.
Late notice can affect a later case about where the child should live.
You do not need to inform Familieretshuset about the move.
With shared residence (delt bopæl), the parents decide together on major matters such as where in the country the child lives.
Both parents remain responsible for keeping the child in regular, close contact with each parent.
What to do
Notify the other parent in writing at least six weeks before the move and keep proof.
If you plan to move abroad and share custody, ask for the other parent's agreement first.
If you disagree, contact Familieretshuset before you move.
After the move, report the address change to the national registry on borger.dk.
Familieretshuset offers several free services: mediation (konfliktmægling), child-expert counselling (børnesagkyndig rådgivning), a parent cooperation course, and an advice and clarification meeting for parents who separated within the last 3 months. You do not need an open case to use mediation.
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Deadline: The advice and clarification meeting is for parents who separated within the last 3 months.
Good to know
Mediation is voluntary, and both parents must want it and take part. The mediator guides the process but gives no advice and cannot decide anything.
Child-expert counselling focuses on the best solution for your child in the current situation, including how children react to a breakup. It is not therapy.
The cooperation course consists of two sessions of 3 hours at Familieretshuset, and both parents attend.
The advice and clarification meeting (rådgivnings- og afklaringssamtale) is a video meeting, or a phone call if you cannot join online, to help you plan life as co-parents.
What to do
Request counselling or mediation with the self-service form on borger.dk, using MitID.
Sign up for the cooperation course with the request link on Familieretshuset's page.
If you separated recently, apply for the advice and clarification meeting.
Tell Familieretshuset what you want to discuss so it can prepare.
No. Parents decide, and if they cannot agree, Familieretshuset or the court does. But the child's perspective must be considered, and a child aged 10 or older can ask Familieretshuset to call a meeting about custody, residence or changes to contact. The child does not decide the outcome.
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Note: A child can share their wishes, but the child does not make the decision. That is up to the parents, Familieretshuset or the court.
Good to know
Familieretshuset invites children to a child conversation (børnesamtale) where they can share thoughts, feelings and wishes about contact, residence or custody.
A contact person (kontaktperson) holds an introductory conversation and the child conversation, and follows the child through the whole case.
The child decides how much to say. The child and the contact person write a letter together describing what the child said.
Familieretshuset must consider the child's perspective in a case about custody, residence or contact.
Parents can prepare the child by explaining that the child's opinion matters, even if it differs from theirs.
What to do
Talk to your child in an age-appropriate way, and tell them their opinion matters.
Do not put the child in the middle of the disagreement.
If your child is 10 or older and wants to be heard, they can contact Familieretshuset.
Cooperate with the contact person if your child is invited.
The normal contribution (normalbidrag) is 1,675 DKK a month per child in 2026, or 20,100 DKK a year. A payer with a high income may pay more, as a percentage supplement is added. It is adjusted each 1 January and is normally due on the 1st of each month.
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Deadline: A complaint about a child support decision must reach Familieretshuset or Udbetaling Danmark within 4 weeks of receiving the decision.
Good to know
The parent who does not live with the child pays the other parent. If you share the child 7/7 or 8/6 and also share the expenses, child support is normally not set.
The payer's income is counted before tax and labour market contribution, and reasonable pension contributions are deducted.
You can agree on child support privately in writing. Such an agreement is as binding as a decision from Familieretshuset.
The first application to have child support set is free. A later application to change a bidrag that Familieretshuset has handled before costs 3,100 DKK in most cases.
If the other parent does not pay, you can apply to Udbetaling Danmark for advance payment (forskudsvis udbetaling) and collection, but you must first try to collect it yourself.
What to do
Try to agree on the amount in writing, using Familieretshuset's form.
If you cannot agree, apply to Familieretshuset digitally to have child support set.
Use the Familieretshuset decision (bidragsafgørelse) as proof of your right to child support.
If it is not paid, apply to Udbetaling Danmark for advance payment and collection.
Child support (børnebidrag) ends automatically on the child's 18th birthday. If the child is in education, a parent can receive education support (uddannelsesbidrag) when the child is 18 to 24 years old. In 2026 the amount is 1,483 DKK a month.
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Deadline: If you apply within two months of an event such as the child moving to the other parent, the contribution is set from that event. Otherwise it is set from the date Familieretshuset receives your application.
Good to know
Education support requires that the child is in education, that you live with the child or have actual costs for their upkeep, and that the other parent has no upkeep costs.
The child's monthly income, including SU (state education grant), must be low enough, and the other parent's income must be high enough.
It stops automatically when the child turns 24, or earlier if the child finishes the education.
Child support ends if the child moves to the paying parent, or if you resume living with the payer.
What to do
Check whether all six conditions for education support are met.
Try to agree with the other parent, preferably in writing.
If you cannot agree, apply to Familieretshuset using the self-service form for education support.
Apply to Udbetaling Danmark if you want it to collect and pay out the support.
Familieretshuset's mediation and child-expert counselling are free, and its fee page lists a fee only for changing child support (3,100 DKK in most cases). If a case goes to the family court, free legal aid (fri proces) may cover the court fee and your lawyer's fee. You must apply yourself.
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Note: Fri proces is not granted automatically. You must apply yourself, even if you mentioned it at the Familieretshuset meeting.
Good to know
Fri proces is possible for cases at the family court about residence, custody or contact. The state pays the court fee and the lawyer's fee, and the court appoints a lawyer for you unless you have one.
In 2026 the income limits are 404,000 DKK for a single applicant and 513,000 DKK for married or cohabiting applicants, plus 70,000 DKK per child living with you or mainly supported by you.
The deciding income is normally your 2024 annual income. You generally cannot get fri proces if legal expenses insurance covers the case.
You must apply for fri proces yourself, even if you told Familieretshuset at the meeting that you would.
If Civilstyrelsen refuses fri proces, you can complain to the Procesbevillingsnævnet within 4 weeks.
What to do
Check whether your home or other insurance includes legal expenses cover.
Collect your annual tax statement and a summary of the case.
Apply digitally to Civilstyrelsen for fri proces, and in family cases fill in the family law section.
Tell Familieretshuset whether you want fri proces and whether you already have a lawyer.
If there is a will, it generally decides. But a spouse and children are entitled to a compulsory share (tvangsarv), a quarter of the estate, that can't be removed by will. Without a will, the Inheritance Act decides who inherits.
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Note: It is wise not to give away or sell the deceased's belongings until it is clear who inherits and whether the estate has debts.
Good to know
Without a will, relatives inherit in classes: first the children (alongside the spouse), then parents and siblings, then grandparents and their descendants. Cousins are not statutory heirs.
If there are no heirs, the state inherits.
The probate court (skifteretten) handles the estate and is notified of the death automatically. Heirs can sometimes settle the estate themselves. Otherwise an administrator (bobestyrer) is appointed.
Inheritance tax (boafgift) may apply, depending on your relationship to the person who died.
What to do
Find out whether there is a will.
Contact the probate court, or wait for it to contact you.
Make an overview of assets and debts.
Get advice before you accept or decline an inheritance.
To make a valid will you must be at least 18 (or married) and either sign it before a notary at the district court, a notarial will, or sign it in front of two adult witnesses, a witness will. A notarial will is registered, so it is the easiest for your family to find later.
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Note: A will that does not meet the formal requirements can be invalid. If in doubt, choose the notarial will, and get advice if your situation is complicated.
Good to know
The notary is employed by the district court (byret). Book a time, bring photo ID with your CPR number, two copies of the will that are not yet signed, and a cover page from domstol.dk. A court fee is charged per document, so check the current amount.
For a witness will, both witnesses must be present at the same time, be at least 18 and of sound mind, and must not be closely related to you. Your spouse, cohabitant, parents and children cannot be witnesses, and neither can anyone who inherits under the will.
A notarial will is entered in the Central Register of Wills (Centralregistret for Testamenter). A witness will is not registered anywhere, so keep it safe and tell someone where it is.
A will cannot take away the compulsory share (tvangsarv) that your spouse and children are entitled to. You decide freely over the rest.
What to do
Decide who should get what, and check whether you have a spouse or children with a compulsory share.
Book a notary at your district court, or gather two eligible witnesses.
Sign the will in the notary's or the witnesses' presence, as the rules require.
Keep the original safe and make sure your closest family know where it is.
No. An unmarried partner (samlever) is not an heir by law and has no compulsory share, however long you have lived together. Your partner inherits only if you name them in a will. Without one, your relatives inherit. A spouse or registered partner is treated differently.
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Note: Living together for many years does not by itself give inheritance rights. The will must be made while you are alive.
Good to know
A spouse inherits automatically under the Inheritance Act, and so do children. A cohabitant does not, so a will is the only way to make sure your partner receives anything.
If you have children, they have a compulsory share (tvangsarv) that a will cannot remove, so your partner can only be given the part you are free to dispose of.
Tax is different too. A spouse or registered partner pays no inheritance tax (boafgift). A cohabitant who lived with the deceased for more than two years pays the lower rate on the part above a yearly allowance. Others who are not close family pay more.
The will must be made by the person who later dies. A surviving partner cannot create inheritance rights afterwards.
What to do
Make a will that names your partner, as a notarial will or a witness will.
Check the tax position for your partner on skat.dk, including the current allowance.
If you want automatic inheritance rights, consider marriage or a registered partnership, and get advice first.
Uskiftet bo means the surviving spouse keeps the shared estate undivided, so the children inherit the first spouse's share only when the surviving spouse dies, or when the spouse chooses to divide. It needs the consent of any of the deceased's children who are not also the spouse's children, and the spouse becomes personally liable for the debts.
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Deadline: The surviving spouse must send the court an estate inventory (formueoversigt) within six months of the death.
Good to know
The surviving spouse asks the probate court to hand over the estate as uskiftet bo. The spouse must be of age, must not be bankrupt, and must have enough means to meet their own obligations.
If the deceased had children from another relationship (særlivsarvinger), the estate can only be handed over with their consent. Their signed consent statements are attached to the request.
The surviving spouse becomes personally responsible for the deceased's debts. If the estate looks insolvent, it can be put in the hands of an estate administrator (bobestyrer), and the spouse is then not liable for the deceased's debts, provided the legal conditions are met.
The spouse manages the estate as an owner but may only make a will over the part that would pass at the spouse's own death. Reckless spending or unreasonably large gifts can allow the children to demand a division, and a new marriage requires the spouse to divide the estate.
What to do
Talk to all the children first, especially any from an earlier relationship, about whether they will consent.
Fill in the request form for uskiftet bo and attach the signed consents.
Send the request to the probate court, which hands over the estate.
Send the court an estate inventory (formueoversigt) within six months of the death.
Not automatically. The debts are paid from the estate first. But if the heirs divide the assets without paying or securing the creditors, they can become personally and jointly liable. If the estate has a deficit, heirs can in most cases have it handled by an estate administrator and so free themselves from liability.
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Note: There is no fixed deadline, but waiting can make it harder to use the route that frees you from liability, so get advice early.
Good to know
The estate is everything the person owned and owed at death. Unless the estate is closed as a very small one (boudlæg), the court publishes a notice to creditors, who then have eight weeks to register their claims on Skifteportalen.
If heirs share out the assets or use up the estate's money without paying or securing the claims, they are personally and jointly liable for the debt. Heirs who divide an estate privately therefore carry this risk.
If the estate is insolvent, the heirs can ask for it to be handled by an estate administrator (bobestyrer). This normally means giving back what they received, or its value. Returning only your own share is not enough, because heirs are jointly liable.
There is no fixed deadline for this, but you should act quickly once it is clear that the estate is in deficit. Hold off on selling or sharing out belongings until the picture is clear.
What to do
Make an overview of the deceased's assets and debts.
Do not sell, give away or share out belongings or money yet.
Contact the probate court, or a lawyer, before you accept anything from the estate.
If the estate is in deficit, ask quickly for it to be handled by a bobestyrer.
It depends on your relationship to the person who died. A spouse or registered partner pays nothing. Children, grandchildren, parents, former spouses and cohabitants of more than two years pay 15% of the part above a yearly allowance. Most others pay a higher rate. The probate court calculates it.
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Note: Boafgift is calculated on the part of the inheritance that exceeds the allowance, not on the whole inheritance. The allowance changes each year.
Good to know
The rate follows your relationship to the deceased and the size of the inheritance. You do not calculate or file it yourself, because the probate court (skifteret) calculates and collects the boafgift.
Most other heirs pay the same 15% plus a further 25% of what is left after the 15% has been deducted.
The allowance is adjusted every year, so check the current amount on skat.dk before you estimate what you will pay.
Boafgift is separate from income tax for the deceased and the estate, which Skattestyrelsen handles, and from the court fee (retsafgift), which the estate normally pays when the court hands the estate over.
What to do
Find out which group you belong to: spouse, close family, or others.
Look up the current allowance on skat.dk.
Wait for the probate court's calculation, and contact Skattestyrelsen or the court if something looks wrong.
Look through the person's papers and ask close family and any adviser involved. A will made before a notary is registered in the Central Register of Wills, and the district court that notarised it can give a copy. A will made before two witnesses is not registered anywhere, so it can only be found if someone has the paper.
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Note: A witness will can easily be lost because it is not registered. That is why it matters to tell someone where yours is kept.
Good to know
For a notarial will, the notary keeps a copy and reports it to the Central Register of Wills (Centralregistret for Testamenter). The person keeps the original.
To get a copy of a notarial will, contact the district court (byret) where the notary certified it.
A witness will is not registered, and only the testator's own copy exists. Check the home, any safe and papers, and ask relatives whether they know of one.
If there is no will, or the will does not cover the distribution, the default rules of the Inheritance Act apply.
What to do
Search the deceased's papers, home and any safe-deposit box for a will.
Ask family, friends and any lawyer or adviser the person used.
If you know where a notarial will was made, contact that district court for a copy.
If nothing is found, the default rules of the Inheritance Act apply.
Yes. A child can inherit like anyone else, but the money is the child's own wealth. The parent or parents with custody manage it as guardian (værge), and generally need approval from Familieretshuset before using it. Parents may not spend it on ordinary upkeep such as food, clothes or housing.
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Note: If a guardian uses a child's wealth without approval, the money may have to be repaid and a fine can follow.
Good to know
With joint custody both parents act together as guardians. If they disagree, Familieretshuset decides.
Wealth such as an inheritance generally needs Familieretshuset's approval before the guardian uses it. Without approval, the guardian may use only a small part per year, up to 5% of the wealth within set limits.
Smaller sums are placed in a bank account in the child's name marked as managed by the guardians. Larger sums must go into an approved forvaltningsafdeling, which is a special bank department.
The guardian also needs approval to waive an inheritance on the child's behalf, unless it is of trivial value. An inheritance a will designates as the child's free property (friarv) is under the child's own control.
What to do
Open a bank account in the child's name, marked as managed by the guardians.
Apply to Familieretshuset before using the inheritance for the child.
Ask Familieretshuset before declining an inheritance on the child's behalf.
The probate court (skifteret) where the person lived makes sure the estate is settled and shared out correctly. It decides how the estate is handled. Small estates can be handed to someone who covers the funeral, heirs often settle privately, and larger or complicated estates go to an administrator (bobestyrer). The estate pays the costs.
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Note: Keep receipts for reasonable funeral costs, for example for the funeral director, coffin or urn, death notice, flowers, food and the grave. They can be deducted from the estate if you have the documentation.
Good to know
The court is notified of the death automatically. A very small estate can be closed as boudlæg and handed to, for example, the person who pays for the funeral. In some cases the court decides that a bobestyrer, usually a lawyer, must handle the estate. In other cases the heirs can choose how to settle it.
Funeral costs and costs of handling the estate are paid by the estate and deducted before the limits and inheritance tax are assessed. If you have chosen a lawyer to help, the estate pays that too.
The estate normally pays a court fee (retsafgift) when the court hands the estate over. Check the current rate with the courts.
Unless the estate is closed as boudlæg, a notice to creditors is published, and creditors have eight weeks to register claims on Skifteportalen.
What to do
Wait for the court to contact you, or contact the probate court yourself.
Make an overview of assets, debts and any will.
Keep all receipts and invoices for the funeral and the estate.
Find out from the court which form of settlement applies to this estate.
Yes, you can change or revoke a will at any time unless you have declared it irrevocable. The change must follow the same formal rules as making a will. A will made together with a spouse (a mutual will) is automatically revoked if you separate or divorce. An emergency will is possible, but only as a temporary solution.
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Note: A will you declared irrevocable cannot simply be revoked later. If you are unsure which type you have, ask the notary.
Good to know
A notarial will is changed or revoked through the notary. A witness will is changed or revoked with a new witness will.
Mutual wills (gensidige testamenter), such as those made with a spouse, are revoked automatically on separation or divorce. If you want to revoke one yourself while still married, you must notify the other party.
If illness or an accident prevents you from using a notary or witnesses, you can make an emergency will (nødtestamente) in any way, for example on paper, by message or on video, as long as your name and the date are clear.
An emergency will lapses if three months pass during which you could have made a regular will, so replace it as soon as you can.
What to do
Decide what you want to change, and whether your will is a mutual will or an individual one.
Go to the notary, or sign a new witness will, depending on which type you have.
If you had a mutual will, notify the other party that you are revoking it.
A doctor issues the death certificate, and the death must be reported to the burial authority (kirkekontoret), normally within two working days, via borger.dk or through a funeral director. Then agree the date and form of the burial or cremation with the burial authority or funeral director.
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Deadline: Report the death within two working days.
Good to know
A funeral director (bedemand) can handle most formalities for you, including reporting the death.
The probate court (skifteretten) is notified automatically. You don't need to inform it yourself.
The person who orders the funeral may be liable for the cost if the estate can't cover it. If money is a problem, ask the municipality or check whether you can get funeral assistance (begravelseshjælp) from Udbetaling Danmark.
If the person rented their home, the estate can normally end the lease with three months' notice unless the lease allows shorter.
What to do
Make sure a doctor issues the death certificate.
Contact a funeral director or the parish office and have the death reported.
Request burial or cremation on borger.dk if it hasn't already been done.
Sort out how the funeral will be paid for before you order it.
The probate court will contact you later about the estate. See the question on inheritance.
A doctor must confirm the death and write the death certificate. When the doctor reports it electronically, within two working days, the CPR register and the parish office are notified automatically. When a death at home was expected, there is usually no rush, and the body can stay at home until the funeral or cremation.
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Note: This describes an expected death at home. The sources do not cover sudden deaths, so if you are unsure what to do, ask the doctor or home nurse.
Good to know
The family may wash and prepare the body themselves or together with the home nurse or staff from a funeral home. Children and young people can take part if they wish.
A cool, airy room is recommended while the body is at home. The size of the home and the weather may set limits.
You do not have to use a funeral director (bedemand). You can arrange everything yourself or ask for help with specific tasks.
The request for burial or cremation is sent digitally with MitID or on paper to the parish office. The parish priest approves it, and nobody may be buried or cremated before the approval is given.
What to do
Contact the doctor or home nurse so that the death can be confirmed and the certificate written.
Take the time you need, and prepare the body if you wish, with help if you want it.
Decide whether you will use a funeral director or arrange things yourselves.
Send the request for burial or cremation on borger.dk, or via the funeral director.
A doctor writes the death certificate (dødsattest) when someone dies in Denmark. It confirms the person's identity and the place and time of death. In most cases it is reported electronically, so you do not have to send it anywhere. For use abroad, you can order a legalised copy through Sundhedsdatastyrelsen.
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Note: The personattest replaced the old death and burial certificate, so use that name when you ask the parish office.
Good to know
Because the death is normally reported electronically, the certificate does not usually have to be sent to the burial authority. If it is required, contact the authority in the deceased's parish of residence.
The former death and burial certificate (døds- og begravelsesattest) has been replaced by a personattest. It is free and can be issued in Danish or in Danish and English.
You cannot order the personattest on borger.dk. Contact the parish office where you live, or the deceased's last parish of residence.
A legalised death certificate for use abroad is available in Danish, English or German and is ordered by secure email through Sundhedsdatastyrelsen's self-service.
What to do
Ask the doctor to confirm that the certificate has been reported.
If an authority or company asks for proof of death, ask the parish office for a personattest.
For use abroad, order a legalised copy through Sundhedsdatastyrelsen.
The deceased's own wishes decide, if they expressed any about burial, cremation or ash scattering. Otherwise the relatives choose. If the person belonged to the Church of Denmark or another faith community, that counts as a wish for a religious ceremony unless they said something else.
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Note: No burial or cremation may take place before the request has been approved. Any ceremony must be agreed before the request is sent.
Good to know
The funeral can be religious or civil. A civil funeral has no special requirements and can be held in a chapel, at home or elsewhere. A small fee is usually charged for a chapel, organist and choir.
You can leave everything to a funeral director (bedemand), get help from one, or agree the details with the cemetery and crematorium yourselves. The more the family does, the cheaper it becomes.
The request for burial or cremation is sent digitally with MitID or on paper to the parish office where the person lived. The parish priest approves it, and a funeral director can send it with a signed power of attorney.
If relatives complain about how the funeral is to be held, the parish office or the priest decides whether it can go ahead as requested. The priest may uphold the complaint or send it to the probate court.
What to do
Find out whether the deceased left any written or spoken wishes.
Agree the main points among the closest relatives and with the funeral director.
Send the request for burial or cremation, with the ceremony already agreed.
Wait for the approval before the burial or cremation takes place.
Ashes can be scattered only over open water, meaning the sea or large fjords and bays, never over lakes or land, and only if the deceased left a written wish. An urn is normally placed in an approved burial ground. Burying one on private land needs permission from the diocese (stift).
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Note: Scattering over lakes or over land is not allowed. Only the sea or large fjords and bays can be used.
Good to know
The written wish must state the person's name, address, CPR number, date and signature, and be attached to the death notification. The requirement can be waived if it is clear that scattering was what the deceased wanted.
The family carries out the scattering discreetly, or the funeral director does. An urn must not be lowered into the sea with the ashes in it.
To bury an urn on private land you apply to the diocese where the property lies. Conditions include normally at least 5,000 square metres, a water-soluble urn, buried at least one metre deep, no marker, and a deed binding the owner for 10 years.
Coffin burial on private property is not allowed. Splitting ashes between places is allowed only in limited cases and needs permission.
What to do
Check whether the deceased left a written wish about scattering.
Attach the wish to the death notification or request for cremation.
For burial on private land, apply to the diocese that covers the property.
Possibly. Begravelseshjælp is a tax-free lump sum from Udbetaling Danmark towards the funeral. The deceased must have had the right to Danish health insurance. The amount depends on the deceased's wealth and on whether they left a spouse or children under 18. It is reduced or removed above set limits, so check the current amounts.
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Note: The amounts and wealth limits change every year. Check the current figures on borger.dk before you plan.
Good to know
You apply digitally through borger.dk, and you need the probate certificate (skifteretsattest) from the court. A funeral director can usually apply for you if you sign a power of attorney.
Wealth counts at the date of death, such as bank deposits, securities, property and lump-sum payments from the death. The funeral costs themselves are not counted as wealth.
For a person under 18, including a stillborn child, a fixed amount applies instead. The amounts and wealth limits are adjusted each year, so check the current ones on borger.dk.
Udbetaling Danmark aims to decide within a month, and the money is paid into the NemKonto. Processing can take longer when the caseload is high.
What to do
Find out from the probate court how the estate will be handled, and get the probate certificate.
Gather documents on the deceased's wealth and debts.
Apply on borger.dk, or sign a power of attorney so that the funeral director can apply.
Not straight away. Once the death is registered, the deceased's bank accounts are normally frozen, including joint accounts, and access to their Digital Post mailbox is blocked. A surviving spouse can withdraw money only after receiving a probate certificate (skifteretsattest), and public Digital Post is opened by an appointed estate administrator.
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Note: Joint accounts are frozen too, even for the surviving spouse, until the probate certificate has been issued.
Good to know
Funeral costs and the costs of handling the estate are paid by the estate. Keep receipts for the funeral director, coffin or urn, death notice, flowers, food and the grave, since reasonable costs are deducted from the estate if documented.
To open public Digital Post you must be appointed estate administrator (bobestyrer) by the probate court, and then request access via Rettighedsportalen for Digital Post.
Private senders can still write to e-Boks and mit.dk until the mailboxes are deregistered. Public documents are kept for five years, and private ones may be deleted 15 months after the death.
The funeral and estate costs are settled from the estate before the heirs receive anything, so keep a clear record of what you pay.
What to do
Wait for the probate court's decision and the probate certificate.
Keep receipts for everything you pay for the funeral and the estate.
If you need to read the deceased's public Digital Post, ask the court about being appointed estate administrator.
We are very sorry if you are asking this. You may be entitled to up to 26 weeks of sorgorlov with benefits if your child is stillborn or dies before turning 18. The benefit has a weekly maximum that is set each year. You must apply within eight weeks.
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Deadline: Apply within eight weeks of the first day of leave. If you apply late, you risk losing benefits for the days before the application.
Good to know
The leave starts the day after the loss. You can work fully or partly during the leave, or alternate between work and leave, within the 26 weeks. Unused leave cannot be postponed.
Employees must normally have worked enough hours in the last months before the leave. Self-employed people and unemployed people have their own conditions.
Benefits are paid to your NemKonto. If your employer keeps paying your wages during the leave, the employer can claim the benefit instead.
Udbetaling Danmark aims to decide within 11 working days of receiving a complete application. Check the current maximum amount on borger.dk.
What to do
Tell your employer as soon as you can.
Apply to Udbetaling Danmark within eight weeks of the first day of leave.
If you are unemployed, notify your unemployment fund within eight weeks. If you are self-employed, apply in NemRefusion.
Tell Udbetaling Danmark quickly about any changes, such as going back to work.
You may be able to apply for efterlevelseshjælp, a one-off taxable payment from Udbetaling Danmark, if you lived with your spouse or cohabitant for the last three years before the death. There is an income limit, and you must apply within six months or you will be refused.
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Deadline: Apply within six months of the death. If you apply later, you will be refused.
Good to know
You must have lived with the deceased for the last three years before the death, in Denmark, an EU/EEA country or Switzerland, and be covered by Danish social security rules. You must not receive or have received a survivor's pension (efterlevelsespension).
Your yearly income must be below a limit set each year, and the payment is smaller the higher your income. The maximum amount is also set each year, so check the current figures on borger.dk.
If the deceased and the survivor both received a state pension, the survivor's pension can continue at the previous level for up to three months (efterlevelsespension). Anyone who receives it cannot also get efterlevelseshjælp.
You apply digitally through Udbetaling Danmark's self-service. The payment goes to your NemKonto.
What to do
Check the conditions: three years together, your income, and no survivor's pension.
Apply digitally within six months of the death.
Wait for the payment to your NemKonto. Udbetaling Danmark has four weeks to process the case.
In most cases you do not need to tell public authorities yourself. When the doctor reports the death electronically, the CPR register and the parish office are told automatically, and the probate court receives notice of the death. Udbetaling Danmark and the municipality learn of it through the population register, so state pensions stop on their own.
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Note: Terms differ between providers, so check each scheme's own rules.
Good to know
State pensions end the day after the death. If the deceased lived with someone who also receives a state pension, payments can continue for up to three months. Udbetaling Danmark sends the survivor a letter.
ATP Livslang Pension stops, and in some cases a lump sum is paid to the spouse. It is paid automatically to the NemKonto. A cohabitant must have informed ATP of the cohabitation before the death, or can apply afterwards.
Occupational and private pensions and insurance depend on the terms of each scheme. The provider normally contacts relatives itself, but you can contact them to speed things up.
If the deceased lived abroad, relatives must contact Udbetaling Danmark and ATP themselves.
What to do
Make a list with your family of all pension providers and insurers the deceased had.
Contact those providers that have not contacted you, and ask what they pay out on death.
If the person lived abroad, contact Udbetaling Danmark and ATP yourself.
Check whether you can apply for efterlevelseshjælp.
These answers explain general rules in Denmark and may not fit every case. Rules, amounts and deadlines change and depend on your situation and contract. For advice on your own case, contact a legal aid office, a lawyer or your union.
Every answer is based on official Danish sources such as borger.dk, retsinformation.dk, the Danish Courts and the relevant authorities, and links to them. We do not give legal advice.
