The Moroccan death certificate is an essential document for all inheritance procedures, unblocking Moroccan bank accounts, insurance claims, and property transfers in Morocco. Depending on whether the death occurred in Morocco or abroad, the procedures differ, but the result is the same: an official certificate registered in Moroccan civil registry records.
Costs & fees
| Death declaration at the consulate (death abroad) | Free | The declaration itself is free |
| Fiscal stamp for the death certificate | 50 to 100 MAD | Required for obtaining the official copy |
| Apostille if used in France | Variable (50 to 200 MAD + fees) | For certificates used outside Morocco |
| Certified translation | 50 to 150 EUR | If the certificate must be used in a non-Arabic-speaking country |
Timeline
Declare the death within 30 days
Under Moroccan law, every death must be declared within 30 days of the death. If the person died in Morocco, the declaration is made at the municipality (civil registry department) of the place of death. If the person died abroad but held Moroccan nationality, the declaration is made at the competent Moroccan consulate in the country of death. To declare the death, you must present: the local death certificate (issued by the authorities of the country of death or the hospital), the deceased's identity documents (Moroccan passport, CNIE), and the declarant's identity documents. The declaration is free in both cases.
💡 Tip — Even in shock, try to quickly gather the deceased's identity documents. The 30-day deadline starts from the date of death, not from when you are informed.
⚠️ Warning — After the 30-day deadline, the regularization procedure is possible but significantly longer and more complex, potentially requiring judicial intervention.
Obtain the local death bulletin or certificate
In the country of death, local authorities issue an official death certificate (in France: the medical death certificate and the town hall death record). This local document is the basis of the entire file. Obtain several certified copies, as you will need them for Moroccan procedures, banks, insurance companies, and other administrations. In France, the death certificate can be requested online on service-public.fr or directly at the town hall of the place of death. Keep the originals carefully and make secure digital copies.
💡 Tip — Request at least 5 copies of the local death certificate from the start: each administration (bank, insurance, tax authorities, notary) will request one, and requesting more takes time.
Request consular transcription (if death abroad)
If the person died abroad, you must obtain the transcription of their death in Moroccan civil registry records via the Moroccan consulate in the country of death. Book an appointment on rdv.consulat.ma and bring: the local death certificate apostilled or legalized, translated into Arabic by a sworn translator if necessary, the deceased's identity documents (Moroccan passport, CNIE), the deceased's Moroccan birth certificate, and the declarant's identity documents (usually a family member). The consulate then forwards the file to the Moroccan authorities (hometown or birth municipality), and the transcription is recorded in Moroccan registers within 4 to 8 weeks.
💡 Tip — Bring the apostilled local death certificate when submitting the file at the consulate to avoid back-and-forth and additional delays.
⚠️ Warning — Consular transcription does not replace the declaration in Morocco if the deceased had their main residence in Morocco. Both procedures may be necessary depending on the situation.
Obtain an official copy of the Moroccan death certificate
Once the transcription is complete, you can request official copies of the Moroccan death certificate. This request is made either directly at the competent Moroccan municipality (birth or residence municipality of the deceased in Morocco), or via the Moroccan consulate if you reside abroad. The request can also be made online via the Wraqi.ma platform for certain municipalities. Clearly state the number of copies desired: for a complex estate with multiple properties and heirs, plan for at least 6 to 8 copies. Each copy requires a fiscal stamp of 50 to 100 MAD.
💡 Tip — For a real estate inheritance in Morocco, your Moroccan notary will tell you the exact number of copies needed. Always request a few more than planned.
⚠️ Warning — The Moroccan death certificate obtained by consular transcription can take an additional 4 to 8 weeks. Anticipate this delay in estate planning.
Legalize or apostille the certificate if necessary
If the Moroccan death certificate is to be used in France or another country, it must be apostilled by the competent Moroccan authorities. Since Morocco joined the Hague Convention in 2016, the apostille is issued by the Moroccan Ministry of Foreign Affairs (for civil status documents) replacing chain legalization. If you cannot travel to Morocco, a proxy (lawyer or family member) can carry out this procedure. The apostille generally takes 1 to 3 weeks. If the certificate is to be used in a country that has not signed the Hague Convention, chain legalization remains necessary.
💡 Tip — If you have a Moroccan lawyer or notary managing the estate, they can often handle the apostille as part of their mission.
⚠️ Warning — Only apostille certificates you will actually use abroad: the apostille has a cost and apostilled documents can only be used in signatory countries.
In depth
Managing a cross-border Franco-Moroccan death is particularly complex as it simultaneously mobilizes two different legal and administrative systems. In France, the death triggers the opening of an estate subject to French law (for assets located in France) and Moroccan law (for assets located in Morocco). Since the European Succession Regulation (2015), a Moroccan national living in France can choose the law applicable to their estate (French or Moroccan), which can have significant implications especially regarding equality between heirs (Moroccan law provides unequal shares depending on gender and kinship). For real estate successions in Morocco, a Moroccan notary is mandatory. It is strongly recommended to consult a lawyer specializing in international succession law at the outset to avoid costly mistakes.
❌ Common mistakes to avoid
- ✕Not respecting the 30-day legal deadline to declare the death, making regularization much longer and sometimes requiring court intervention
- ✕Requesting only one copy of the death certificate when the estate will need several for different administrations
- ✕Forgetting to apostille the Moroccan death certificate before using it in France, resulting in its rejection by French authorities
🔗 Official links and resources
❓ Frequently asked questions
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