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What the law says in Norway

8 rules

Death certificate and registration

A doctor gives a declaration of the death and reports it to the National Population Register, so the family does not need to register anything. If no doctor has reported it, the death must be reported at once to the district court (tingrett) that deals with the estate. Skatteetaten, Registration of deaths; Helsepersonelloven § 36; Arveloven § 89

Police and forensic autopsy

If a crime is suspected or a forensic autopsy is likely, the body may not be buried or taken out of Norway without the police’s permission, and the burial time limit does not run while the police examination is ordered. Everyone killed in road traffic is autopsied. A medical (hospital) autopsy cannot go ahead if one of the closest relatives refuses, unless the county governor allows it for special reasons. Obduksjonslova §§ 7, 7 a and 14; Gravplassloven § 13

Timing and burial abroad

Burial must take place at the latest 10 working days after the death, and Saturday is not a working day. The law sets no earliest time; the municipality’s burial authority fixes the time of each burial and can extend the limit for weighty reasons. Gravplassloven §§ 12–13; Gravplassforskriften § 12

Timing and burial abroad

For burial abroad, ask the funeral company which paperwork it will handle; the destination country’s embassy or consulate sets its own conditions. Nav’s grant for moving a body does not cover transport from Norway abroad. In a police case, the body may not leave Norway without the police’s permission. Nav, Stønad ved båretransport; Obduksjonslova § 14

Burial, coffin and graves

A coffin is the rule, but where there are special reasons the burial authority must allow burial without a coffin, on conditions it can set; its decision cannot be appealed. Everyone resident in the municipality when they died has a right to a free grave there for at least 20 years, and if the municipality has no graves for religious minorities it pays for one elsewhere. Oslo has fields facing Mecca suitable for Muslim burial at Alfaset and Klemetsrud. Gravplassforskriften § 28; Gravplassloven §§ 1, 6, 8 and 14; Oslo kommune, Gravtyper

Skifte at the district court

The district court deals with the estate. For a private settlement (privat skifte), at least one adult heir must take on the deceased’s debts before the court, normally within 60 days of the death or by the deadline the court sets; the court then issues a probate certificate (skifteattest) naming the heirs. Two thirds of the estate is reserved for the children, up to 15 times the National Insurance basic amount each, after the spouse’s minimum share, so ask a lawyer how the heirs can agree to follow the Islamic shares. Arveloven §§ 4, 8, 50 and 116–118

Small estates

If the estate’s assets are worth less than three times the National Insurance basic amount, heirs who take on the debts in a private settlement are liable only up to the assets left after the funeral has been paid. Arveloven § 116

Funeral grant from Nav

Nav pays a means-tested funeral grant (gravferdsstønad) of up to 30,898 kroner for deaths from 1 January 2026 to whoever paid for the funeral, if the deceased was a member of the National Insurance scheme. Apply within 6 months of the funeral. If the death happened in Norway, Nav can also help with transporting the body more than 20 km inside Norway, minus 3,090 kroner; Nav decides eligibility. Nav, Gravferdsstønad; Nav, Stønad ved båretransport

From official sources, checked October 2026. Laws change; your funeral company and a lawyer can confirm them.

Where you are

Norway has one national law for burial and estates, and this guide describes that national framework. Each municipality has a burial authority (gravplassmyndigheten) that sets local rules, assigns graves and decides on burial without a coffin, so ask it about Muslim fields where you live.

The steps

1. 1

   Have the death confirmed

   In the first hour · 0 of 4

   A doctor confirms the death and writes the medical declaration of death. If there is reason to think the death was not natural, the doctor must tell the police.

   • In a hospital or care home, ask the staff to confirm the death
   • At home, call your doctor, or 113 in an emergency
   • If the death was violent, such as an accident, call the police
   • Tell the staff early that the family needs a quick burial for religious reasons
2. and

   Close the eyes, cover the body, make duʿā

   In the first hour · at the same time as the step above · 0 of 4

   Gently and without hurry. Those present can do this while the calls are made.

   • Close the eyes and the mouth
   • Straighten the arms and legs
   • Cover the body with a clean sheet
   • Pray for them, and say only good
3. 2

   Call the mosque’s funeral service

   In the first few hours · 0 of 3

   Many mosques and Muslim associations help with the washing, the shroud, the prayer and the burial, and know which funeral company (begravelsesbyrå) to use.

   • Call the mosque’s funeral service or the imam
   • Tell them where the body is and who the next of kin is
   • Agree a time for the ghusl and the janazah prayer
4. 3

   Ask whether the police are involvedPaperwork

   If the death was sudden or violent · 0 of 3

   If a crime may have caused the death, or a forensic autopsy is likely, the body may not be buried or taken out of Norway without the police’s permission. The 10-working-day time limit for burial does not run while the body is held for a forensic autopsy.

   • Ask the doctor or the police whether the death has been reported to the police
   • Ask the police, early, to release the body as soon as possible for religious reasons
   • Ask when the police expect to give permission before fixing the funeral
5. 4

   The death is registered by the doctorPaperwork

   In the first days · 0 of 3

   Normally the doctor reports the death to the National Population Register (Folkeregisteret), and you do not need to register it yourself. If no doctor has reported it, contact the district court (tingrett) straight away. The district court deals with the estate.

   • Ask the doctor or hospital to confirm they have reported the death
   • Tell the district court about any will you know of
   • Tell the funeral company who will arrange the funeral
6. 5

   Choose the funeral company and the gravePaperwork

   Within the first day · 0 of 3

   A funeral company (begravelsesbyrå) collects the body and handles most of the paperwork. Each municipality has a burial authority (gravplassmyndigheten) that runs the cemeteries and assigns graves. Burial must respect the deceased’s religion.

   • Ask the funeral company in advance whether the mosque’s team or the family may wash the body
   • Ask the burial authority for a grave in a Muslim or direction-oriented field
   • If the family wants burial without a coffin, ask the burial authority early for permission
7. and

   Wash and shroud the body

   Within the first day · at the same time as the step above · 0 of 2

   Done by trained Muslims of the same sex, or by the spouse. The funeral service usually provides the cloth.

   • Confirm who will wash
   • Confirm the kafan is ready

   How the washing and shroud are done

8. 6

   The janazah prayer and the burial

   As soon as possible · 0 of 3

   The prayer is often held after one of the daily prayers, and the burial follows straight after.

   • Tell family and community the time of the prayer
   • Confirm the grave in a Muslim field or Muslim cemetery
   • Ask the burial authority for the earliest burial time it can give

   How to pray the janazah prayer

9. and

   If the burial will be abroadPaperwork

   Before the coffin is closed · at the same time as the step above · 0 of 4

   Some families bury their dead in another country. Ask the funeral company which paperwork it will handle. The estate usually pays, or the family if there is no money in it. Ask the funeral company what it costs and who signs before you agree, and check any insurance.

   • Tell the funeral company early that the burial will be abroad
   • Call the embassy or consulate of the country early: it sets its own documents and conditions
   • Ask the consulate whether it requires embalming or a sealed zinc coffin
   • Check any insurance and any repatriation fund you belong to
10. 7

    Get the probate certificatePaperwork

    In the first weeks · 0 of 2

    Banks and others need proof of who may act for the estate. In a private settlement this is the probate certificate (skifteattest) from the district court. It names the heirs.

    • Contact the district court dealing with the estate
    • For a private settlement, an heir must take on the debts at the court, normally within 60 days of the death or by the deadline the court sets
11. 8

    Pay the funeral costs and list every debt

    In the first weeks · 0 of 4

    The funeral is paid from the estate first, then the debts. Nothing is inherited until both are settled.

    • Pay the funeral costs from the estate
    • Keep every receipt
    • List loans, bills and money owed to family
    • Ask a scholar about any unpaid zakat
12. and

    Find the willPaperwork

    In the first weeks · at the same time as the step above · 0 of 3

    The district court checks whether a will was lodged with a court. Look at home too, and tell the court about any will you find.

    • Check papers at home, email, and with any lawyer
    • Ask the district court whether a will was lodged there
    • Secure the house and car, and keep the phone line active for sign-in codes
13. 9

    Settle and divide the estatePaperwork

    In the months after · 0 of 4

    Norwegian law reserves part of the estate to the children, in equal shares for sons and daughters, after the spouse’s minimum share. Dividing by the Islamic shares therefore often needs the heirs to agree. Ask a lawyer early how this can be done.

    • Choose a private settlement (privat skifte) or ask the court for a public one (offentlig skifte)
    • Close accounts and cancel subscriptions
    • Pay any bequest, up to one third, to people who are not heirs
    • Divide the rest by the fixed shares

    See how the estate divides

14. 10

    Look after the family

    Four months and ten days · 0 of 3

    A woman keeps the prescribed mourning (iḥdād: setting aside adornment and perfume) for no more than three days for any death, except for her husband: then four months and ten days, the length of her ʿiddah, or until she gives birth if she is pregnant.

    • Bring food and help with the household
    • Help the widow with errands and appointments
    • Make duʿā for the one who has died

    What to say and do when you visit

15. 11

    Write your own Islamic will

    For those left behind · 0 of 4

    Without a valid will, Norwegian law decides who inherits, not the fixed shares, and sons and daughters inherit equally. An Islamic will in Norway is an ordinary Norwegian will that directs the estate by the shares, within the part the law leaves free.

    • Write it down and sign it in front of two witnesses aged 18 or over
    • Tell the witnesses it is a will
    • Date it
    • Ask a lawyer how the children’s reserved share and the spouse’s minimum affect the Islamic shares

    Work out the Islamic shares to take to a lawyer

Settling things after the funeral? Keep track of every task, and who is doing it. Sharing the steps with family? Make a family checklist you send as a link.

General guidance, not a fatwa or legal advice. Norwegian law on burial and estates is national, but each municipality’s burial authority sets local rules and decides on burial without a coffin; your funeral company and a lawyer can confirm them. All sources

Last reviewed October 2026. Something wrong? Tell us