I have lost my person and I don’t know where to start. What do I do about the insurance and the papers?
A calm, practical guide to the first 30 days: what can wait, what has a deadline (a widow’s pension is claimed within 3 months), how to find the policies, what an insurer usually asks for, and what we do not yet know for certain.
In short
In the first days you do not need to solve everything; few things have a deadline and most can wait a little. Start with a folder, a diary and someone you trust beside you.
- Get several official copies of the death certificate.
- Note the deadlines: widow’s pension within 3 months, statement of assets within 6, funeral grant within 12.
- Write to each insurer and ask for its list of documents in writing, with a reference number.
- Do not sign anything about debts or the estate before you speak to a lawyer.
From the series “The questions you are afraid to ask”: questions real people ask, with honest answers.
At a glance
- In the first days you do not need to solve everything. Few things have a deadline; most can wait a little.
- A widow’s pension is claimed within 3 months of the death. The funeral grant within 12 months.
- Cyprus has had no estate duty since 2000, but the executor or administrator files a statement of the assets within 6 months.
- Ask each insurer in writing for its list of documents and a reference number. You are not expected to know it all in advance.
You come first
If you are reading this a few days after a loss, we are very sorry. It is natural to feel you cannot think about paperwork. You do not have to do everything alone or all at once. Ask someone you trust to keep notes with you. What follows is a calm order of steps for the first month, with what we know for certain and what you need to ask.
The first 30 days, step by step
- First week: get several official copies of the death certificate; many will ask for one. Keep the funeral receipts.
- First two weeks: gather everything you find in one folder: policies, bank statements, provident fund, loans, a will. Look through emails, papers and account movements for payments to insurers.
- Before the first month is out: notify each insurer in writing, ask for a reference number and its list of documents. Notify the bank about any loans, and ask whether there is loan insurance.
- Within 3 months: claim the widow’s pension from Social Insurance, if you are entitled. Late claims are paid back only for a limited time.
- Within 6 months: the executor of the will or the administrator files a statement of the assets and liabilities with the Tax Department. There has been no estate duty since 2000.
- Within 12 months: claim the funeral grant, by the widow or widower or whoever paid for the funeral.
The widow’s pension and the funeral grant
According to the Social Insurance Services guide, the widow’s pension is 60% of the weekly value of the deceased’s average insurance units, rising to 80%, 90% or 100% with one, two or three dependants. The surviving spouse must have lived with, or been mainly supported by, the deceased, and the deceased must have had the required contributions. The claim is made within 3 months. The funeral grant is a lump sum revised every January; we could not confirm the 2026 amount, so ask the Services.
Life insurance: what we know and what we don’t
We could not find an official, single list of the documents insurers in Cyprus ask for a death claim. What is usually asked is the death certificate, the policy or its number, the beneficiary’s ID and bank details, and sometimes a medical report on the cause of death. But each insurer has its own list: ask for it in writing. We also could not confirm whether an amount paid to a named beneficiary stays outside the estate or needs a formal grant first; ask the insurer and, if needed, a lawyer.
We did not find a central register in Cyprus where you can search whether someone had a policy. That is why the traces matter: papers, emails, standing orders, premium certificates for the tax office. If you find an insurer, write to it; if you find nothing, ask the larger insurers, with a copy of the death certificate.
Your questions, one by one
My husband died last week. I don’t even know where to start with the insurance.
We are so sorry. Start with just one thing: a folder with every paper you find and copies of the death certificate. Then write to each insurer you find and ask for its list of documents. The only near deadline is the widow’s pension, within 3 months.
What documents will the insurer ask for a death claim?
We did not find an official single list for Cyprus. What is usually asked is the death certificate, the policy or its number, the beneficiary’s ID and bank details, and perhaps a medical report. Ask the insurer for its own list in writing.
The insurer keeps asking us for documents a month after Dad’s death. Is that normal?
It can be, especially if the death came soon after the policy started or medical records are needed. Ask in writing for the full list at once, the reason for each document, and an estimated timetable. If the delay is not explained, you can make a written complaint; the insurer must answer within 45 days.
How long after a death should we expect the insurer to pay, and when should we chase?
In the articles of the law we reviewed we found no specific deadline for paying an accepted claim. Ask the insurer at the start how long it usually takes, and keep a log of contacts. If a reasonable time passes without an explanation, send a written complaint.
Who has the right to ask the insurer about a deceased person’s policy?
Usually the beneficiary named in the policy, and the executor or administrator of the estate. A relative who is not a beneficiary may be given less information. Ask the insurer what it needs to answer you, with a copy of the death certificate.
How do I pay for the funeral if the bank froze his account?
Ask the bank whether it can pay the funeral director’s invoice directly from the account; some banks do. Keep all receipts: whoever paid for the funeral can claim the funeral grant within 12 months. Also ask whether any policy has funeral-expense cover.
Is there a widow’s or orphan’s benefit I should apply for, and how fast?
The widow’s pension is claimed within 3 months of the death; late claims are paid back only 3 months, or up to 12 with good reason. There is also an orphan’s pension for the children, with age limits that extend while they study. Ask the Social Insurance Services about both together.
My wife died and I have to keep working with two small children. What support exists?
We are deeply sorry. Ask Social Insurance about the widower’s and orphan’s pensions, which rise with dependent children. Check whether there is life insurance or a group plan from her work. And do not hesitate to ask the people around you for practical help.
We found an old policy from the 90s. Is it still worth anything?
It might be. Write to the insurer it names, or to whichever took it over, with the policy number and a copy of the death certificate. Ask whether it was in force, whether it had a surrender value and who the beneficiary is. Even a policy whose premiums stopped may have some value.
Does the insurance payout count towards the estate shared among the heirs?
We could not confirm this for Cyprus. It often depends on whether the policy names a beneficiary. Ask the insurer in writing whom it will pay and whether a formal grant is needed, and if there is a disagreement, speak to a lawyer.
My father died without a will. How are his savings and policies shared?
Without a will, the estate is shared under the law of succession, and an administrator usually has to be appointed. For small estates the law (Cap. 189) provides for a certificate of heirs without a full grant. For a policy with a named beneficiary, ask the insurer whom it pays; for the rest, speak to a lawyer.
What are letters of administration, and how long do they take in Cyprus?
They are the court’s formal authority for a person to administer the estate when there is no will or executor; with a will, the executor applies for probate. We have no reliable figure for how long it takes. A lawyer can give you an estimate for your own case.
My husband had a loan. Do I have to pay it back now that he’s gone?
First ask the bank whether there was life insurance for the loan; if so, it may pay it off. If not, his debts are generally paid from his estate before it is shared. If you are a co-borrower or guarantor, other rules apply; do not sign anything new before you speak to a lawyer.
I inherited my father’s debts along with the house. Can I refuse the inheritance?
It is a legal question we could not confirm, and the details matter. Do not pay or sign anything about debts before you speak to a lawyer. A life policy with a named beneficiary may be treated differently; ask about that too.
My partner died, we weren’t married, and his family says I have no rights. Is that true?
If he named you as beneficiary of a life policy, the policy says whom it pays, and you ask the insurer directly. For the inheritance, an unmarried partner’s rights depend on the law and on any will; speak to a lawyer. Do not let pressure make you sign anything.
We are three siblings and we disagree about Mum’s insurance money. What now?
First see what the policy says about the beneficiaries and their shares; the insurer pays according to that. If the disagreement is about the rest of the estate, a calm meeting with a neutral lawyer often saves years. The insurer cannot settle family disputes.
My brother died abroad. How do we bring his body home and who pays?
We are so sorry. Check whether he had travel insurance or repatriation cover in a policy or on a card; if so, call its assistance line first. The embassy or consulate can guide you with the official documents. Keep every receipt.
Can I keep the joint policy going after my spouse’s death, or does it end?
It depends on the type. A joint life policy often pays on the first death and ends; a family health plan may continue for the other members. Ask in writing what happens with yours, and do not stop payments before you know.
After a death, which bills and policies should we cancel and which should we keep?
Do not rush. First notify, then decide: some policies that also cover others, such as the home or the car, should continue or be transferred, not cut. Ask for a refund of premiums paid for the time after the death, where it applies.
Will we pay tax on the inheritance or on the payout?
Cyprus has had no estate duty since 2000. The law exempts lump-sum compensation for death from income tax. For the exact tax treatment of a life insurance payment, confirm with a tax adviser.
If the claim is refused, do we have time to respond?
Yes, but there are deadlines. For the Financial Ombudsman, first complain in writing to the insurer within 6 months of learning of the problem. For a court claim the general limit is 6 years, and where the claimant has died, time is suspended until three months after an executor or administrator is appointed. Whether heirs can complain to the Ombudsman we did not confirm; ask its office.
Questions worth asking
- Is there a policy in his or her name? Who is the beneficiary?
- Exactly which documents do you need, and can you send me the list in writing with a reference number?
- Is a formal grant needed before you pay, or do you pay the beneficiary directly?
- How long does the assessment usually take, and whom can I ask about progress?
What you can do from today
- Get several official copies of the death certificate.
- Open a folder and a log: whom you notified, when, with which reference number.
- Mark the deadlines in your calendar: 3 months for the widow’s pension, 6 months for the statement of assets, 12 months for the funeral grant.
- Write to each insurer and ask for its list of documents in writing.
- Do not sign anything about debts or the inheritance before you speak to a lawyer.
- Ask someone you trust to be with you at meetings.
What went wrong for others — and how to avoid it
- No proof of what was sent, or when. The Financial Ombudsman asks for the original complaint with proof of the date it was sent. Send by email or registered post, ask for a reference number and keep a log of calls.
- A vague answer was accepted without question. A “according to the terms” is not a full answer. Ask for the specific clause, the evidence the decision relied on and any medical report; a vague answer is a reason to escalate.
- The six-month window for complaining was missed. If a claim is refused or delayed, send a short written complaint straight away; you can add the details later.
Every policy has its own terms. What we write here is general information, not advice; for your own case, what your policy says applies, and it is worth confirming it in writing with your insurer.
Sources
- Social Insurance Services — guide to the funeral grant and the widow’s pension (in Greek; copy hosted by ANT1, 2026)
- ISSA — Country profile: Cyprus (social security programmes, as of 1 July 2023)
- PwC Cyprus — Tax Facts & Figures 2024 (estate duty abolished; statement of assets)
- CyLaw — Income Tax Law 118(I)/2002, Article 8 (exempt income)
- CyLaw — Administration of Estates Law, Cap. 189
- Aceris Law — unofficial English translation of the Limitation of Actionable Rights Law 66(I)/2012
- Insurance Companies Control Service (ICCS), Ministry of Finance — Complaints
- Financial Ombudsman of the Republic of Cyprus — Frequently asked questions (in Greek)
- Financial Ombudsman — Information for natural persons
Read also: What to do when someone close dies · How is a claim paid? · Who gets the money? · Claim companion · My family folder · Why talk about death?
You do not need to decide anything today. When you are ready, if you would like someone to go through the papers of a policy with you, you can book an appointment with an advisor, with no obligation.
