What to do in the event of a death? Change the KVK registration

  • How to
  • Edited 28 February 2025
  • 2 min
  • Ending

When a business owner passes away, family, friends, or colleagues are often left with a lot of practical matters to deal with, and a lot of questions. Especially if the deceased leaves behind a business. The Business Register registration has to be changed in that case. The KVK Bereavement Support Team is here to help.

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How does the KVK Bereavement Support Team work?

Because no two situations are the same, the KVK Bereavement Support Team always gets in touch with the next of kin to discuss what is going to happen with the deceased's business or organisation. The Business Register registration is then changed accordingly. If you want to, you can get in touch with the team when an entrepreneur close to you passes away. 

You receive a letter

After an entrepreneur has died, KVK receives a notification from the municipal Personal Records Database (BRP). The KVK Bereavement Support Team sends a letter to the next of kin with the request to get in touch. After all, there will be changes to the company. Possible changes: ending, a transfer to another person, or sale. 

Business Register changes

The next of kin decide what will happen to the business. They may be the heirs, shareholders, or partners (vennoten or maten). They report the changes to the Business Register. The KVK Bereavement Support Team member will help with this. For example, they will explain which documents you need for which change. Think of notarial documents or special KVK forms.

As you will deal with the same team member at all times, you will only need to tell your story once. When the Business Register registration has been updated, KVK will send a confirmation letter of the changes by post.

UBO register changes

UBOs (Ultimate Beneficial Owners) are the persons in the organisation who take the decisions, the ultimate owners. Most organisations hve to register their UBOs in the UBO register, which is part of the Business Register. If the deceased entrepreneur was a UBO, then the UBO registration must be changed. 

When KVK receives a notification of the decaese of a UBO via the BRP, KVK deregisters that person. And a new UBO had to be registered. This does not happen automatically when you report the changes to the Business Register. The person who is authorised to sign on behalf of the business or organisation of the deceased entrepreneur has to register a new UBO.  

LEI register changes

A LEI (Legal Entity Identifier) is a code that an organisation needs to be allowed to trade on financial markets, for example to buy or sell stocks or shares. A LEI number is valid for a year, and then has to be renewed. You can only apply for a renew a LEI if you are registered in the Business Register as a person who is authorised to sign on behalf of the organisation. So, if the deceased person is the only person who is authorised to sign on behalf of the business or organisation, it is important to appoint a new authorised signatory as soon as possible. That person can then apply for or renew the LEI number.  

Getting in touch yourself

Do you not want to wait for the letter from the KVK Bereavement Support Team? Then follow these steps:

  • Send an email to nabestaandendesk@kvk.nl
  • In the email, state your name and phone number
  • And indicate the deceased person’s KVK number.

A member of the KVK Bereavement Support Team will contact you as soon as possible.

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