”Deceased”.
The message in the online bank came as a shock to Jonathan Ravelin. But the consequences were much worse than just an unpleasant message.
He was officially dead for a week.
However, it took six weeks before he had full access to his finances again after the incorrect declaration of death in the fall of 2023. During that time, he and his partner were forced to borrow money to be able to buy food for the family.
Despite the fact that the Stockholm District Court finds that it was wrong to declare him dead, the state is exempt from paying damages.
It feels really tough. I had expected a win, it felt that way when we were in court, says Jonathan Ravelin after the verdict.
But apparently it's okay that a few people are incorrectly declared dead every year.
Not for the money
Since several others in the small community of Olofström in Blekinge have also been affected, he is still often reminded of what happened. It is also, among other things, for their sake that Jonathan Ravelin chose to sue the state.
Immediately after the verdict, he and his representative from the Center for Justice also decided that it would be appealed. However, it's not about the requested damages of 20,000 kronor, he emphasizes.
No, the time I've spent on this corresponds to so much more, really. It's also the most common comment I get, from friends or people in the grocery store. "Why are you asking for so little money", he says.
”Must be changed”
The purpose of the lawsuit is instead to get the Tax Authority and other authorities to change their routines.
This should not have to happen to a single person again. But the state and now the court apparently think it's okay, says Jonathan Ravelin disappointedly.
It just feels right that this is tried in a higher instance, because this must be changed.
This is how many cases of incorrectly declared deceased persons the Tax Authority has handled in recent years.
2025: 26
2024: 31
2023: 16
2022: 46
2021: 42
2020: 35
Source: Tax Authority.
