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No one wants to think about a loved one passing while abroad. The long, complicated process of bringing them home for a proper funeral and burial on top of the grief can be overwhelming. It’s helpful to know the full procedure outlined to guide you through it. 

How to Handle a Death Abroad

1. Get in Touch With Your Embassy or Consulate

Immediately contact your embassy or consulate if you’re with your companion at their time of death. If they pass while traveling alone, a consular officer will call their next-of-kin and instruct you on making arrangements for burial or bringing remains and possessions home. 

2. Cooperate With Consular & Local Authorities

All processes are subject to local (foreign) law, so you must work with local authorities. Transport, required paperwork, and handling of the body vary widely throughout the world. Your consular can help you understand what you need to do based on your family and loved one’s wishes. Depending on the cause of death, local authorities may need your help with autopsies and investigations.

3. Attain a Foreign Death Certificate

funeralBefore you bring your loved one’s remains back for a funeral, you’ll need to obtain a local death certificate and create a few copies. The consulate or embassy will then write a Consular Report of the Death of an American Abroad, which can be sent to legal representatives and next-of-kin to settle estate matters. Remember that the certificate may be in a foreign language, so a translator might be necessary.

4. Prepare Remains & Belongings for Transit

Once the certificate of death is issued and the consular officers write their own report, the consulate will inventory all belongings the deceased had abroad. They will help you obtain a transit permit for their remains, whether cremated or embalmed. Be aware that the family is responsible for covering costs of transportation. The consular officer should oversee all legal requirements for your airline and U.S. Customs.

5. Contact a Funeral Home With Experience

When all foreign matters are handled, the funeral arrangements are up to you. Find a funeral home that has experience handling deaths of travelers, particularly if they’ve dealt with the country in question. They should be prepared to accommodate transport and make arrangements for timely funeral services.

 

At Porto Funeral Homes, they understand how important it is to bring your loved ones home when they’ve passed away abroad. Located in New Haven County, CT, they’ll work with you to schedule services, organize legal documentation, and transport remains once they’ve arrived from transit. You shouldn’t have to handle death alone, so allow their compassionate staff members to assist you. For information on what they can do to help, call (203) 467-3000. Visit them online to learn more about their funeral services.

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