When a loved one dies while working abroad or as an ex-pat, they are subjected to the laws of the country they died.
During this time, you might have a lot of questions, like how can you communicate with individuals in a foreign country? Who can you turn to for help? What should you do? To help you know what to do when a loved one dies overseas, here are key points to look at:
1. Register the Death
You must register the death of your family member or traveling company with the local authority in the country where the victim diet. To do this, you will have to visit the municipal office.
The local authority may give you two different documents that you must return the deceased body to the motherland country.
2. Ask for Help from Your Network
When a person dies abroad, there will be an overwhelming about of bureaucracy. Whether you have a friend who is in the State Department or a relative who speaks a foreign country’s language, contacting your network for help may provide different kinds of support.
3. Get a Death Certificate
You must get a death certificate for your family member immediately. Without this certificate, you can make claims on property or with a beneficiary designation like a retirement account.
Some countries are far much better compared to others when it comes to issuing a death certificate. Depending on the country, you can also opt for apostille Arizona services to legalize office documents.
In this case, your death certificate will only have an apostille certificate attached to original documents issued by a coroner or registrar.
4. Repatriate the Body of the Loved One
To repatriate the body of your loved one, you will need the services of a reliable funeral home or repatriation specialists. The costs of repatriation associated with bringing the body home might be steep.
Most travel health insurance policies cover all the costs involved in the overseas funeral. If you suspect that your loved one took insurance before the trip, look at the policy for repatriation coverage.
5. Carry Ashes Home
If you prefer cremating the body and taking the ashes home, you might need to take a certificate of cremation and death certificate.
Usually, different rules will apply to every country. So it would be best to reach out to the high commission or embassy for advice. If you are planning to use a plane to bring the ashes home, you should also first reach out to the airline to look at their guidelines and requirements.
6. Collect Personal Things
You would have to collect the loved one’s belongings if they died in a hospice or hospital. Many individuals find this difficult. However, the ward staff could be supportive and aware of your emotions.
Some of the valuables you can pick include a watch, cash, or jewelry. If there are some things you want to remain with the deceased, like a wedding ring, ensure you let the ward staff know.
In Conclusion!
It can be distressing when a loved one dies. However, it becomes more devastating if a person dies overseas and you have no idea of where to start.
In this case, the best course of action is to contact your network, embassy, or high commission for guidelines. This way, you will be able to handle the unfamiliar system.
