What do I do if someone dies abroad

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If a relative or friend dies while you are abroad with them

All deaths must be registered in the country where the death occurs. Your tour guide, the local police or the British Embassy, High Commission or Consulate can advise you on how to go about this. Make sure you have as much documentation as possible about the person who has died and yourself. This should include:

If the person suffered from an infectious condition, for example Hepatitis or HIV viruses, it is essential that the authorities are told so that they can take precautions against infection. You do not have to register a death at the British Embassy, High Commission or Consulate, but by doing so, you will obtain a death registration document and a permanent copy of it will always be available in English from the General Register Office in the UK.

In Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Republic of Ireland, South Africa and UK overseas territories British Embassies, High Commissions or Consulates cannot currently issue death certificates. Local ones are sufficient for British purposes.

If a relative or friend dies abroad while you are in the UK

If the death has been reported to a British Embassy, High Commission or Consulate overseas, the details will be passed to the UK police and they will tell the next of kin as soon as possible.
If you hear of the death from a third party you should contact the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) on 020 7008 1500 and ask for the country desk in Consular Directorate.
Consular staff in London will keep in touch with the family until burial or cremation overseas (where local authorities allow these for foreigners) or until the person has been brought back to the UK.
Consular staff in London will pass overseas the wishes of the next of kin about funeral arrangements.

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The price quoted contains the Funeral Director fees for a simple funeral. This includes:

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What is a Direct Cremation?

A Direct Cremation is an alternative to the traditional funeral. This involves the cremation of the deceased without a funeral service. A Direct Cremation is generally the most economic option because costs of the coffin, preparation of the body, funeral service and expensive transportation are not included. However, many people choose Direct Cremations for reasons other than expense, for example:

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  • - Expressed desire from the deceased to not have a ceremony
  • - Individuals with relatives who face big physical or geographical challenges in coming together for a ceremony

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Attended funeral

This is Funeral Choice’s best estimate of this Funeral Director’s fees for an Attended Funeral, which is where family and friends have a ceremony or service for the deceased person at the same time as they attend their burial or cremation.

This price includes the following:

  • Taking care of all necessary legal and administrative arrangements
  • Collecting and transporting the deceased person from the place of death (normally within 15 miles of the funeral director’s premises) into the funeral director’s care
  • Care of the deceased person before the funeral in appropriate facilities.
  • Providing a suitable coffin
  • Optional viewing of the deceased person for family and friends, by appointment with the funeral director
  • At a date and time you agree with the funeral director, taking the deceased person direct to the agreed cemetery or crematorium (normally within 20 miles of the funeral director’s premises) in a hearse or other appropriate vehicle

In addition to the Funeral Director’s fee, there will be third party costs to consider (sometimes called disbursements) to cover the other aspects of a funeral (such as the crematorium or burial fees). Your chosen Funeral Director will be able to provide these for you.

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Unattended funeral

This is Funeral Choice’s best estimate of this Funeral Director’s fees and the crematorium fee for an Unattended Funeral, which is where family and friends may choose to have a ceremony, event or service for the deceased person, but they do not attend the burial or cremation itself. This is also known as a Direct Cremation.

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In addition to this fee, there might be additional third party costs to consider (sometimes called disbursements). Your chosen Funeral Director will be able to explain these for you.

If you wish to attend the funeral, you should view the “Attended Funeral” price instead.

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Why is this price Estimated?

We work hard to ensure the Funeral Director Fees we display are accurate and up to date. However, unlike with our partners, we cannot guarantee this price is correct today.

Funeral Director fees

The price quoted contains the Funeral Director fees for a simple funeral. This includes:

  • Funeral Director fees for meetings, paperwork and running the funeral
  • Collection of the deceased and care prior to funeral
  • Hearse or appropriate vehicle for transport to the funeral
  • Basic coffin

The Funeral Director fees quoted do not include third party costs (often called disbursements). The Funeral Director will guide you through your options. These costs are:

  • Cremation or burial fees
  • Medical certificate for cremation
  • Clergy or officiant fee for conducting the ceremony

In addition to the disbursements you may want to discuss optional costs with your Funeral Director - these could include:

  • Funeral flowers
  • Memorial (venue hire, catering etc)
  • Memorial headstone
  • Orders of service
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