A Guide on What to Do When Someone Dies Overseas

Dealing with the loss of a loved one can be difficult at the best of times. But when they pass away overseas, it can add an extra layer of complications. You’ll need to find a way of repatriating their body, so you can hold the funeral at home. Here are some of the ways you can do this.

Contact a Funeral Home That Has Experience with Repatriation

The best place to start is by talking to a funeral director. Repatriations can easily get complex, with multiple laws regulating the transfer of human remains internationally. Because of this, it’s best to pick a funeral director who has experience in this area.

They will be able to take care of the paperwork and legal problems. Though they might ask for some information, like the full name of your beloved deceased and their passport.

Integrity Funerals specialise in repatriations. Though they have the most experience in New Zealand and the Pacific, they can help you bring your loved one home from all corners of the world. As always, you can rest assured that your loved one will be treated with respect. Some families prefer to travel overseas, to accompany their loved ones back home. But this isn’t a requirement. The funeral home director will make sure cultural and religious beliefs will be respected.

While you wait for your loved one to arrive back home, you can work with them to start planning the service.

Bringing Your Loved One Home

The laws of the country where they passed away will determine how they will be brought back home. In many cases, you will be able to get the body back. Before you do this, your Gold Coast funeral home will need to coordinate with a local funeral home. They will be responsible for embalming your loved one, which is a legal requirement before the body will be allowed to travel internationally. It ensures that the body will be in good condition when it arrives back home.

At other times, the laws of the foreign country will ban sending the body back. Because of this, you might need to settle for their ashes. Or you might have to settle for local burial. The funeral home director will help you work through these legal problems.

How Long Does Repatriation Take?

This will vary slightly, depending on the country your loved one passed away in. Generally, though, the journey will take between seven to 10 days. It might be a little longer if the coroner needs to investigate some aspect of the death. Your funeral director will keep you informed every step of the way.

When a loved one dies overseas, it can be an especially devastating time. Not only are you facing grief, but you also need to cope with the logistical challenge of bringing them back home for the funeral. Thankfully, you aren’t alone during this difficult period. You will be able to turn to your funeral home director. Allow them to take care of the legal arrangements, so you can focus on planning a moving service.