Special Feature: What happens when a foreigner dies in Thailand???

[Thingamabob]

8 hours ago, drgoon said:

Why??

Yes, why indeed ? Tell us precisely what is 'disgusting'. 

 

[VinnieK]

9 hours ago, Kerryd said:

The process is pretty straight forward and doesn't require a multi-part story.

From personal experience (when my father died here in 2010).

Dad was in the hospital (age 77 - late stage lung cancer) when he died.
No need for autopsy. (If the cause of death is known, they don't need to do an autopsy.)

Assuming you are the next of kin/legal guardian.

1. Hospital issues Death Certificate. (Body taken to the morgue.)
2. Death Certificate has to be take to City Hall (to be authenticated or something).
3. Death Certificate and passport of the deceased taken to national Embassy. (Passport is cancelled. Get Death Certificate translated and notarized copies made.)
4. Embassy issues Letter authorizing disposal of the body.
5. With copies of the Death Certificate and Letter from the Embassy, make an appointment at whichever temple you like for a cremation ceremony. 
6. Make arrangements to move the body from the morgue to the temple on the appropriate day. 

Notes:
* The Embassy should try to contact next of kin if possible. If you are the next of kin, you need that letter from the Embassy authorizing you to dispose of the body, either locally (in Thailand) or transported back home (at your expense of course).
* You HAVE to have that Letter authorizing you to dispose of the body. The temple can't do a cremation without it.
* Cremation ceremonies can be one day affairs up to 5 days. But if the body has been in the morgue for a few days, they will want to do a "one and done" ceremony.
* You will be expected to dispose of the ashes the morning after the cremation.

That's pretty much it as far as Thailand is concerned.

Many foreigners won't have a Last Will and Testament which will muck things up a lot. Normally in Thailand, you have to wait 45 days before you can go to court to have the Will probated (read and approved by a judge).
(Got to have time for people, including any possible family members and/or creditors to lay claim to the assets.)

You can't dispose of any of the deceased's assets before then.

Which means someone has to pay for the cremation and (presumably) storage of personal effects.

I was the heir and only relative when my dad died. I paid for everything of course. Due to work issues, it was nearly 3 months before I could get back and go to court to have the Will probated (Dad did have a Will in Thailand and one in Canada as well).

I had to make a trip "home" later that year to notify the various gov't agencies (hence the need for the notarized copies of the translation of the Death Certificate) and to get his (Canadian) Will probated.

Most of that won't apply here though, as I doubt too many "bar stool buddies" are going to put much (if any) effort into settling someone's affairs (and paying out a wad of cash in the process).

Final Note - If you die in Thailand and don't have a Will, your relatives (if any) are screwed. Basically, the "gov't" (City Hall presumably) would take control of any personal effects and, if no claims are made against the estate, dispose of them after a period of 7 years.

A friend of mine died some years ago. Old Vietnam Vet. He actually travelled back the USA after he got sick and died there.
But he left assets in Thailand, including vehicles and money in the bank. No one could touch any of it because he didn't have a Will. Even his sister in the USA. 
She could have flown here and petitioned the court and maybe they would have given her his stuff but apparently she didn't want to make the trip or something.
So what will happen is that, after a period of time, his bank account will go "dormant" and after about 7 years, they will close it. I'm guessing any assets he had will have long since disappeared.

What if a foreigner dies and there's no one to do anything ?
Basically, the body would be taken to the hospital for an autopsy.
The Embassy would be notified. The body would stay in the morgue.
If the Embassy can't find any relatives, they would be expected to authorize the disposal of the body.
(I'm guessing City Hall would then make the arrangements with a temple for a "pauper's" cremation and the temple staff would dispose of the ashes.)
As to the person's assets, who knows ? Probably gone to whoever got there first.

By rights, any money in the bank would stay there until 7 years have passed. Then the account would be closed and the money (in theory) transferred to the (Federal) government.

If it is a friend of yours, you can go the "e-beggar" route, set up a GoFundMe and try to cash in (by claiming you need the money to settle his affairs and pay for his funeral).

(A few years ago some "Youtube" guy that was worth a bit of money died in Thailand. His relatives didn't want to spend their own money so they set up a GoFundMe with a ridiculous amount, like $100,000 US, to travel to Thailand to get the body and fly it home. I'm guessing after they spent a couple weeks in 5 star hotels and flying back and forth on chartered jets.)
 

Very informative.

Friend died recently here

No will and no immediate family (German)

Body was cremated a few weeks later

We are scratching our heads as to what will happen to his money and how any lawful inheritors can claim it

 

 

 

[VBF]

3 hours ago, Liverpool Lou said:

Yes.  A death certificate has to be issued, and will be, if your death is reported here.   The police will inform the Embassy which has the responsibility of informing any family in the UK.  The Embassy will have access to the death certificate.  

Thank you.

So if I "popped me clogs" in Pattaya, my Executrix in UK could show my will to obtain the DC and then apply for Probate?

At the same time tell the Embassy that she wants no part of pointless  things like funerals and do as they please with my remains, which would be my wish.

[brianthainess]

I started a post last week "Death of a Friend" which i promised to up date, it has been one of the worst weeks of my life, I could write several chapters, on the running around back and forth from hospital, police, hospital, police, amphur, police, here on KC. Dealing with his relative overseas. Bottom line is all these problems could have been avoided simply if I had known about the available Funeral Directors recommended by his embbassy before hand, my advise is use them, when we are sent to the  forensics police, it is not just a matter of going there once to collect the body.

 

One has to get all relative Docs from Embassy, police doctor, return to the province where they lived and died, go to Amphur register the death, Then return to BKK

 to police maybe embassy again, and YOU arrange for his body to be returned and cremated. 

 

They can arrange everything, it would have cost me around 25k in fuel and hotels etc. Their charge including Police doctor, basic coffin 2 trips, all Docs. to our local temple on KC and staff were fantastic was 38k, not including the funeral. 

 

 

[jayjay2001]

9 hours ago, Wuvu2 said:

So what happens if you die here without any family or friends? Lets say my condo staff follows the smell and finds me bloated on the sofa, surrounded by Indian Viagra knockoffs and empty bottles of jack Daniels. What then?

Good one.  Made me laugh more than once ????

[allanos]

A bit of synchronicity here for me today.

 

Earlier, I was dwelling on the opening lines of Rupert Brooke's "The Soldier", when, later,

I came upon this "Special Feature", which resonated somewhat.

 

Being British-born, I find the poem below much more evocative and decided to share it in

full.

 

Brits will no doubt relate to it; other foreigners will understand the meaning and adapt

it to their own circumstances, possibly.

 

The Soldier

BY RUPERT BROOKE

If I should die, think only this of me:

      That there’s some corner of a foreign field

That is for ever England. There shall be

      In that rich earth a richer dust concealed;

A dust whom England bore, shaped, made aware,

      Gave, once, her flowers to love, her ways to roam;

A body of England’s, breathing English air,

      Washed by the rivers, blest by suns of home.

 

And think, this heart, all evil shed away,

      A pulse in the eternal mind, no less

            Gives somewhere back the thoughts by England given;

Her sights and sounds; dreams happy as her day;

      And laughter, learnt of friends; and gentleness,

            In hearts at peace, under an English heaven.

[The Hammer2021]

He goes  to Pattaya

[JimTripper]

3 hours ago, VinnieK said:

Very informative.

Friend died recently here

No will and no immediate family (German)

Body was cremated a few weeks later

We are scratching our heads as to what will happen to his money and how any lawful inheritors can claim it

You get nothing! ????

[drgoon]

21 hours ago, Thingamabob said:

Yes, why indeed ? Tell us precisely what is 'disgusting'. 

 

You were the one who said it was disgusting so go ahead and tell us.

[Jen65]

On 8/17/2022 at 9:52 AM, scorecard said:

My understanding is that when an embassy is informed of a death they urgently look for 2 things in unison:

 

- Is there a valid will, and get a copy to check for the wishes of the departed.

 

- Instructions, from the deceased as to who should be promptly informed (in home country and in LOS), and if no other party had validly agreed to informed those listed then the embassy will undertake to have those listed promptly informed.

 

How does the embassy get instructions from the deceased ??    I wouldn't rely on an Embassy doing much in the way of assistance apart from supplying the requisite Death Certificate ( get quite a few of those ! ) Much better to assign ones Lawyer to be the Executor of ones Estate and to Execute the Will ( as long as one has been made) and ensure they have all the necessary information on file to do so .   The lawyer should be aware of any other Wills made and specific to assets in other countries .    Having a Lawyer deal with this avoids the input of supposed girlfriends / family / other parties  arguing over who gets what !!        

[scorecard]

53 minutes ago, Jen65 said:

How does the embassy get instructions from the deceased ??    I wouldn't rely on an Embassy doing much in the way of assistance apart from supplying the requisite Death Certificate ( get quite a few of those ! ) Much better to assign ones Lawyer to be the Executor of ones Estate and to Execute the Will ( as long as one has been made) and ensure they have all the necessary information on file to do so .   The lawyer should be aware of any other Wills made and specific to assets in other countries .    Having a Lawyer deal with this avoids the input of supposed girlfriends / family / other parties  arguing over who gets what !!        

Hey slow down a little.

 

Every embassy is different, some embassies encourage citizens of their country to contact the embassy in Bkk and record some personal details and who should be advised when that foreigner passes away. 

 

Also some embassies (e.g. Australia), when they are processing a passport renewal ask for the name of a contact person in Thailand (from same country) who they contact when they're received advice from the Thai Police that the foreigner has passed away.

 

They ask the contact person if he/she is aware of a will and if the contact person has a copy of the will and they ask if the contact person will share a copy.

 

Why: they are hoping that any will available might help to establish who should be informed of the death in the home country. The Aust. embassy in Bkk doesn't involve itself in any way with what's in the will re distbursement of assets etc., and they will refuse to give any advice on this point. 

 

In the case of Australian the Bkk Embassy call the contact person on record and if that doesn't bring details of whether there is a will or a copy of the will, they ask the contact person to advise them who to contact in the home country. 

 

In the case of Australia the Bkk embassy is required by Aust. law to automatically and promptly contact 'Centrelink' in Australia (Aust. Gov't department which handles pensions and other payments/benfits), and they take quick action to stop further payments.

Edited August 18, 2022 by scorecard

[JensenZ]

On 8/17/2022 at 6:03 AM, wombat said:

My take on me dieing in LOS is I become someone else's problem.

The biggest problem I see is that reporters like to post passport photos of the recently deceased. Someone should put an end that - it's just not right.

[scorecard]

35 minutes ago, JensenZ said:

The biggest problem I see is that reporters like to post passport photos of the recently deceased. Someone should put an end that - it's just not right.

Never seen that. Is that on another webboard?

[3NUMBAS]

farang restrant owners in patters who died  had their places stipped of all fittings  in double quick time

[scorecard]

57 minutes ago, scorecard said:

Hey slow down a little.

 

Every embassy is different, some embassies encourage citizens of their country to contact the embassy in Bkk and record some personal details and who should be advised when that foreigner passes away. 

 

Also some embassies (e.g. Australia), when they are processing a passport renewal ask for the name of a contact person in Thailand (from same country) who they contact when they're received advice from the Thai Police that the foreigner has passed away.

 

They ask the contact person if he/she is aware of a will and if the contact person has a copy of the will and they ask if the contact person will share a copy.

 

Why: they are hoping that any will available might help to establish who should be informed of the death in the home country. The Aust. embassy in Bkk doesn't involve itself in any way with what's in the will re distbursement of assets etc., and they will refuse to give any advice on this point. 

 

In the case of Australian the Bkk Embassy call the contact person on record and if that doesn't bring details of whether there is a will or a copy of the will, they ask the contact person to advise them who to contact in the home country. 

 

In the case of Australia the Bkk embassy is required by Aust. law to automatically and promptly contact 'Centrelink' in Australia (Aust. Gov't department which handles pensions and other payments/benfits), and they take quick action to stop further payments.

I add more, only as a sidenote, for Aussies who receive benefits from the Autralian Dept., of Veterans Affairs (DVA). The Aust. embassy in Bkk DON'T automatically contact the DVA to tell them an Aussie in LOS has passed away. (The veteran needs to have an arrangement already in place for a family member or friend to quickly contact the DVA, so that benefits stop. If there is any overpayment the DVA will take action to recover the overpaid amount. Centrelink do the same if there's any overpayment.)

 

 

Edited August 18, 2022 by scorecard

[3NUMBAS]

farangs  in issan who died had  nothing declared so the famiiy could go on claiming the pension for as long as possible

[Excel]

19 minutes ago, 3NUMBAS said:

farangs  in issan who died had  nothing declared so the famiiy could go on claiming the pension for as long as possible

There maybe one or two dead ones then that are about to get into the Guinness Book of Records for the oldest person in the UK ????

[Kwaibill]

On 8/17/2022 at 9:12 AM, connda said:

Nor I.  Served eight years in the US military during the Cold War.  Cold War vets are non-entities to organizations like the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars.  Even the VA from my perspective. 

AN should try to accommodate the average, long-stay US ex-pat, like those of us who have been here 5, 10, 15, or 20+ years with the intentions of living here until we die - either married to a Thai or retired instead of focusing the process for a US 'combat vet.'  That's a niche into which a lot of us don't fit.
Try outlining the process for "most US expats."  Whatever.

6

Weird, isn't it? I served domestically during a period of no "declared conflict", even graduated from OCS, and am not considered a veteran. Even trying to obtain records is nearly impossible. Of course my regiment having been disbanded may also be a factor.

[Kerryd]

9 hours ago, Kwaibill said:

6

Weird, isn't it? I served domestically during a period of no "declared conflict", even graduated from OCS, and am not considered a veteran. Even trying to obtain records is nearly impossible. Of course my regiment having been disbanded may also be a factor.

Meanwhile, in Canada they decided that basically anyone who served for a day could be considered a veteran, even if they quit on day 2 of basic training.

Used to be you had to serve in a "declared" combat zone (or war) to be considered a vet.

Needless to say, a lot of actual vets were not impressed. Guys/girls that served 3 or more tours in Afghanistan and missing body parts standing in line behind "Waaaa I served for a day and demand my benefits" wash-outs.

Pretty much every country has different "rules" about dealing with deceased nationals. In most cases, it is up to the Embassy to try and inform next of kin (remember that they will, or should, get the person's passport and can trace that to their application which should list NOK and/or home address and contact numbers).

For countries like Canada, that's pretty much all they'll do. To get the Death Certificated "officially" translated costs extra and so does each "notarized true copy" you ask for. (I asked for 10 and I think I used 8 by the time I finished settling dad's affairs back home.)

 

[Kerryd]

On 8/17/2022 at 9:11 AM, Wuvu2 said:

So what happens if you die here without any family or friends? Lets say my condo staff follows the smell and finds me bloated on the sofa, surrounded by Indian Viagra knockoffs and empty bottles of jack Daniels. What then?

First off, they'd probably search your place and make off with any valuables. Then call the cops so they can get rid of the body before it stinks the place up too bad.
Body goes to hospital for autopsy, then to the morgue. Hospital issues death certificate. Police notify Embassy. Embassy can't find any next of kin. Body sent to local temple for "paupers" cremation. Temple staff (not monks) dump your ashes somewhere. Probably the landlord/property owner dispose of whatever personal possessions are left behind. Any money in the bank sits idle for 7 years and then the account is closed and the money transferred to a gov't account (or filched by someone along the way).

Eventually someone notices the old scooter that's been sitting in the parking lot for a decade and "sells" it to a local shop/scrapyard and that's the end of you in Thailand !

[Wuvu2]

40 minutes ago, Kerryd said:

First off, they'd probably search your place and make off with any valuables. Then call the cops so they can get rid of the body before it stinks the place up too bad.
Body goes to hospital for autopsy, then to the morgue. Hospital issues death certificate. Police notify Embassy. Embassy can't find any next of kin. Body sent to local temple for "paupers" cremation. Temple staff (not monks) dump your ashes somewhere. Probably the landlord/property owner dispose of whatever personal possessions are left behind. Any money in the bank sits idle for 7 years and then the account is closed and the money transferred to a gov't account (or filched by someone along the way).

Eventually someone notices the old scooter that's been sitting in the parking lot for a decade and "sells" it to a local shop/scrapyard and that's the end of you in Thailand !

Hmmm, Maybe I should post my ATM pin code posted on the refrigerator. Better to let the staff have it than make the government wait 7 years.

 

Or maybe one of the ladyboys at my last party strikes it rich. Thanks for the heads up ????

Edited August 19, 2022 by Wuvu2

[brianthainess]

On 8/18/2022 at 5:02 PM, scorecard said:

Hey slow down a little.

 

Every embassy is different, some embassies encourage citizens of their country to contact the embassy in Bkk and record some personal details and who should be advised when that foreigner passes away. 

 

Also some embassies (e.g. Australia), when they are processing a passport renewal ask for the name of a contact person in Thailand (from same country) who they contact when they're received advice from the Thai Police that the foreigner has passed away.

 

They ask the contact person if he/she is aware of a will and if the contact person has a copy of the will and they ask if the contact person will share a copy.

 

Why: they are hoping that any will available might help to establish who should be informed of the death in the home country. The Aust. embassy in Bkk doesn't involve itself in any way with what's in the will re distbursement of assets etc., and they will refuse to give any advice on this point. 

 

In the case of Australian the Bkk Embassy call the contact person on record and if that doesn't bring details of whether there is a will or a copy of the will, they ask the contact person to advise them who to contact in the home country. 

 

In the case of Australia the Bkk embassy is required by Aust. law to automatically and promptly contact 'Centrelink' in Australia (Aust. Gov't department which handles pensions and other payments/benfits), and they take quick action to stop further payments.

I must admit the OZ embbassy has been very helpful when my friend passed, once his contact  written in his passport was contacted, They were in direct contact with me by phone and e-mail, answering me very quickly.

[Jen65]

On 8/18/2022 at 5:02 PM, scorecard said:

Hey slow down a little.

 

Every embassy is different, some embassies encourage citizens of their country to contact the embassy in Bkk and record some personal details and who should be advised when that foreigner passes away. 

 

Also some embassies (e.g. Australia), when they are processing a passport renewal ask for the name of a contact person in Thailand (from same country) who they contact when they're received advice from the Thai Police that the foreigner has passed away.

 

They ask the contact person if he/she is aware of a will and if the contact person has a copy of the will and they ask if the contact person will share a copy.

 

Why: they are hoping that any will available might help to establish who should be informed of the death in the home country. The Aust. embassy in Bkk doesn't involve itself in any way with what's in the will re distbursement of assets etc., and they will refuse to give any advice on this point. 

 

In the case of Australian the Bkk Embassy call the contact person on record and if that doesn't bring details of whether there is a will or a copy of the will, they ask the contact person to advise them who to contact in the home country. 

 

In the case of Australia the Bkk embassy is required by Aust. law to automatically and promptly contact 'Centrelink' in Australia (Aust. Gov't department which handles pensions and other payments/benfits), and they take quick action to stop further payments.

Lucky you ,as an Australian and yes, some Embassies ( very few) get involved in doing anything when their citizens die abroad except issuing the required death certificate .   The British Embassy here has nothing to do with issuing passports except in emergency .They are done by the HMPO however there is , on the back page of ones passport the facility to inform whom is ones next of kin.    They obviously record the death and will likely help if there is no next of kin .   

However , this article refers to "when a foreigner dies in Thailand "  and although you as an Australian may have a large presence and thus larger Embassy and resources here , many other nationalities are not so so lucky with some having hardly any representation at all .      

[Northstar1]

I will tell you what happens as I have personally seen it!

if there is no wife - girlfriend etc.

the police move in and pilfer the place, taking valuables!

I asked my wife why they do this?

responce!

why wouldn’t they, he’s dead , him have no need for anything anymore!

the Thai way!????????????‍♂️????

[IvorBiggun2]

6 minutes ago, Northstar1 said:

why wouldn’t they, he’s dead , him have no need for anything anymore!

the Thai way!

I can understand that but surely it's not the Buddha way to steal from the dead? There must be some bad karma that will that will come down on them?

[scorecard]

17 minutes ago, Jen65 said:

Lucky you ,as an Australian and yes, some Embassies ( very few) get involved in doing anything when their citizens die abroad except issuing the required death certificate .   The British Embassy here has nothing to do with issuing passports except in emergency .They are done by the HMPO however there is , on the back page of ones passport the facility to inform whom is ones next of kin.    They obviously record the death and will likely help if there is no next of kin .   

However , this article refers to "when a foreigner dies in Thailand "  and although you as an Australian may have a large presence and thus larger Embassy and resources here , many other nationalities are not so so lucky with some having hardly any representation at all .      

Point taken. I did mention 'some embassies'. 

 

Somewhere in this discussion there's the point that foreigners living here should make some arrangements for when they pass on and they should inform someone (Thai family, close friend etc.) what these arrangements are, common sense. 

 

Yes I realize some won't bother;  too lazy, too stupid, too busy with their entertainments... etc.

[ThailandRyan]

2 minutes ago, IvorBiggun2 said:

I can understand that but surely it's not the Buddha way to steal from the dead? There must be some bad karma that will that will come down on them?

So what to do with the gold from the teeth after the body is cremated? Do they give it to the monk, or go and cash it in after melting it.  of course they keep it, I watched an old lady take the gold teeth to the gold shop and after they rinsed them off they weighed the gold and cashed her out....

[stupidfarang]

On 8/17/2022 at 6:53 AM, Kerryd said:

The process is pretty straight forward and doesn't require a multi-part story.

From personal experience (when my father died here in 2010).

Dad was in the hospital (age 77 - late stage lung cancer) when he died.
No need for autopsy. (If the cause of death is known, they don't need to do an autopsy.)

Assuming you are the next of kin/legal guardian.

1. Hospital issues Death Certificate. (Body taken to the morgue.)
2. Death Certificate has to be take to City Hall (to be authenticated or something).
3. Death Certificate and passport of the deceased taken to national Embassy. (Passport is cancelled. Get Death Certificate translated and notarized copies made.)
4. Embassy issues Letter authorizing disposal of the body.
5. With copies of the Death Certificate and Letter from the Embassy, make an appointment at whichever temple you like for a cremation ceremony. 
6. Make arrangements to move the body from the morgue to the temple on the appropriate day. 

Notes:
* The Embassy should try to contact next of kin if possible. If you are the next of kin, you need that letter from the Embassy authorizing you to dispose of the body, either locally (in Thailand) or transported back home (at your expense of course).
* You HAVE to have that Letter authorizing you to dispose of the body. The temple can't do a cremation without it.
* Cremation ceremonies can be one day affairs up to 5 days. But if the body has been in the morgue for a few days, they will want to do a "one and done" ceremony.
* You will be expected to dispose of the ashes the morning after the cremation.

That's pretty much it as far as Thailand is concerned.

Many foreigners won't have a Last Will and Testament which will muck things up a lot. Normally in Thailand, you have to wait 45 days before you can go to court to have the Will probated (read and approved by a judge).
(Got to have time for people, including any possible family members and/or creditors to lay claim to the assets.)

You can't dispose of any of the deceased's assets before then.

Which means someone has to pay for the cremation and (presumably) storage of personal effects.

I was the heir and only relative when my dad died. I paid for everything of course. Due to work issues, it was nearly 3 months before I could get back and go to court to have the Will probated (Dad did have a Will in Thailand and one in Canada as well).

I had to make a trip "home" later that year to notify the various gov't agencies (hence the need for the notarized copies of the translation of the Death Certificate) and to get his (Canadian) Will probated.

Most of that won't apply here though, as I doubt too many "bar stool buddies" are going to put much (if any) effort into settling someone's affairs (and paying out a wad of cash in the process).

Final Note - If you die in Thailand and don't have a Will, your relatives (if any) are screwed. Basically, the "gov't" (City Hall presumably) would take control of any personal effects and, if no claims are made against the estate, dispose of them after a period of 7 years.

A friend of mine died some years ago. Old Vietnam Vet. He actually travelled back the USA after he got sick and died there.
But he left assets in Thailand, including vehicles and money in the bank. No one could touch any of it because he didn't have a Will. Even his sister in the USA. 
She could have flown here and petitioned the court and maybe they would have given her his stuff but apparently she didn't want to make the trip or something.
So what will happen is that, after a period of time, his bank account will go "dormant" and after about 7 years, they will close it. I'm guessing any assets he had will have long since disappeared.

What if a foreigner dies and there's no one to do anything ?
Basically, the body would be taken to the hospital for an autopsy.
The Embassy would be notified. The body would stay in the morgue.
If the Embassy can't find any relatives, they would be expected to authorize the disposal of the body.
(I'm guessing City Hall would then make the arrangements with a temple for a "pauper's" cremation and the temple staff would dispose of the ashes.)
As to the person's assets, who knows ? Probably gone to whoever got there first.

By rights, any money in the bank would stay there until 7 years have passed. Then the account would be closed and the money (in theory) transferred to the (Federal) government.

If it is a friend of yours, you can go the "e-beggar" route, set up a GoFundMe and try to cash in (by claiming you need the money to settle his affairs and pay for his funeral).

(A few years ago some "Youtube" guy that was worth a bit of money died in Thailand. His relatives didn't want to spend their own money so they set up a GoFundMe with a ridiculous amount, like $100,000 US, to travel to Thailand to get the body and fly it home. I'm guessing after they spent a couple weeks in 5 star hotels and flying back and forth on chartered jets.)
 

I think you will find it depends what part of Thailand you are in and what the local officials say or how they interpret the law. A Canadian friend died here, police informed, body taken to the morgue. I informed his children in Canada about his death, they flew over. The police informed the Embassy, no papers were required from the embassy to cremate the body, did not have to wait for any paperwork to sell his bikes and belongings, BKK Bank allowed them to take the money out of his bank account via the ATM (left a few Bhat in there). I sent his passport back to the embassy and they cancelled it. I am sure what you have said is correct but if you live here you will know local officials have their own way of doing things, some by the book or some with the least amount of work.

[IvorBiggun2]

If you have a sound relationship then putting all your finances into joint accounts is a good thing?  ???? 

[scorecard]

On 8/19/2022 at 8:25 AM, Wuvu2 said:

Hmmm, Maybe I should post my ATM pin code posted on the refrigerator. Better to let the staff have it than make the government wait 7 years.

 

Or maybe one of the ladyboys at my last party strikes it rich. Thanks for the heads up ????

Or maybe you should make a simple will (templates are easy to find on the WWW) with an agreed executor (typically someone in the Thai family - if there is one), or a close farang friend and ensure the executor has a copy of the will etc.