What Happens When Us Person Dies In Thailand?

[threelegcowboy]

Sorry for such a downer topic but this seems to be a hot subject with us older folks.

I have heard different accounts about what happens but need facts with sources etc but hope I dont have to consult a lawyer.

Need dollar figures etc for creamation in Thailand.

Need dollar figure for prep and shipment back to the states.

Here is what I have heard about the process, please correct me.

When you die in Thailand either the police or the hospital notifies the embassy in BKK. The embassy notifies your next of kinship back in the states. If your married to a Thai then the Thai wife has charge of your funerial. If you are single then the relatives back in the states are notified and are told that they can have a cremation in Thailand or cremation/burial in US. The embassy wants the funds to be secured before the body can be released from the Thais. I hear that the cost of the creamation is about $2000 in Thailand. Prep and shipment back to the US could cost $20,000.

OK you guys please no jokes.

[think_too_mut]

No joke - Australia requests all their pension recepients living in countries with no mutual agreement (Thailand is one of them) to report to the authorities (whoever sends the pension) every 3 months.

You cal them and they call you back. The call back number must be on the Australian soil.

The reason being - the surrounding of the deceised would not report the death and keep on getting the pension money.

Not sure if I read it on this site a year ago or somewhere else but sounds true.

What I would do is to get an insurance that covers the innevitable, regardless of how far off we may think the event might be.

[Nordlys]

What I would do is to get an insurance that covers the innevitable, regardless of how far off we may think the event might be.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I think International SOS will cover that. They will fly you home in sickness or death. Wherever you died (or got sick).

[Nam Kao]

Who is charging 80,000 baht for a thai cremation?

I am in the wrong business

[Rinrada]

All depends on what you want but you can usually get a half decent cremation done in LOS for around Bt 10,000.

I had to get involved with a couple in Kampuchea (farangs) and a bit cheeper over there ...of course.

Really all depends on who and what is involved and the type of "do" you want (just like in the west) but have a word with the local Wat and they will sort things out.

Dont forget in Buddism you havnt really died you are just sort of moving on...and on and.....

....dont need an exit visa either...

[cobra]

Also related, the need for a good living will,

Lying in a coma is not the time to be sorting things out, any details on your final disposition will be in black and white per your wishes.

[haha]

there are several articles on the internet where people talk about the cost of cremation in thailand.

curious about the subject, I read several articles where the costs of cremation ranged from 3k baht on up.

I think I would go to a temple to find out the exact cost.

http://hjem.get2net.dk/civet-cat/theravada...gs/thai-94.html

http://foia.state.gov/masterdocs/07fam/07m0220.pdf

http://www.rejoicecharity.com/rejoice/englishfund.pdf

http://mdn.mainichi-msn.co.jp/waiwai/archi...0dm999000c.html

http://www.pattayamail.com/288/columns.htm

it is interesting to note that in the states, the basic cremation fee is about 200 dollars or 8k baht, but then, they jack up the cost with coffins, and the such.

http://www.jaychapel.com/cat/General+Price+List.html

what a scam. I really don't see the need for all the fancy stuff when you die.

frankly, when I die, I would prefer a basic cremation done, and have my ashes scattered over the chao praya river. (if thailand would allow it, otherwise, over the golden gate bridge in san francisco. hehehe.)

well, hopefully I have at least another 20 years to go.

...doesn't seem like much time, does it?

...get those happy memories before it's too late people.

yeah. oiishi, here I come! then, it's the loooobby. ...and the pppparking lot.

Aahhhhhhh. Ooohhhhhh.

tomorrow, it'll be the thai all-you-can-eat bbq buffet, and then, a walk in the park.

[kidtongue]

Sorry for such a downer topic but this seems to be a hot subject with us older folks.

I have heard different accounts about what happens but need facts with sources etc but hope I dont have to consult a lawyer.

Need dollar figures etc for creamation in Thailand.

Need dollar figure for prep and shipment back to the states.

Here is what I have heard about the process, please correct me.

When you die in Thailand either the police or the hospital notifies the embassy in BKK.  The embassy notifies your next of kinship back in the states.  If your married to a Thai then the Thai wife has charge of your funerial.  If you are single then the relatives back in the states are notified and are told that they can have a cremation in Thailand or cremation/burial in US.  The embassy wants the funds to be secured before the body can be released from the Thais.  I hear that the cost of the creamation is about $2000 in Thailand. Prep and shipment back to the US could cost $20,000.

OK you guys please no jokes.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Ok..no jokes. This applies only if you are a U.S. citizen

Death of U.S. Citizens Abroad

U.S. Citizen Deaths From Non-Natural Causes, By Foreign Country

Sec. 204© of P.L. 107-228, the Foreign Relations Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2003, mandates that, to the maximum extent practicable, the Department of State collect and make available on the Department's Bureau of Consular Affairs Internet web site certain information with respect to each United States citizen who dies in a foreign country from a non-natural cause. The information required is: (1) the date of death; (2) the locality where the death occurred; and (3) the cause of death, including, if the death resulted from an act of terrorism, a statement disclosing that fact. The information on the web site must be listed on a country-by-country basis, and must cover deaths occurring since the date of enactment of the legislation on September 30, 2002, or occurring during the preceding three calendar years, whichever period is shorter. The information is updated every six months.

Report Of Death Of A U.S. Citizen Abroad:

The consular"Report of Death of an American Citizen Abroad is a report that provides the essential facts concerning the death of a U.S. citizen, disposition of remains, and custody of the personal effects of a deceased citizen. This form is generally used in legal proceedings in the United States in lieu of the foreign death certificate. The Report of Death is based on the foreign death certificate, and cannot be completed until the foreign death certificate has been issued. This can sometimes take from four to six weeks or longer after the date of the death, depending on how long it takes local authorities to complete the local form. U.S. Embassies and Consulates work with local authorities to see that this time is as short as possible.

Copies Of The Report Of Death:

The U.S. consular officer will send the family up to 20 certified copies of the Report of Death at the time the initial report is issued. These are provided at no fee. Additional copies can be obtained subsequently by contacting the Department of State, Passport Services, Correspondence Branch, 1111 19th Street, N.W., Suite 510, Washington, D.C. 20522-1705, tel (202) 955-0307. Submit a signed, written request including all pertinent facts along with requester's return address and telephone number. Effective June 1, 2002, there is a $30 fee for a certified copy of Reports of Death, and a $20 fee for each additional copy provided at the same time. See Federal Register, May 16, 2002, Volume 67, Number 95, Rules and Regulations, Page 34831-34838; 22 CFR 22.1, Item 43 (a) and 43(f). Fees are payable to the Department of State. See also the Department of State, Consular Affairs home page on the Internet at under"Passport Services"for further information about obtaining copies of Reports of Death.

Legal Authority:

U.S. insurance companies and other agencies sometimes inquire regarding the authority for issuance of Reports of Death. See 22 U.S. Code 4196; 22 Code of Federal Regulations 72.1.

Additional Information:

For additional information concerning Reports of Death, contact the appropriate geographic division of the Office of American Citizens Services and Crisis Management, Department of State, 2201 C Street N.W., Room 4817 N.S., Washington, D.C. 20520, tel: (202) 647-5225 or (202) 647-5226.

CONSULAR MORTUARY CERTIFICATE: A U.S. consular mortuary certificate is required to ensure orderly shipment of remains and to facilitate U.S. Customs clearance. The certificate is in English and confirms essential information concerning the cause of death. The U.S. consular officer will prepare the certificate and ensure that the foreign death certificate (if available), affidavit of the foreign funeral director, and transit permit, together with the consular mortuary certificate accompany the remains to the United States.

AFFIDAVIT OF FOREIGN FUNERAL DIRECTOR AND TRANSIT PERMIT: The U.S. consular officer will ensure that the required affidavit is executed by the local (foreign) funeral director. This affidavit attests to the fact that the casket contains only the remains of the deceased and the necessary clothing and packing materials. The affidavit may also state that the remains have been embalmed or otherwise prepared. In addition, the U.S. consular officer ensures that a transit permit accompanies the remains. The transit permit is issued by local health authorities at the port of embarkation.

U.S. ENTRY REQUIREMENTS FOR QUARANTINE AND CUSTOMS: In general, if remains have been embalmed, the documentation which accompanies the consular mortuary certificate will satisfy U.S. public health requirements. If the foreign death certificate is not available at the time the remains are returned, the consular mortuary certificate will include reference to the fact that the deceased did not die from a quarantineable disease and that the remains have been embalmed. The affidavit of the funeral director which is attached to the consular mortuary certificate complies with the U.S. Customs requirement that the casket and the packing container for the casket contain only the remains. If the remains are not accompanied by a passenger, a bill of lading must be issued by the airline carrier company to cover the transport. The customs house permit for entry to the United States is obtained by the airline carrier at the point of departure.

SHIPMENT OF UNEMBALMED REMAINS: If the remains are not embalmed, the U.S. consular officer should alert U.S. Customs and the U.S. Public Health Service at point of entry in advance, faxing copies of the consular mortuary certificate, local death certificate (if available), affidavit of foreign funeral director, and a formal statement from competent foreign authorities stating that the individual did not die from a communicable disease. This statement generally is required even if the exact cause of death is unknown in order for unembalmed remains to enter the United States.

So...what does it cost? Anywhere from 10,000 to 30,000, depending on what part of the country.If you have a Thai insurance policy the benefits must be paid out within 1 month to the benficiary (some agnets like to say it takes longer) but it is probably better to have a separate bank account designated just for that purpose.

[threelegcowboy]

Kidtongue,

Just to clarify....

"So...what does it cost? Anywhere from 10,000 to 30,000, depending on what part of the country.If you have a Thai insurance policy the benefits must be paid out within 1 month to the benficiary (some agnets like to say it takes longer) but it is probably better to have a separate bank account designated just for that purpose"

Is that money figure in Baht or dollars?

thx

LLL

[threelegcowboy]

OK OK

What is the cost of being embalmed in Thailand and shipped back to the states?

In U.S. dollars.

thx

LLL

[markuk]

All depends on what you want  but you can usually get a half decent cremation done in LOS for around Bt 10,000.

I had to get involved with a couple in Kampuchea (farangs) and a bit cheeper over there ...of course.

Really all depends on who and what is involved and the type of "do" you want (just like in the west) but have a word with the local Wat and they will sort things out.

Dont forget in Buddism you havnt really died you are just sort of moving on...and on and.....

....dont need an exit visa either...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Haha!! maybe all pensioners should keep an exit visa just in case - no need for re-entry permit though

[Sheryl]

Ok..no jokes. This applies only if you are a U.S. citizen

Death of U.S. Citizens Abroad

Report Of Death Of A U.S. Citizen Abroad:

The consular"Report of Death of an American Citizen Abroad is a report that provides the essential facts concerning the death of a U.S. citizen, disposition of remains, and custody of the personal effects of a deceased citizen. This form is generally used in legal proceedings in the United States in lieu of the foreign death certificate. The Report of Death is based on the foreign death certificate, and cannot be completed until the foreign death certificate has been issued. This can sometimes take from four to six weeks or longer after the date of the death, depending on how long it takes local authorities to complete the local form. U.S. Embassies and Consulates work with local authorities to see that this time is as short as possible.

This was VERY helpful. I too expect/plan to die in Thailand. I gather the key thing is to get a Thai death certificate and then have it submitted to the Embassy (in terms of getting oneself declared legally dead in one's own country). A few questions:

1. Anybody know what the steps are for gtting a Thai death certificate if one doesn't die in a medical facility? (Assume it's automatically provided when you die in hospital). I hope to die in my home which is in a remote rural area with local authorities unfamiliar with dealing with foreigners. My executor lives abroad and will need sometime to get here so the immediate burden will probably fall on my very nice but not well educated or sophisticated neighbors. I'd like to make it as easy for them as possible.

2. In keeping with that -- do wats in Thaialnd ever accept advance payment for a cremation? In my case (hopefully) it would be a long time in advance, and all I want is a bare minimum cremation.