Scenario:

Single guy, a friend, rented property no wife dies here but only elderly relatives are in Uk.

I have been asked by relatives to help. No Will found.

Body goes for ortopsy in Bkk.

Death Natural Causes no complications.

What next on?

Body and cremation?

Sale of Car and bike?

Money in bank?

Possessions in condo?

What documents needed and what hassels?

Good question.

Sorry for your friend and that you have to deal with this.

A lesson to us all that a will in Thailand is a good idea.

What did the embassy say, if anything?

Firstly; sorry to hear of your bereavement.

If he is British, then the British Embassy should be informed, and they will establish his next of kin.

I realise you are a friend, but the responsibility is not yours, at all.

Be careful of getting too involved.

This almost identical thing happened to a friend of mine within Thailand. He ended up seriously out of pocket: (several thousand pounds). If money doesn't matter to you, then go ahead and get involved.

But do proceed with caution: his will and possessions are (again) not your responsibility, or any of your business.

Get name of temple for funeral - give name of temple to embassy

With the name of the temple, the Embassy will issue authorization to release body

Go to police station to get police report.

Get death confirmation from Hospital

Take authorization, police report, and death confirmation to District Office to get death certificate

Take Death Certificate to hospital to collect remains.

I just had to go through this.. not as fun as it sounds. You can keep the expenses to around 16k baht.

Hope this helps.

Thanks Swain got that far body now cremated.

What of his assets? Embassy say can do nothing without a Thai Will, English one no use but he did not have one in any case. Even with a Thai Will it has to go to Court and wait 3 mths for order to deal with assets.

We know he has money in Bank over a million baht which his relatives could do with and New Car with Condo possessions. Rumour has it that a local Official collects it all for Government coffers?

A probated Will in the UK is accepted by the Thai courts.

My guess is that the same applies to Letters of Administraton from the UK.

The relative will have initiate this, but there is no reason why you should not deal with the Thai side once it is in place.