A caring solution to help you plan for the future and settle affairs after a loss.
Transport the body from out of state/country, if needed
If the death occurred out of state, there are three options:
1) Ship the body back to your loved one’s home state for burial or cremation
This requires embalming and sealing the body in an airtight container
Costs range from $300-$1,700.
2) Hold a funeral and burial in the city where the death occurred
If the deceased person bought a funeral policy already, it may be transferable. Contact the funeral home where the deceased made plans.
3) Cremate the body in the state where the death occurred and then ship the ashes back
A crematory will be able to ship the remains using USPS
You could also pick up the ashes yourself and then fly with them. If you bring the ashes in a carry-on, make sure it is made of a material that can be X-rayed, such as wood, plastic or a non-lead lined ceramic. If the container is made of metal, it won’t be allowed through security. Border agents will not open the container or urn, even if you ask them to.
If the death occurred outside of the US, there are other legal requirements and resources:
1) Contact the US Consulate where the death occurred to get their help with making arrangements. You can find a list of consulates and their contact info here.
2) After a foreign death certificate is issued, the consulate will prepare a Consular Report of the Death of an American Abroad form. They will provide you up to 20 copies at no cost that you can use to settle estate matters as you would with a standard death certificate.
3) The consulate will let you know how to make arrangements for local burial or returning the remains to the US.
They will not pay for the remains, but will help you transfer the funds to cover the costs.
Your options for what to do with the remains may be different depending on the country.
They will help you get necessary documents, such as a Consular Mortuary Certificate, an Affidavit of Foreign Funeral Director and Transit Permit, a U.S. Entry Requirements for Quarantine and Customs, and a Shipment of Unembalmed Remains (if relevant).
4) If the deceased has no family or legal representative where the death occurred, the consulate will take care of personal effects, prepare an inventory, and then carry out instructions from the legal representative in the US.