Special Consular Services
Death Of An American Citizen Abroad
Death Overseas
The Special Consular Services unit (SCS)
at the U.S. Embassy in London can assist family and friends in the event of the
death of an American citizen in England and Wales. The SCS unit can act as
liaison in arranging the disposition of remains and help with forwarding personal
effects. The family or legal representative must pay all funeral home charges,
shipping costs for the remains and personal effects (if applicable). The
SCS unit will work with any funeral home selected by the family to ensure proper
documentation for shipment of remains to the United States. We maintain a
list of four funeral homes that are familiar with international shipping requirements.
Even if no assistance is needed in making funeral arrangements, the death of an
American citizen, whether resident or tourist in the United Kingdom, should be
reported to the SCS unit so that a Report of Death of an American Citizen Abroad
can be issued. This
document is necessary to settle legal and estate matters in the United States. The
SCS unit can issue up to 20 copies of the Report, which is usually sufficient in
number to settle matters in the United States. For more information on this
document, please see the Report
of Death of an American Citizen Abroad (PDF, 1 page) on the Embassy
website.
The following general information is provided to assist families in making initial
decisions. Indicated costs are estimates, based on deaths
with no unusual circumstances, and should be considered as guides only. These
estimates also relate only to costs incurred in England and Wales (inclusive of
shipping). U.S. funeral home costs would be handled separately.
Funeral Directors
Albin International Repatriation Ltd. (Kenyon
Repatriation Ltd.), 83 Westbourne Grove, London,
W2 4UL
Tel: + 44 (0)20-7313-6920
Fax: + 44 (0)20-7313-6999
Website: www.albininternational.com
Email: info@
albininternational.com
Homeland International (part of Edmund & Sons):
179-185 Stockwell Road, Brixton, London SW9 9SJ
Telephone: +44 (0)20-7978-8154
Fax: +44 (0)20-7978-8156
Website: www.homeland-international.co.uk
Email: enquiries@homeland-international.co.uk
Rowlands Brothers International, 299-305 White Horse Road, Croydon
CR0 2HR
Telephone: +44 (0)20-8684-2324
Emergency Telephone: +44 (0)20-8684-1667
Fax: +44 (0)20-8684-8000
Website: www.rowlandbrothersinternational.co.uk
Email: info@rowlandbrothersinternational.co.uk
Profile of Services Available in England and Wales
Cremation is the norm in England and Wales, with approximately 430,000 carried
out each year, due to lack of burial plots, which can make internment very expensive. Crematoria
are widely available. The service for cremation is the same as that for burial,
apart from the form of committal sentences. The service may take place in
a church or chapel followed by a short committal service in the crematorium chapel. Alternatively,
the whole service may be conducted in the crematorium chapel. Services can
be as long or as short as the family wishes, by prior arrangement. Service
requests may be made through the funeral director.
The cremation will follow immediately after the service, where possible. The
Code of Cremation Practice requires that the cremation shall, wherever possible,
take place on the same day as the cremation service. Without exception, the
coffin will be cremated with the body. The Code of Practice prohibits the
removal of anything from the coffin after it has been received from the chapel; it
must be placed in the cremator exactly as received.
(1) Maximum Period Before Burial: British law does not place a time limit
within which burial or funeral arrangements must be made. Remains are held
free of charge at a public mortuary pending receipt of the next of kin’s
instructions.
(2) Embalming: There is no a time limit within which remains must be embalmed,
nor a requirement for embalming remains for export from England and Wales or for
import into the United States.
Next of kin are encouraged to consult their receiving funeral home to resolve
any concerns about embalming, particularly if relatives wish to view the remains. Next
of kin normally advise the funeral home or the Embassy, if, for religious or other
reasons, the body should not be embalmed.
In cases of HIV/AIDS-related deaths, or other highly contagious diseases, embalming
may not always be possible. In those instances the body must be properly
sanitized for shipment.
(3) Cremation: There is no time limit within which remains must be cremated.
(4) Caskets and Containers: Coffins/caskets and air trays that are suitable
for cremation, local burial, or international shipment of remains are available.
(5) Exportation of Human Remains: Whole remains must be contained in a zinc-lined,
hermetically sealed coffin/casket. To facilitate the export of whole remains
from England and Wales to the United States, the Embassy prepares a Consular Mortuary
Certificate which includes flight details and consignee and incorporates the following
documents:
i) a certified copy of the local death certificate or the Coroner’s interim
certificate when an inquest is pending;
ii) an affidavit from the funeral director stating that the remains have been properly
prepared and packed for shipment;
iii) an embalming or sanitization certificate, if appropriate; and
iv) the Coroner’s “Out of England” certificate permitting the
removal of the remains from the Coroner’s jurisdiction.
(6) Exportation of Human Cremains/Ashes: Cremated remains may be exported
if they are accompanied by certified copy of the local death certificate, the cremation
certificate, and a statement from the crematorium or the funeral home confirming
the urn contains only the ashes of the deceased. Airline passengers carrying
cremated remains to the United States should declare the nature of the package
to UK and U.S. customs, and use a non-metallic urn to allow screening. Unaccompanied
cremains must be sent by airfreight.
7) Costs: Cost estimates are listed in U.S. dollars based on a February
1, 2009 ($1.58 = 1 British Pound Sterling). Exchange rates are subject to
change.
(a) Local Burial: $9,000
Fees include collection and transportation of remains, funeral home charges, administrative
fees, cost of private burial plot near London, and a brief service with no mourners
present. The cost of burial plots varies immensely and there are often
different prices for borough (local) residents and non-residents. Burial
costs in England and Wales are extremely high due to limited cemetery space.
(b) Cremation and local disposal of ashes: $2,850
Fees include collection and transportation of remains, doctor’s certificates,
crematorium fee, administrative fees, a brief service with no mourners present, and
scattering of ashes.
(c) Cremation and air shipment of ashes: $3,300
As (b) above, but also includes the collection of the ashes from the crematorium,
packaging and forwarding to the consignee by air freight for collection from
the airport.
(d) Preparation and shipment of whole remains: $2,250
(i) Preparation of remains for shipment, including local collection of remains,
embalming, provision and preparation of a lightweight coffin in accordance with
established U.S. and international standards for shipment, administration of flight
arrangements, preparation of all documentation, notification of consignee and delivery
to the airport.
(ii) Sample airfreight charges (average 140 kilos weight = 308.6 pounds) are based
on the highest quotes provided by the three funeral homes regularly used by the
Embassy. The quotes are provided so next of kin are aware of the maximum
they may be expected to pay. However, the Embassy has requested that the
funeral homes on our list provide any available reduced air freight rates to a
particular destination whenever possible. Keep in mind that these are estimates
only:
London to Atlanta: $1,350
London to Chicago: $1,300
London to Houston: $1,300
London to Los Angeles: $1,285
London to Miami: $1,050
London to New York $1,050
(8) Exhumation: Applications for exhumation must be made to the British
Home Office. Exhumed remains and the original casket/coffin must be contained
in an outer casket/coffin for shipment. Exhumations may be carried out only
before the opening of the cemetery to the public (i.e. normally at dawn, Monday
to Friday). The cemetery charges a fee to open the grave. If the death
occurred a number of years ago or the deceased died of an infectious disease, the
environmental health office would also be involved in the exhumation.
(9) Autopsies: An autopsy is mandatory in England and Wales when there is
reasonable cause to suspect that the deceased died a violent or unnatural death
or a sudden death of which the cause is unknown.
(10) Additional Information: The three London-based funeral homes used by
the Embassy have agreements with some airlines. As a result, transportation
costs may be less expensive in certain cases. All of the funeral homes accept
major credit cards, with the exception of American Express and Diners Club. One
of the funeral homes, Albin International Repatriation, implements a 4 percent
surcharge when a credit card is used.
For deaths outside of London, an additional $1.80/mile is charged by the London
companies to cover travel costs.
Funeral Directors
Albin International Repatriation Ltd. (Kenyon Repatriation Ltd.), 83 Westbourne Grove, London, W2 4UL
Tel: + 44 (0)20-7313-6920
Fax: + 44 (0)20-7313-6999
Website: www.albininternational.com
Email: info@ albininternational.com
Homeland International (part of Edmund & Sons): 179-185 Stockwell Road, Brixton, London SW9 9SJ
Telephone: +44 (0)20-7978-8154
Fax: +44 (0)20-7978-8156
Website: www.homeland-international.co.uk
Email: enquiries@homeland-international.co.uk
Rowlands Brothers International, 299-305 White Horse Road, Croydon CR0 2HR
Telephone: +44 (0)20-8684-2324
Emergency Telephone: +44 (0)20-8684-1667
Fax: +44 (0)20-8684-8000
Website: www.rowlandbrothersinternational.co.uk
Email: info@rowlandbrothersinternational.co.uk
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Death Of An American