7 FAM 260
DISPOSITION OF REMAINS REPORT
(CT:CON-804; 04-30-2018)
(Office of Origin: CA/OCS)
7 FAM 261 Summary
(CT:CON-645; 03-07-2016)
Posts should include the triennial disposition of remains report on post Internet ACS Section home pages. A new element of the report relates to host country funeral, burial, mourning and memorial customs, as required by the Federal Family Assistance Plan for Aviation Disasters. (See 7 FAM 1830).
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See … The U.S. Embassy Tokyo Death of a U.S. Citizen in Japan |
7 FAM 262 TRIENNIAL REPORTING REQUIREMENT
(CT:CON-645; 03-07-2016)
a. By May 31 every three years, each post shall update its triennial disposition of remains report and post it to the ACS section's webpage. The report must describe the local requirements for burial, cremation, embalming, preparation of remains for shipment, transportation to the United States, exhumation of remains, and the price range for each service.
b. If prices of services or merchandise change significantly (10 percent or greater) within the three-year period, post should update its report immediately. A sample report is shown in 7 FAM Exhibit 263.
7 FAM 263 CONTENTS OF REPORT
(CT:CON-645; 03-07-2016)
The Disposition of Remains report should refer to the applicable laws or regulations, with appropriate citation(s). It also should indicate whether the laws and regulations are national or local in scope. In supplying the report material, follow the pattern shown below:
(1) Maximum Period Before Burial. State whether local or national laws and regulations require interment within a specific period when the remains:
(a) Are embalmed, and
(b) Are not embalmed.
(2) Embalming. State whether and what type of embalming facilities exist and how soon after death the remains must be embalmed.
(3) Cremation. State whether local and national law permit cremation, under what conditions cremation may take place, and whether cremation facilities exist locally. Posts should also note if local cremation procedures do not result in the same sized fine ash as it does in the United States, but rather somewhat larger-sized pieces of bone.
(4) Caskets and Containers. State whether caskets and containers available locally meet the requirements for shipment out of the country, including whether hermetically sealed caskets are available in case of death from a communicable disease.
(5) Exportation of Remains. State the local and national regulations concerning the exportation of ashes and remains.
(6) Costs. The consular officer should provide accurate and reliable estimates, stated in U.S. dollars, of costs of local interment, cremation, embalming, preparation for shipment (including containers), and shipping costs by air. Estimates of air shipment of remains should reflect costs from the post to the East Coast, Mid-West (Chicago), and the West Coast, or to specific cities throughout the United States. For shipment of ashes, also give cost estimates of insured parcel post or APO/FPO, if available.
(7) Exhumation and Shipment. Furnish the text of the laws and regulations concerning the disinterment and shipment to the United States of remains which have already been interred locally. Include an estimate of the cost for local mortuary services, containers, and shipment to various areas of the United States.
(8) Autopsies: Include local requirements and practices pertaining to autopsies.
(9) Remarks. Include in this section any comments or remarks not covered in any of the previous sections that would be helpful to the Department in assisting the families of U.S. citizens who die abroad.
7 FAM 264 FUNERAL, MOURNING, BURIAL AND MEMORIAL CUSTOMS OF THE HOST COUNTRY
(CT:CON-645; 03-07-2016)
a. The Federal Family Assistance Plan for Aviation Disasters provides that the Department of State will “provide advice on cultural issues” related to funeral, mourning and memorial customs of the host country. This information should also be included in the triennial report to the extent possible. Posts should identify sources for this information should a disaster occur involving host country nationals which would require the Department to provide this information to the NTSB. (See 7 FAM 1800).
b. CA/OCS has obtained copies of the following reference materials:
(1) International Handbook of Funeral Customs, (1998), ISBN: 0-313-30443-2;
(2) Funeral Customs The World Over, Habenstein and Lamers, 4th edition (1994);
(3) Museum of Funeral Customs; and
(4) PBS, POV, Death Customs (Public Broadcasting Service, Point of View).
7 FAM 265 SURVEY AND USE OF MORTUARIES
(CT:CON-645; 03-07-2016)
Whenever more than one competent mortuary firm is available, posts should solicit information on estimated costs for services from a number of such establishments in various cities or towns within the district. Unless there is only one reliable funeral home, the NOK, not the post, should choose a funeral home from the post's alphabetical list of funeral homes. The list which should include an appropriate disclaimer.
7 FAM 266 through 7 FAM 269 UNASSIGNED
7 FAM EXHIBIT 263
Sample Disposition of Remains Report
(CT:CON-780; 01-16-2018)
Part I.
Name of Country
Part II. U.S. Embassy or Consulate Information
Name of U.S. Embassy or Consulate
Address
Phone
Fax
After Hours Phone
Country Information Travel Advisory
Register With the U.S. Embassy
Part III. Profile of Religions of the Host Country and Religious Services available to visitors.
Country Profile: Host Country Religions (From Background Notes)
Religious Activities For Visitors (From Post Reports On Line (Intranet):
Part IV. Funeral Directors, Mortician and Related Services Available in the Host Country: Major mortuaries used by U.S. citizens, if applicable – name, address, phone/fax, contact names, quality of services, service cost.
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DISCLAIMER: The U.S. Embassy (Consulate) (City, Country) assumes no responsibility or liability for the professional ability or reputation of, or the quality of services provided by, the following persons or firms. Names are listed alphabetically, and the order in which they appear has no other significance. Professional credentials and areas of expertise are provided directly by the funeral directors, morticians and other service providers. |
Part V. Profile of services available in the host country regarding preparation and shipment of remains: The purpose of this section is to describe:
a. Disposition of Remains (general) – quality, cost, and capacity of refrigerated morgues and mortuary professionals; availability, cost and quality of embalming; autopsy requirements; special post specific remarks.
b. Specific facts relating to embalming, cremation, caskets, exportation, documentation requirements, preparation, shipment, and exhumation
c. As applicable, please include any unique circumstances which may apply to post; for example, special requirements for deaths by infectious disease or under suspicious circumstances.
d. Shipping – options for in-country transportation (trains, truck, air , boat, etc.), reliability, quality and ease of in-country shipping; options for international shipping, major airlines to U.S., frequency of flights, connections/routing, estimated cost to Port of Entry.
e. Local authorities responsible for licensing funeral directors and morticians.
f. Local authorities responsible for making findings regarding the cause of death and for issuing death local certificates.
(1) Maximum period Before Burial of Remains;
(2) Embalming;
(3) Cremation;
(4) Caskets and Containers;
(5) Exportation of Human Remains;
(6) Exportation of Human Cremains/Ashes;
(7) Costs: Charges are based on the exchange rate of April 30, 20xx: $1.00 = xxx (local currency);
(8) Exhumation and Shipment; and
(9) Local Customs Regarding Funerals, Disposition of Remains, Mourning, Memorial Services.