Unfortunately, a close family friend went on vacation to Pakistan and got murdered there. He is a citizen of the States, and has his own private practice here. Does anyone know the steps that need to be taken to bring his body back here? How would you go about informing his patients and staff? What is the procedure to close down his practice? Any and all info would be appreciated as the family is in a state of shock and overwhelmed by the news and cannot handle this on their own.
Oh boy, I am so sorry to hear that. May allah Grant him place in jannah.
If it’s a police case then it would depend on when they will release the body. My guess is that US consulate in Islamabad would be able to help.
Re: Murdered overseas; how to bring body back
A terrible news. :inna:
wish i could help but no idea
Re: Murdered overseas; how to bring body back
inna lillahi wa inna ilaihii raaje’oon. Allah marHoom kii shaahadat qubool farmaaye…aameen
i think the next of kins should contact the US mission in ISB to arrange for the tapatriation of his body.
i feel so sorry for his family, his staff and his patients. may Allah give them strength to bear the loss…aameen
Re: Murdered overseas; how to bring body back
inna lillah hay wa inna ilayhay rajayoon.
Here is a guide for Physicians survivors:
I found this information which talks about what to do when US citizen dies in Mexico. Other than the local requirements nothing else would be different.
There are a significant number of United States citizens now living permanently or semi-permanently in Mexico. According to the last Mexican census in 2010, more than 738,000 people born in the US now reside in Mexico, and this is still an approximate figure, as it may not include many ex-pats who remain in Mexico without the proper paperwork. A closer estimation of the number of American expats living in Mexico is believed to be nearer to 2 million.If a family member passes away in Mexico and the family wishes to bring the body back to the US for burial, it can be very distressing to have to deal with the Mexican authorities and the red-tape that can surround moving the deceased back from Mexico to the United States.
Although none of us really want to think about it, it really is something you should familiarize yourself with if you are an American living in Mexico, especially if you are a retiree, suffering ill-health or a medical tourist. It is always advisable to ensure you have repatriation insurance cover and to check what deductibles there are.
Funeral shipping for a body back to the United States can be expensive, international shipping usually costs around $3,000 - $4,000 USD and that does not include the airline shipping fee. This is the average professional fee for a funeral home to collect the body, prepare it for shipping, complete all the necessary consular documentation and escort the body to the airline. Airlines fees can vary significantly, but to ship a body can often cost more than a flight ticket, and you can expect a fee of between $800 - $1,200! So your total costs for getting the body back to the US could amount to $5,000 - $6,000 USD. Once your
loved one arrives back in the US, you then have all the expense of the funeral.If you have resided in Mexico for some time, and/or if you speak fluent Spanish, you may have no concerns about approaching funeral homes and the Mexican authorities to co-ordinate arrangements. However, if your Spanish is not up to scratch, it can be extremely daunting to have to suddenly deal with this task.
The U.S. Embassy in Mexico and how they can help
The U.S. Embassy in Mexico City will assist families of Americans who die within its Consular District. This includes the Mexican states of Chiapas, Guanajuato, Guerrero, Estado de Mexico, Hidalgo, Michoacan, Morelos, Oaxaca, Puebla, Queretaro, Tabasco, Tlaxcala, Veracruz, and the city of Tampico, Tamaulipas.For all other states in Mexico, you would need to contact your nearest Consular Agency. A list of all Consular agencies is available at the bottom of this page.
Firstly, it is important to highlight here that the U.S. Embassy cannot arrange funeral services or shipping for you. What they can do is help you locate a funeral home to handle arrangements for you.
The next-of-kin is responsible for all financial costs related to a funeral in Mexico, or funeral shipping the body back to the United States. The U.S. Embassy may help you with understanding the legalities of conducting a funeral service in Mexico.
The Embassy may also help with notifying next-of-kin of the death within the family, advising on claiming the deceased’s remains and the collecting of personal effects.
Legal Requirements for claiming a loved ones body in Mexico
Mexican authorities often request identification documents not only for the deceased, but also for the next-of-kin who is collecting the body. Be prepared to provide passports, birth certificates or marriage certificates.When a U.S. citizen dies in Mexico the U.S. Embassy or Consular Agent has to prepare a Report of Death from the local Mexican death certificate. This is required so that you can legally certify a death overseas and undertake any legal proceedings for estate or insurance back in the U.S.
The issuing of the death certificate
Similar to the United States, once someone has passed away, a physician must certify the death, identify the cause of the death and issue the preliminary death record, which is called a ‘Certificado de Defuncion’.A local Civil Registry judge will use the certificado de defuncion to issue the official death certificate, known as the ‘Acta de Defuncion’. Once this is issued the funeral home can go ahead with a burial, cremation or arrange funeral shipping.
Time spans for arranging a burial, cremation or to ship a body back to the U.S.
In accordance with Mexican health authorities, a body should be buried, cremated or embalmed within 48 hours after the death. If you wish to bury or cremate your loved one either within 12 hours after death, or after 48 hours following death, then you will require a permit from the Mexican health authorities.