In the event of a farang death

[magobligin]

I am living in Thailand on a retirement visa and I am presently making up a check list for my Thai wife to follow in the event of my death such as closing out my bank accounts, etc. This exercise has highlighted a few problems which I require to clarify with your help.

Can anyone on this forum help with the legal reporting procedure in the event of a farang death occurring due to natural causes? For example, will a Thai doctor from a local hospital issue a death certificate and where does the amphor bureauocracy fit into this procedure, if at all?

I would appreciate any help on this issue. Thanks in advance.

[lomuamart]

I'm no expert on this but I, for one, would have a word with my Embassy and see if they can give any advice on procedure.
Also a Will might help.
Unfortunately, friends pass away here and quite often it's left to people close to them to "pick up the pieces".

[bapak]

I'm no expert on this but I, for one, would have a word with my Embassy and see if they can give any advice on procedure.
Also a Will might help.
Unfortunately, friends pass away here and quite often it's left to people close to them to "pick up the pieces".

As Lomu mentioned. a will is of some assistance. I do know that it is essential that a Thai Will be made and also a separate Will covering any assets abroad. Also, in the matter of next of kin, under Thai law only a legal marriage is accepted. Defacto relationship are not considered at all.

I have attended a number of farang funerals in the past year and they all seem to have followed a different procedure then what I observed several years ago.

Some years past, the Observer had a long article on what to do, what happens legal-wise following the death of a farangs, etc. In that article, if I remember correctly, it stated that an autopsy was required and there could be some delay in burial/cremation. However, in two advents this past year that I am aware of, there was no autopsy and the cremation took place on the third day.

I think that there is, and so there should be, more information disseminated in the topic. Some time ago I started to gather info in this area with the aim of producing up to date reliable info. Would appreciate private input from HHF readers of their experience(s). Send to: bapakdon@gmail.com with "what happens" in the subject line.

[bapak]

Perhaps one of our sponsors, Chavalit & Finch Lawyers, could weigh in on this...

[centermid7]

I would be interested in learning more about this also. How would next of kin come up with a death certificate is what I would most like to know. I've got no estate here in LOS but those back in the States are going to need a death certificate (and probably several originals) in order to settle things there.

[Dannie Boy]

Just had a quick look at the British Embassy website and it does contain some useful information - I assume other countries would provide similar advice. Bottom line is that in the event of the death of a British national, the Embassy in BKK needs to be contacted ASAP. Any death certificate would need to be notarised by the Embassy, especially where a British national has a Thai wife who may be eligible for a UK widows pension (from a private pension, not State pension).

[bapak]

Death Certificates

If the cause of death is not determined to be unusual or suspicious, the body is released to the family within two to three days and a death certificate issued.
If the cause of death is unusual or the result of a suspected criminal act an autopsy will be performed and there will be a delay in releasing the body.
When the body is released, both a civil registry death certificate and a doctor's death certificate stating cause of death will be issued.

As it appears that you are from the USA, see:
http://bangkok.usembassy.gov/service/de ... tizen.html

[magobligin]

Thanks for all the help from you guys, I admit it is quite a morbid subject but as you say it is left to the survivor in the relationship to pick up the pieces and I think a check list which is discussed prior to the occurrence in order to clarify what needs to be done is good.

I looked up the British Embassy website but did not find it as helpful as I thought it might be (unlike the US Embassy which I think covered a lot of good points). I tried to telephone the embassy on Friday but was hooked-up to an answering machine which was of no help at all.

My Will is in order and all my personal stuff is in a good state but it is really the legal items I need to clarify, obtaining a death certificate and the notarisation of this document. I guess my wife would need to inform amphor and local immigration (?). Also I have family from US and UK who would want to attend my funeral ceremony so storage of cadaver, etc. God this is morbid (but necessary).

Once we get a procedure made up it could be stored in the forum to help others.

[Dannie Boy]

Thanks for all the help from you guys, I admit it is quite a morbid subject but as you say it is left to the survivor in the relationship to pick up the pieces and I think a check list which is discussed prior to the occurrence in order to clarify what needs to be done is good.

I looked up the British Embassy website but did not find it as helpful as I thought it might be (unlike the US Embassy which I think covered a lot of good points). I tried to telephone the embassy on Friday but was hooked-up to an answering machine which was of no help at all.

My Will is in order and all my personal stuff is in a good state but it is really the legal items I need to clarify, obtaining a death certificate and the notarisation of this document. I guess my wife would need to inform amphor and local immigration (?). Also I have family from US and UK who would want to attend my funeral ceremony so storage of cadaver, etc. God this is morbid (but necessary).

Once we get a procedure made up it could be stored in the forum to help others.

One of the things that the British Embassy website mentioned is that in the event of the death of a farang, the police are always notified by the doctor/hospital. Whilst the website may not have been particularly specific about the whole procedure, there request that they be informed (implied that it should be sooner rather than later) so that they can provide the specific advice relevant to the individual circumstances.

[bapak]

In Thailand it is necessary to report any death to the police within 24 hours. This is the case even if the death is expected such as after an illness or accident. The police are then responsible for contacting the appropriate Embassy. Next of kin, if the person who has died is not in Thailand with family, will be notified by the Embassy.

The cause of death will have to be determined by an autopsy so the body will be sent to a hospital. Have observed several times that an autopsy was not done.

For a cause of death that is not suspicious the body is generally released to the family within three days of the examination. The death certificate will then be issued automatically by the office. If the cause of death is deemed suspicious or as a result of possible criminal activity the body will be held pending investigation. When the body is released a civil registry death certificate and a doctor’s death certificate will be issued automatically by the office. The death is automatically registered in this way and there is no need for the family to visit the local registry office. The body will only be released once all medical bills and charges for hospital stays have been cleared.