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
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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.
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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.