Death in Thailand: How to act?
When a Dutch citizen dies in Thailand, the assistance of the Dutch embassy is often required, but not always. For example, when someone dies in a domestic circle and the funeral takes place in Thailand, the next of kin only needs to register the death at the local town hall. The town hall will then issue a death certificate. In this case, the Dutch embassy does not need to be informed.
When a Dutch national in Thailand dies in a hospital, or under circumstances involving the police, the Dutch embassy always receives a notification of death from the Thai authorities.
Death in Thailand
Official confirmation
When the Dutch embassy receives a notification of death, the embassy always asks for a copy of the deceased's passport and an official confirmation of death from the Thai authorities. This can be a police report or a hospital report. This does not have to be a death certificate.
Inform next of kin
The embassy will check whether the next of kin are aware of the death. If this is not yet the case, the embassy will inform the next of kin. If they are in the Netherlands, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in The Hague maintains contact with the next of kin.
Release of mortal remains to next of kin
To release the body of a deceased person to the next of kin, the Thai authorities (usually a hospital or the police) require a so-called authorization letter from the Dutch embassy, stating to whom the body can be released.
In order to determine to whom the body should be released, the embassy (if necessary together with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in The Hague) searches for the legal next of kin. If the deceased is married to a person of Thai nationality, the spouse must present the marriage certificate along with proof of identity.
The next of kin decide what should be done with the remains. After the embassy has issued the authorization letter for the release of the body (free of charge), the funeral can be organized in Thailand, or the body can be repatriated to the Netherlands.
Travel Insurance
If the deceased has travel and/or funeral insurance, the file is transferred to the insurance company and the embassy and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs leave the communication chain. If necessary, the embassy will provide the documents for repatriation, for example.
Waiver
Sometimes it happens that the relatives are unable or unwilling to arrange the funeral. They can then choose to have someone else arrange the funeral. In that case, the next of kin must draw up a statement in which they renounce the remains and authorize someone else.
If the next of kin are unable or unwilling to arrange the funeral and no one else can be authorized to arrange the funeral, after signing the waiver, the remains will be handed over to the Thai authorities, who will then arrange the funeral.
Repatriation
When a deceased person is repatriated to the Netherlands, this is almost always arranged by an international funeral company. AsiaOne-THF is the main player in the Thai market. They work together with the Dutch funeral company Van der Heden IRU BV.
The embassy provides the funeral director (free of charge) with the necessary authorization letters to be able to handle the various administrative actions in Thailand, such as applying for and having the death certificate translated and legalized, and requesting the original passport and personal items from the Thai authorities . In addition, the embassy issues a so-called 'Laissez-passer for a corps', an international travel document.
When repatriating a body, the following documents are required:
- Laissez passer (LP) for a body. (This is issued by the embassy against payment. The flight details are stated on this LP.)
- Certified copy of passport. (This is issued by the embassy against payment. The original passport will be invalidated by the embassy after making the copy.)
- Original, (to English) translated and legalized death certificate. (If due to time pressure the deed has not been legalized by the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), the deed with translation will be provided with a certified copy by the embassy. However, this deed cannot be used in the Netherlands for handling other practical matters regarding death)
Transport of an urn to the Netherlands
It is possible for relatives to take the ashes to the Netherlands in an urn. The following documents are required for this:
- Cremation certificate from the temple.
- Laissez passer (LP) for an urn. (This is issued by the embassy against payment.) The flight details are stated on the LP.
- Certified copy of passport. (This is issued by the embassy against payment. The original passport will be invalidated by the embassy after making the copy.)
- Original, (to English) translated and legalized death certificate.
Translated and legalized death certificate
When handling many practical matters in the Netherlands following the death of a loved one (such as handling an inheritance, insurance, pensions, etc.), a death certificate must often be submitted. Applying for this deed by individuals in Thailand is complicated and often takes more time and energy than estimated in advance. You can also request the deed from the Netherlands via the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for a fee.
An original death certificate can be obtained from the local town hall in Thailand. For people other than family members with the same surname to request this deed, an authorization letter from the embassy is usually required, in which the person requesting the deed is authorized to do so. The embassy provides this letter free of charge.
The original Thai certificate must then be translated into English. In general, any certified translation agency can translate this deed, except that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) in Bangkok requires that the translation takes place at the local translation agency at the MFA. (It is unknown what the procedure for this is at the other branches of the MFA in Songkhla, Chiang Mai and Ubon Ratchathani.)
The original death certificate must be legalized by the MFA together with the translation. If the person requesting legalization is not a family member with the same surname, the MFA requires an authorization letter from the embassy, authorizing the person concerned to apply for legalization. There is no charge for this authorization letter.
Having the death certificate translated and legalized at the MFA takes at least three working days. An accelerated service is also possible: if the deed is delivered early in the morning, it can be collected the next day in the afternoon (situation June 2017).
After the deed has been legalized by the MFA, the deed must be legalized at the embassy. An appointment must be scheduled online for this. Because it concerns both an original deed and a translation, the costs for legalizing two documents will be in charged.
Addresses Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Thailand
Bangkok (Central Thailand) Legalization Division, Department of Consular Affairs 123 Chaeng Wattana Road, 3rd Floor Tung Song Hong, Laksi, Bangkok 10210 Tel: 02-575-1057 (to 60) / Fax: 02-575-1054
Chiang Mai (Northern Thailand) Government Complex Chiang Mai Province Legalization Division, Department of Consular Affairs Chotana Road Changpueak Mueang Chiang Mai Province 50000 Tel: 053-112-748 (to 50) Fax: 053-112-764
Ubon Ratchathani (North-East Thailand) Ubon Ratchathani City Hall Legalization Division, 1st Floor (located at the rear of Building East) Chaengsanit Road Chae Ramae Mueang Ubon Ratchathani Province 34000 Tel: 045-344-5812 / Fax: 045-344-646
Songkhlao (Southern Thailand) Government Complex Songkhla Province Legalization Division, Department of Consular Affairs Ratchadamnoen Road Mueang Songkhla Province Tel: 074-326-508 (to 10) / Fax: 074-326-511
Applying for a death certificate from the Netherlands An original, translated and legalized death certificate can also be requested from the Netherlands at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in The Hague.
If the death has already been reported to the Dutch embassy, the certificate can be requested via the DCV/CA department: [email protected] T: +31 (0)70 348 4770. In all other cases via the Consular Services Centre: [email protected] T: +31 (0) 70 348 4333.
After the costs have been paid, the original deed with translation will be requested. These are generally sent home two to three months after receipt of payment. It may take longer.
Source: www.nederlandwereldwijd.nl/landen/thailand/wonen-en-werken/overvallen-in-thailand
What a hassle, luckily I don't have to do all that, since I'm already dead myself.
But that death in a domestic circle is not clear to me.
How is an inheritance, or a possible will, arranged in the Netherlands if the embassy is not informed?
In the Netherlands money and possessions could be heirs.
That should be arranged somehow, if there are also heirs in Thailand.
The loot will have to be divided and who will make the inventory?
I personally can deal with this.
Since I sometimes talk about this with my children when I am in the Netherlands.
(Have been unsubscribed)
Am physically present, but can do nothing, am dead and have nothing to want anymore.
Have told them that I have no wishes, leave it entirely up to them how they want it.
Just told I want to be cremated.
Have told them, if they want to have the cremation done in Thailand, that they can also arrange it with someone else.
They know who she is, and they have her bank number and how to transfer it, this has already been discussed with whoever does it.
I also left a USB stick with them with my documents, so that they can find it more easily.
Have not notarized anything, because they are the legal next of kin.
Have an and or account.
If it happens that they still want to cremate me in the Netherlands, what are the costs in general for the transfer?
does anyone know?
Hans
legal next of kin, must be legal heirs.
Hans
Excellent article. Unfortunately, it is not made clear that if the relative(s) in the Netherlands do not want to respect the will of the deceased to be cremated in Thailand and do NOT want to be transported to the Netherlands, even if this is explicitly stated in a will how to act. My next of kin refuse to sign a waiver in advance (because of the inheritance?), so I can choose a destination for my life but not for my death. The embassy cannot (will) not play a role in this. So, when the time comes, it is important to transfer finances to Thailand in particular (on any account?)
An executor is appointed with every inheritance or will; he will then have to ensure that your wish not to be transported to NL must be respected. See my response below.
I forgot to mention in this post that my relationships with heirs are extremely if not entirely. These 2 people have not been heard from in 17 years now. That's why I want to prevent anything from happening to them.
So I also had this problem, especially because I stay partly in NL and partly in Thailand every year. And eventually I want my ashes to be buried in Thailand at the temple in my partner's village. Cost of a place for the urn would be THB 5.000. The cremation and interment is of course as expensive as you make yourself.
So as long as this is my situation while alive, I have to be prepared for both possibilities: 1. death in NL, to be cremated there so that the urn with ashes can be sent to Thailand 2. death in Thailand, to be cremated and interred there.
I intend to make a will in NL, whereby my children will inherit most of the Dutch possessions and only part of the savings in NL is intended for my partner, but which will be taxed extra (inheritance tax 30-40%); for my Thai partner I also provide a piggy bank in her bank, in her name, so that she is not left behind and this is not officially part of the inheritance. This way she also has enough money to pay for possible cremation, etc. in Thailand.
To comment on Bob's message, Jomtien: you can transfer your capital to Thailand, but as long as it remains in your name, the heirs in NL will also continue to claim it. That is why I also put a piggy bank on the Thai account of my Thai partner. By the way, I am not legally married, and that does make a real difference, because if you are legally married, your partner is the main heiress according to the law.
If there is no will, then the statutory law of inheritance applies and I thought that in Thailand that is no different from the Netherlands. In NL, an executor is appointed in consultation or by the court who supervises the division and arranges costs.
In my opinion, in the event of a death in Thailand, it is always necessary to notify the embassy of the death, partly to stop state pensions, for example, and to inform any heirs in NL of the death.
Of course I also informed my children in NL of my intentions, because that also prevents misunderstandings later on. Moreover, it prevents a lot of extra work for the relatives to have to find out everything themselves, while I (as a Thailand visitor) am already somewhat familiar with the possibilities to gather information (such as via Thailandblog). And as long as I don't have an official will yet, I have made a handwritten last will and testament, in particular what should happen to my body upon death. I think it is the least that everyone should let the next of kin know.
In addition to Thailandblog, I also obtained my information via “Questions to the government” which you then forwarded to Min. Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where I was helped very quickly and clearly.
Furthermore, this is a matter that also depends a lot on the personal situation.
Regards, Haki
Have a will drawn up at the notary, possessions in the Netherlands, real estate and cash for next of kin in the Netherlands.
Property in Thailand, cash for my wife.
Made it clear to the kids that after my death I want to be cremated where I am at that moment.
What a hassle to read all this. In the event of the death of a foreigner, the police are obliged to appear and they will then contact the Dutch Embassy.
Transporting a body is very expensive and most are unwilling (or unable) to pay this cost
Go to a lawyer and mention that you want to be cremated here and the person who lives with you or your landlord hands over this document to the police and within 24 hours you are lying in the oven. In other words, I have had this document or will for 25 years and I also have my children in the Netherlands sign the last one that they agree with it. (costs 5000 Baht)
I have seen two Dutch people die here in, say, domestic circumstances, but the Embassy is always informed.
Because if you don't do this, what about the passport of the deceased.
And should the basic administration in the Netherlands not be informed for the further notification of, among other things, the termination of benefits and pensions, etc.
And also if one wants to continue later in connection with the settlement of an inheritance, etc. of the deceased.
In the event of death, always inform the Embassy.
Jan Beute.
Then they are big thieves in the Netherlands with inheritance tax in Belgium, the children only have to pay 6 or 7%.
Your wife gets 50%, the rest is for child or children
What to do if you are deceased? You can't do anything because you're dead. Why worry about that beforehand? You're gone so let the remaining ones fight it out. It does not matter where and how you are cremated or buried. You're dead, so you'll never know anyway.
It is apparently different for the Belgians, the embassy must indeed be notified so that the pension service can also be notified and people in Belgium are aware of your death
Please note for those who have AXA assudis expat insurance, for example, that this also includes payment for either burial / cremation in Thailand up to an amount of 40000 baht, or transferring the body to home country (repatriation) further actions at the expense of family or other .
Allianz Nederland also has such insurance and there are probably more companies with such insurance. I do know that a normal Dutch funeral insurance usually excludes the costs of a funeral/cremation abroad. That was also reason for me to cancel my funeral policy.