When Your Child Has Died Abroad

One of a series of leaflets published by The Compassionate Friends 12 Communications, Legal Matters and Customs in a Foreign Country Many of us know very little about procedures relating to death in our own country, let alone in a foreign one. We may know almost nothing about dealing with local doctors, hospitals or any of the support services, and will have to rely on local people for help. Many of us have found that perfect strangers have shown us incredible kindness at this time and we will be forever grateful to them. Death overseas involves a lot of red tape or bureaucracy. Here are some issues you will need to be aware of: • Translations: Sometimes legal documents must be translated by a specially registered translator and costs can quickly mount up. If the material is not in a familiar script, but in Arabic or Mandarin for instance, you might not have the first idea of what is written down. You may find it difficult to trust that a translation is accurate and complete. It might be helpful to ask for extra copies of everything you sign so you can get another translation done at some point back in the UK. • Interpreters: As well as paperwork, there may be meetings that you will be invited to attend, such as between doctors, police and lawyers. You will need to ensure that someone in the room will act as an interpreter, giving you an on-the-spot translation of all that is said. • The local British Consulate, Embassy or High Commission may be able to advise you on finding a translator or interpreter, or you can find this information on the country-specific page on the FCDO website: Death abroad - bereavement packs - gov.uk/government/ collections/death-abroad-bereavement-packs • Cultural and religious customs: There can be differences in the way that people respond to death even within this country, but these differences will become much more apparent if you are overseas. For instance, burial within 24 hours is customary in Islamic countries and Israel. Cremation is the norm in countries such as Japan and India. Grief itself might be expressed more openly and emotionally than in