When Your Child Has Died Abroad

UK Helpline: 0345 123 2304 | www.tcf.org.uk 15 Legal processes that may follow The local UK coroner will be informed as part of the repatriation process. They will decide whether to hold an inquest (in England, Wales or Northern Ireland) or an Investigation (in Scotland). If your child’s body has been repatriated, the Coroner’s Office (Procurator Fiscal in Scotland) will also decide if another post mortem should be held. The processes can take months, as medical and police reports must be translated. For information and advice on these legal processes see the TCF leaflet: Coping-with-Legal-Proceedings.pdf (tcf.org.uk/legal-coping) . If there is to be a court case abroad , be aware that these can take years to come to court. You may need to travel out over and over again. You may experience considerable pain, frustration, and anger. Some parents have found that they were blocked from asking questions about their child’s death or have been left feeling that the legal system was corrupt. A good lawyer is vital. Useful Links The organisation Murdered Abroad may be able to help if you are in this situation. See: murdered-abroad.org.uk or call 0845 123 2384 . The Law Society (England) (www.lawsociety.org.uk) , the Law Society of Scotland (www.lawscot.org.uk) or the Law Society of Northern Ireland (www.lawsoc-ni.org) can help with the UK side of legal issues. “We flew back in the same plane in which our daughter was in the hold, which isn’t always possible I know, or desirable. We opted for it to avoid a delay getting home. In some ways it felt right to ‘escort’ her home, but it was also horrendous for obvious reasons.” - Bereaved parent