BajaNomad

Bringing body North to be buried

ehall - 6-14-2020 at 11:03 AM

Friends mom passed away while visiting Guerrero Negro. They don't think it was Covid 19 but no test to verify.
Any advice I can give her on getting her mom to Arizona for burial?

SFandH - 6-14-2020 at 11:11 AM

I would contact an American Consulate for advice. She'll need to anyway to get an American death certificate, based upon the Mexican death certificate. Perhaps the one in TJ.

https://mx.usembassy.gov/embassy-consulates/tijuana/

https://mx.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/death-of-a-u-s...



[Edited on 6-14-2020 by SFandH]

BajaParrothead - 6-14-2020 at 11:27 AM

We did this 11 years ago from Tepic, Nayarit to SFO. The mortuary worked in collaboration with a mortuary in Redwood City and the two bodies were shipped in the cargo hold of a domestic passenger flight from Guadalajara to SFO. The local mortuary received the caskets at the airport and we moved forward with final ceremonies.
Be aware that Mexico does not do much embalming, so time is essential in getting them moved.

chippy - 6-14-2020 at 01:33 PM

I´ve done this twice down here.Get ahould of the nearest us consulate. Have them cremated.

ehall - 6-14-2020 at 01:46 PM

Thanks for the tips everyone.

TMW - 6-14-2020 at 01:48 PM

Here is some info worth reading.

https://www.us-funerals.com/funeral-articles/what-to-do-when...

TMW - 6-14-2020 at 01:58 PM

While on the subject. After my wife passed away last year the funeral home offered me a program that if I die anywhere in the world, well maybe not N. Korea, they will bring my body back home. It's called MESA, Medical Air Services Association. I purchased the life time plan. They provide world wide mortal remains repatriation.

Something to think about.

chuckie - 6-14-2020 at 02:58 PM

Read the fine print very carefully! Lotsa disclaimers

John Harper - 6-14-2020 at 03:11 PM

Quote: Originally posted by chippy  
Have them cremated.


My mom's box of ashes rode around under the seat of my truck for about a year. Had planned to disperse them in the same creek as dad's ashes, but did not get to that creek when I planned. Forgot all about them for a while.

Cremains would be very easy to get back to the USA. They're only put in a box about the size of a dictionary.

John

[Edited on 6-14-2020 by John Harper]

BajaBlanca - 6-14-2020 at 06:27 PM

So sorry to hear this ehall. I do hope things go smoothly and it would be so helpful if you will update us on how it worked out.

Please have your friend contact me if she needs any help.

ehall - 6-15-2020 at 05:03 AM

They went the cremation route. Thanks everyone.

BajaMama - 6-15-2020 at 07:19 AM

So, to be clear, as there is a good chance in the future a family member could pass while in BCS...

In order to make sure the death certificate is legal and recognized in the USA, should we contact the US consulate prior to cremation or after?

SFandH - 6-15-2020 at 08:08 AM

Quote: Originally posted by BajaMama  
So, to be clear, as there is a good chance in the future a family member could pass while in BCS...

In order to make sure the death certificate is legal and recognized in the USA, should we contact the US consulate prior to cremation or after?


I've never considered that and don't see how it would make any difference. What you need is a Mexican death certificate and then the consulate will issue a US death certificate that financial and other entities in the US will honor. Make sure the name on the Mex death certificate is exactly like the name on the US passport.

[Edited on 6-15-2020 by SFandH]

BajaMama - 6-15-2020 at 11:45 AM

Quote: Originally posted by SFandH  
Quote: Originally posted by BajaMama  
So, to be clear, as there is a good chance in the future a family member could pass while in BCS...

In order to make sure the death certificate is legal and recognized in the USA, should we contact the US consulate prior to cremation or after?


I've never considered that and don't see how it would make any difference. What you need is a Mexican death certificate and then the consulate will issue a US death certificate that financial and other entities in the US will honor. Make sure the name on the Mex death certificate is exactly like the name on the US passport.

[Edited on 6-15-2020 by SFandH]


Thank you. If and when this happens will be difficult enough w/o having to worry about what to do to make sure things are handled correctly.

del mar - 6-15-2020 at 12:14 PM

at least in our community the one thing we agree on assuming it didn't involve fowl play....leave the police out of it.

BajaBlanca - 6-15-2020 at 01:15 PM

Here in town when an American died (he was buried here) we were told NOT to touch the body at all until officials arrived. We were told that an autopsy is not optional when a foreigner is involved, the body was returned the next day and he was buried the day after when family arrived.