U.S. Department of State (State Department)

the period local law allows for interment or preservation; local authorities dispose of the remains under local law¹

within 1 year of the date of death; the estate is sent to the Department of State¹

within 5 fiscal years; title to the estate vests in the United States¹

The Department of State has no funds to assist in the return of remains or ashes. The legal representative, or the next of kin where there is none, is responsible for the disposition of the remains and all related costs: embalming or cremation, burial, a plot or receptacle for ashes, markers and grave upkeep.^{6, 1}

Entry of the remains into the United States requires documents confirming the person did not die from a quarantinable disease, under CDC guidelines on importing human remains.⁵

Embalming may not be required if a death certificate stating the cause was not a communicable disease accompanies remains shipped in a leak-proof container, but local governments abroad may prohibit shipping unembalmed remains. Requirements vary by country and airline; the consulate can advise.²

With no legal representative in the country, a consular officer acts as provisional conservator of the personal estate in that consular district. The officer inventories the effects, may seek an appraisal where estate funds cover it, and may pay debts owed locally from the estate's convertible assets.¹

The State Department cancels a deceased person's passport mailed with a certified copy of the death certificate and a signed letter requesting cancellation and either the return or destruction of the passport. If the letter requests it, the canceled passport is returned to the family.²

A CRDA comes on paper or as an e-CRODA, a PDF carrying the consular officer's digital signature and the embassy or consulate's digital seal. The consular officer can email it to the next of kin, who can print as many copies as needed.²

The State Department issues copies of CRDAs filed in 1975 or after. Reports issued before 1975 are held by the National Archives and Records Administration and cannot be requested on Form DS-5542.³

Apostilles are available only for CRDAs issued within the last five years, for a $50 fee with the same documentation as a copy.³

Local hospitals or police typically notify the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate, and consular officers then try to locate and notify the next of kin. A family that learns of the death first calls Overseas Citizens Services, open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, with the name, location and any details known.^{2, 6}

A CRDA can be used instead of a foreign death certificate in the United States. It is an official U.S. government document that serves as proof of death for estate settlement, insurance claims and other legal purposes.²

The personal estate is released to a legal representative who shows letters testamentary or letters of administration and signs a release. With no locally applicable will and effects and cash each worth $2,000 or less, the officer may accept Form DS-5511 instead; above $2,000 the Department must approve the release.^{1, 7}

The consular officer is not authorized to withdraw or dispose of bank accounts or other assets held at financial institutions, which are not treated as part of the personal estate. The officer does not normally take possession of furniture, vehicles, toiletries or perishables.¹

Copies go by USPS First Class Mail, one to two weeks, at no extra charge, or by 1-3 Day Delivery Service within the U.S. for an additional $23.36. Requesters living outside the United States receive the record through the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate.³

Cancels a deceased person's passport sent by mail, and returns or destroys it as the letter asks²

Consular Reports of Death Abroad issued before 1975³