Body Repatriation and Cremation Services
No one ever plans on having to deal with a death or bringing a body home, but an estimated 6,000 US citizens die overseas each year. Though we are never truly prepared for a death, most people do have some arrangements preplanned for funeral or cremation services in Prosper, TX.
But what happens when someone dies abroad? If you lose a loved one while they’re traveling, the stress of that death is usually compounded by the question: “what do I do now?”
The process of bringing a body home, called body repatriation, can take a long time and a mountain of paperwork, so it’s best to get started as soon as you can. The exact process of body repatriation can differ slightly from country to country, but it’s important that you follow the laws of the country where the death occurred.
There are generally three different methods of body repatriation:
- Preparation and Return of an Embalmed Body – In this method the body is embalmed at a funeral home in the country where the death occurred and then returned to the USA. Sometimes the embalming standards of the local country are not at the same level as American embalming, so a viewing of the body will not be advisable.
- Local Cremation and Return of Cremains – Cremation is usually available in most countries. However, cremation might be more costly or less available in countries that are predominately Muslim or Catholic.
- Local Burial – Local burial is possible if the country in which the death occurred allows for burial of foreign nationals. The local embassy will generally make burial arrangements and send the next-of-kin the details.
Keep in mind that the next-of-kin will be responsible for all body repatriation costs as the US government does not have funds set aside for these instances. Embalming prior to repatriation is the most expensive, with local cremation and local burial coming behind. Also, it’s important to note that there might be extensive delays in body repatriation if the deceased was a victim of a crime as the local police will need to investigate.
Generally, the local embassy of the country where the person died will contact the United States State Department, who will in turn notify the appropriate next of kin. That’s when it’s time to get moving with an executed and signed Next-of-kin Affidavit and a Letter of Instruction that details your wishes for the body’s repatriation. There are some instances in which confirmation of the deceased is tricky, so the next-of-kin may be asked to provide dental or medical records to assist with confirming the identification of the body.
If your family is put in the unfortunate situation of losing a loved one overseas, you need a funeral home or cremation service provider you can count on. Slay Memorial Funeral Center is a Prosper, TX cremation service provider with the compassion and expertise needed to help you through this difficult time. Call or visit us today to learn more about what we can do for you.

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The Slay family has been helping families in this area with their funeral needs since 1986. We provide a special place where loved ones can be remembered. We understand that every person is special and unique. Therefore, we feel that their life should be honored in the same way.