Passing away overseas

[OZDUCK]

Yes, but what’s the actual process…

When working in Customs I used to occasionally process the remains of persons who had died overseas. In every case of the body being bought back that I saw it was all done via Undertakers .The overseas one processed all the paperwork to transport the remains to Australia and then a local one picked them up from the airport. A copy of the overseas Death Certificate was usually attached to the Airwaybill. We would release the remains subject to Quarantine release.

Cremated remains can be personally carried without restriction.

This PDF from the Dept of Health gives a good overview.

https://www1.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/E29F8E3133FB783CCA2581A7007FF5E6/$File/Human-Remains-Fact-Sheet-September-2020.pdf

 

[Quickstatus]

This PDF from the Dept of Health gives a good overview.

Thanks it sounds very involved even with an “overview”

Cremated easiest

 

[drron]

A little bit extra. the undertaker in the country of passing will embalm the body first then seal it in a coffin. Process all the paperwork as noted in OZDUCKS link. An airline is picked and the casket is loaded as freight.
Then the funeral director here liases with the authorities and family.

 

[cove]

Thanks @OZDUCK and @drron . It is pretty clear that you can get a body returned to Australia..
Without travel insurance that could be quite a financial tester.
His funeral is set now and we will learn more about the repatriation at the wake.
Having a home in Indonesia may prove to be an issue too as you cannot directly own real estate there.
I do hope his children love wine as his Perth home has a built in wine cool room that has a big stash.

 

[drron]

I thought that a couple we passed by when going to the lounge this morning were candidates for passing overseas. They have just sat behind us. They are off to India. I think their chances are quite high.

 

[andye]

I thought that a couple we passed by when going to the lounge this morning were candidates for passing overseas. They have just sat behind us. They are off to India. I think their chances are quite high.

Medics eh. Can't help ourselves, diagnosing and prognosticating

 

[Quickstatus]

I think their chances are quite high.

They immediately need to be on one of those “miracle flights”

 

[Hvr]

If you're going to die while travelling probably the easiest to get home is on a cruise.
They can just put you in the freezer until your home port.

Many, many years ago I knew a coach driver who would do tours to Ayer's Rock (it was a very long time ago) and he mentioned he'd once filled a couple of body bags whilst in the outback. Travelling in the luggage compartment was better than leaving them behind.

 

[love_the_life]

I thought that a couple we passed by when going to the lounge this morning were candidates for passing overseas. They have just sat behind us. They are off to India. I think their chances are quite high.

When we were on the QM2 on its first circumnavigation of Australia quite a few passengers passed on the way - apparently at Darwin there were several gurneys ready. We would pass (private) comments about who we thought would be next in line. There were some seriously old unwell looking people.
Though that isn't an indication maybe as on our Antarctic cruise, a representative from an NGO polar protection group died overnight in his cabin.

 

[OZDUCK]

We had a Japanese Tuna boat arrive in Fremantle with one of the crew frozen solid in the fish freezer. He had died due to a knife between the ribs. The state police got all excited and tried to do a murder investigation but as the incident happened in International Waters on a foreign registered vessel they could do nothing.

 

[Sprucegoose]

But some could be mounted as prime examples.

I carry a donor card in my wallet and have discussed with family.

A donation to science fiction, perhaps Ross?

 

[Sprucegoose]

This, unfortunately, is a necessary topic. Don't underestimate the cost, bureaucracy and requirements of body repatriation. Nothing happens swiftly.

I agree it is always important to demonstrate clear intentions with the swag of documents, as some have well noted; however, even between the Australian States, there are differing requirements, let alone countries. I would suggest with any long-term offshore residency; important documents are translated and notarised to confirm timely validity.

 

[nancypants]

In Australia
Despite organ donor card, the family can override the deceased wishes to be an organ donor
The opposite is not true, the family cannot override the deceased wishes not to be an organ donor.

I wonder how many people have vehemently opted out of donation?

 

[Scarlett]

We’ve all seen the ads: if you can’t afford travel insurance, you can’t afford to travel. So what percentage of travellers do actually have travel insurance overseas? Anyone know? Ballpark only needed for this discussion.

Hypothetically, and in advance of any answers, let’s say 60%.

Now, what percentage of that group, then advises others (their family, friends etc) of their travel insurance details? I know I have never considered it. I ask as, if the topic of this thread comes to pass, how does the family / executor of an estate claim on travel insurance death benefits if they have no way of knowing whether someone had a policy or not? Is there some sort of central travel insurance ‘clearing house’ where the family of a deceased can go and find out if someone had a policy? Would providing name, dob etc be enough to find out that a person was holding a policy and to then be able to claim on that policy? Based on the almost pathological desire not to pay out evident from most insurance companies, I can’t imagine they’d be volunteering this kind of info, or making it in any way an easy process?

So, short version, like @Quickstatus was asking, how would this practically work if policyholders were to die overseas, but no one else knew they were policyholders?

 

[TheRealTMA]

I wonder how many people have vehemently opted out of donation?

Why does anyone opt out?

 

[Hvr]

Why does anyone opt out?

There may be medical reasons why a donations couldn't be accepted. E.g. if a person was HIV+, it's no one else's business. but their organs couldn't be accepted.

I'm sure there are lots of legitimate medical reasons why organs cannot be accepted.

 

[cove]

The funeral was held without a body nor casket as the level of difficulty in getting a body home from Indonesia I would rate as a ten. Great memories.
This has firmed up my thinking of getting cremated overseas after getting any viable body parts donated.

 

[VPS]

We’ve all seen the ads: if you can’t afford travel insurance, you can’t afford to travel. So what percentage of travellers do actually have travel insurance overseas? Anyone know? Ballpark only needed for this discussion.

Hypothetically, and in advance of any answers, let’s say 60%.

Now, what percentage of that group, then advises others (their family, friends etc) of their travel insurance details? I know I have never considered it. I ask as, if the topic of this thread comes to pass, how does the family / executor of an estate claim on travel insurance death benefits if they have no way of knowing whether someone had a policy or not? Is there some sort of central travel insurance ‘clearing house’ where the family of a deceased can go and find out if someone had a policy? Would providing name, dob etc be enough to find out that a person was holding a policy and to then be able to claim on that policy? Based on the almost pathological desire not to pay out evident from most insurance companies, I can’t imagine they’d be volunteering this kind of info, or making it in any way an easy process?

So, short version, like @Quickstatus was asking, how would this practically work if policyholders were to die overseas, but no one else knew they were policyholders?

Interesting I have never thought about letting someone know about my travel insurance policy but I will now

 

[CaptJCool]

For a more recent innovation

Australian Death Notification Service

The Australian Death Notification Service allows people to digitally notify multiple organisations that someone has died.

deathnotification.gov.au

saves the 747 letters you might need do.....

also noticed there’s now fixed quote probate legal eagles that can be used in preference to local expensive lawyers.....now where can I find the free will?

 

[Lynda2475]

So im in Scotland atm, and keep seeing an advert re organ donation which is managed by the NHS. Basically here you have to explicitly Opt out of organ donation, default is every adult is automatically a donor. Seems sensible would be good to see same via medicare.

Also i always give my TI details to a family member not for repatriation of remains but more so if im injured and not able to advocate for my own care.