Repatriation Route
Coordination of the international transfer of a deceased person from the United States to the United Kingdom — documentation, local providers, airline and cargo arrangements, and handover at destination.
This is the documentation commonly involved on this route. The actual set is confirmed for each case, and can change depending on the circumstances of the death and the authorities involved.
The United States does not have a single national procedure. The documentation, who may issue it and how quickly, depends on the state where the death occurred — which is why the first thing we establish is the state, not just the country.
A receiving funeral director in the UK is normally involved in collecting the deceased and in the arrangements that follow arrival. Where the family does not already have one, this is part of what we coordinate.
If the circumstances of the death mean a coroner or medical examiner is involved on either side, that will affect both the documentation and the timeline. It is assessed at intake rather than assumed.
How It Works
International repatriation involves authorities, documents and providers in at least two countries. This is how we structure it so the family does not have to.
We take the details of the case: where the death occurred, where the deceased needs to be transferred, and the circumstances that affect what will be required.
We review the requirements for that specific route — documentation, authorisations, available providers and flight options — and come back to you with what the case involves.
We coordinate with the local professional providers and the relevant authorities in the country where the death occurred.
Documentation, airline, cargo and the flight itself are coordinated and tracked through to departure.
We coordinate the handover to the receiving party in the destination country and the continuation of the arrangements there.
The stages above describe how a case is typically managed. The specific requirements, sequence and timing depend on the countries involved and are confirmed case by case.
Case Intake
Send us the details of the case. The more you can tell us, the faster we can assess the route and what it will require.
We have your case details and our team will review the route and requirements.
Your reference:
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Tell us where the death occurred and where the deceased needs to go. We will assess the route and come back to you.