Guidance

Ecuador bereavement information

Updated 4 April 2024

1. Disclaimer

This information is not meant to be definitive, nor is it to be taken as a substitute for independent legal advice. Neither His Majesty’s Government nor its staff take any responsibility for the accuracy of the information, nor accept liability for any loss, costs, damage or expense that you might suffer as a result of relying on the information. Some of the information may not be relevant to your circumstances. The language used is intended to be general and factual and is not meant to cause offence.

2. ECUADOR: bereavement information

3. Introduction

When a relative or friend dies abroad, the different procedures, laws or language can cause additional distress. You may be uncertain about what to do or who to contact.

This country specific information is designed to help you through some of the practical arrangements you may need to make. It supplements the general information on death abroad produced by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, which applies to all countries.

Please note, as each country has its own laws and customs when a death occurs, it may not be possible to make the arrangements that you prefer, or at the time you would like.

4. How to contact the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office

There is a lot of information below, but you may have questions. You can speak to someone by phone 24/7, any day of the year by contacting the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office in London on 0207 008 5000.

If you are not in the UK, you can find the contact details of the nearest British embassy, high commission or consulate.

The priority of the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office is to provide assistance to British nationals overseas who need the most help. The level and type of assistance they can offer is tailored to the individual circumstances of each case.

5. Next of kin

The next of kin of the person who died will usually need to make decisions and practical arrangements. The next of kin can sometimes appoint another person to act on their behalf, as well as a family liaison officer. We recommend that either appointed person carefully reads this guide to take into consideration the relevant steps from the UK and other country, given that the next of kin may not be in a position to digest all this data.

There is no legal definition of next of kin in the UK. Please note that if there is a disagreement over who is the next of kin, or the person who died did not choose a next of kin, this can cause additional complications.

Ecuador considers the next of kin a partner, parents, children or siblings and if there is a dispute over the next of kin, the decision will be made by the next of kin as listed previously in that order.

Same sex partners/spouses are recognised under Ecuadorean law as next of kin.

If you are not the next of kin, they will need to be informed. If required, the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office can help you do this through a strict protocol to notify, in-person, a death of family or friend abroad to the next of kin. This is done in liaison with specialised trained police in the UK, at any day/night time. The British Embassy Quito regularly lobbies for local authorities and local entities to respect this protocol. However, there have been unfortunate cases when local officials contact the next of kin in the UK directly (via phone, text or even social media). We understand this can be extremely upsetting for the family.

6. Identification

As of January 2022, there is a new Ecuadorean regulation for the management of corpses and other funeral services, which includes a formal identification process through the access to fingerprints or dental records to confirm the identity (something the UK does not always have on register).

If the deceased did not have a local resident card (therefore not registered with the local civil registry office, which includes fingerprints), the next of kin will be required to do a formal identification of their family who died in Ecuador, either in person or through an anthropological virtual interview if they are overseas.

The interview is carried out virtually between the forensic anthropologist and the next of kin in the UK. They will go through a set of questions to support and confirm the identification and may previously request recent photos or descriptions of body marks such as piercings, tattoos, scars or birthmarks.

If the next of kin decides to travel to Ecuador, they can opt to undertake the anthropological interview virtually or in person. The latter at the medical forensic department (‘medicina legal’). In principle, you will not be allowed to see your beloved one but only some photographs taken during the post-mortem process.

The forensic anthropologist assigned will not always speak English or feel confident to carry out the interview in English. In these cases, we ask the next of kin in the UK to have an interpreter for the interview or a friend who speaks Spanish. A list of local private interpreters can be found here.

7. Release of information to next of kin

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office will try to obtain as much information as possible after your relative or friend has died abroad. Some details may be only available to next of kin, however, consular officers in Quito, will attempt to obtain these themselves, or they may put you in touch directly with the authorities overseas. Consular officers can provide you with details of others who can advocate on your behalf such as lawyers, charities, or other organisations.

The local authorities will share developments directly with consular officers in Quito, and they in turn will keep the family in the UK informed.

8. Insurance

It is very important to check if the person who died had insurance. If they had insurance, contact the insurance company as soon as possible. The UK insurance company and designated UK funeral home will instruct the local Ecuadorean undertaker and will co-ordinate the relevant payment. We may be able to oversee some basic arrangements.

If the person who died did not have insurance, the next of kin will usually have to appoint a funeral director and will usually be responsible for all costs. The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office cannot help with these costs.

9. Appointing a funeral director

If you decide to bring the deceased to the UK for the funeral or cremation (please read under the ‘cremation’ section, information when this is not permitted), you may only need to appoint an international funeral director. The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office produces a list of international funeral directors based in the UK.

If you decide to hold a funeral or cremation in Ecuador, you can find a list of funeral directors in Ecuador with English speaking officials.

You will need to contact the funeral director and request their services. The sooner this is done, the better, due to weather conditions and lack of infrastructure in certain parts of Ecuador (e.g. jungle region, coastal region, Galapagos Islands).

If your beloved one had insurance, the insurance company may assign a funeral director in the UK and then in Ecuador to liaise directly with them. For easier reference of the updated list of funeral directors in Ecuador, with English speaking officials check here

Once a local undertaker has been selected, you will need to send an authorisation letter directly to them, or through the British Embassy Quito (a copy of your passport should be attached to the authorisation). They will then be in charge of obtaining all the required paperwork locally. The British Embassy’s consular team can prepare relevant covering letters to the local authorities, enclosing the next of kin authorisation to the local undertaker, to facilitate their acceptance.

The local authorities will need to be told if the person suffered from an infectious condition such as hepatitis or HIV so they can take precautions against infection.

10. Post mortem examinations (autopsies)

Under Ecuadorean law, an autopsy is obligatory if a person dies in sudden, suspicious, or violent circumstances. The forensic police pathologists are responsible for carrying out autopsies, under the relevant order from the district Prosecutor (‘Fiscal’), who will open an administrative case to have access to all official documentation.

If a person dies in hospital, or from an illness lasting more than 24 hours, an autopsy is not obligatory.

If the person dies outside a hospital/medical facility, the forensic police pathologists must undertake an autopsy in order to establish the cause of death and are responsible for carrying out the preservation of the body until the funeral director can take over.

From recent cases, post mortem examinations are ordered by the ‘Fiscal’ within the following 12-24 working hours, even in cases where the person has not yet been technically identified or the funeral director’s appointment is still pending. You should therefore inform the consular officials and your chosen funeral director, about any religious needs regarding an autopsy as soon as possible. However, from our understanding, there are no exceptions as the local law is very strict on this process.

Forensic pathologists will refer to the police’s preliminary alleged cause of death, included in the formal removal of the body’s report (‘Acta de Levantamiento de Cadáver’) issued by ‘DINASED’ specialised police, through initial versions taken from witnesses in the location where the person died. If available, and on time, the assigned forensic pathologist can be sent any medical history from the family in the UK to take into consideration during the autopsy process.

Post mortem reports are made available to the next of kin once the local authorities have completed the identification, cause of death and the investigation of the case. Such reports can sometimes contain strong images, and the family can request the consular officials to omit these pages from the report. The consular officials will try to get these documents to the family as soon as possible.

If the forensic pathologist responsible for the autopsy process, considers requesting additional tests, such as a toxicological or others, once the results are issued, the pathologist will require the specific order from the district Prosecutor (‘Fiscal’) to be able to prepare the amplified post-mortem report.

10.1 Documentation/procedure required for collecting the deceased from mortuary facilities (morgue – ‘medicina legal’) (your chosen funeral director in Ecuador should be responsible for this process):

• medical death certificate, issued by a doctor (‘INEC’ form)

• identification certificate of the deceased person, issued by the judicial police and the district prosecutor (‘Fiscalía’) (for violent and/or sudden death)

• formal identification certificate of the deceased person, issued by the science forensic authority, following the anthropological interview with the next of kin (only for foreigners not resident in Ecuador, with no local ID with registered fingerprints)

• autopsy report (if applicable)

• registration of death certificate at the Ecuadorean Civil Registry Office (‘Registro Civil’)

• if the next of kin is in Ecuador, they will have to sign the relevant body collection’s authorisation form

11. Registering the death and obtaining a death certificate

You will need to register the death with the local authorities in the country where the person died. The local funeral director will do this for you but only with basic details of the deceased, according to the British passport details, which in principle will be enough for any process in the UK. However, should you want to include the full names of the parents, you will need to provide the local undertakers with a legalised copy of the deceased UK birth certificate, which may delay this process.

A medical certificate, certifying the death, is issued by a local legal doctor (‘Informe Estadístico de Defunción’, knowns as ‘INEC’ form) which allows to include the cause of death on the death certificate. This is a mandatory requirement. All deaths will be registered by the Ecuadorean Civil Registry Office. All certificates will be issued in Spanish. Check our list of translators Ecuador for translation. A certified copy is issued immediately if all the information is provided. The certificate costs around $6 and states the date, place and cause of death. Further copies can be applied for as needed.

If the deceased is still in a mortuary facilities (morgue – ‘medicina legal’), once the official technical identification process is completed, the morgue officials will provide the relevant ‘INEC’ form with the cause of death for the family or appointed funeral director to register the death at the Ecuadorean Civil Registry Office.

An immediate family member (usually spouse or parent) can request a copy from the Ecuadorean Civil Registry Office in person, giving the full name and date of birth of the deceased, and by showing ID. No other document (e.g. marriage or birth certificate) is usually requested. If someone other than the spouse or parent wishes to request a copy, this can be done by following the same procedure, but they will be asked to fill out an additional form at the Ecuadorean Civil Registry Office.

The Ecuadorean Civil Registry Office has an online service for various procedures, including registering a local death. For more information, visit the Ecuadorean Civil Registry Office (only available in Spanish)

Along with this, a “virtual branch” system has been created, but this is only for Ecuadorean/naturalised/resident next-of-kin, by providing their Ecuadorean ID number fingerprint registry (only available in Spanish)

If the family wishes to apply for a death certificate from the UK, they should contact the Ecuadorean Consulate in London directly (tel. 0203 905 2150, address - 9 John Sessions Square, London E1 8NQ). They may need to book an appointment and attend in person.

12. UK death registration

You do not have to register the death of a British national that occurs overseas with the UK authorities. This is not mandatory and cannot be used instead of a local death certificate from the country where the person died. However, if you wish to do so, you can find more information on registering a death and apply online. The local death certificate can usually be used in the UK for most purposes, including probate. You will need to obtain and pay for an official translation.

13. Mortuary facilities

The main cities in Ecuador will have good mortuary facilities (similar to those in the UK) where the body will be kept until the next of kin is informed. However, rural areas in the jungle, some coastal regions and the Galapagos Islands, have very limited mortuary facilities (some none at all) and a decision of what the next of kin wants to do with the person who died, will need to be made quickly.

There are no costs of keeping the person who died at the mortuary, however local authorities will sometimes pressure consular officials and next of kin to make a decision quickly, due to limited spaces in certain areas or adequate refrigeration.

14. Burial, cremation, repatriation

The next of kin of the person who has died will usually need to decide between a local burial, cremation or bringing the person home, which is known as repatriation. Your funeral director will usually be able to explain the options available, the costs, and help you make arrangements.

14.1 Burial

Local burial is an option in Ecuador, however the cost of the space (locally known as “niche”) in the cemetery is around US$2.000. Graveyard burial costs are between US$2.000-3.000. Please note these costs may vary a lot depending on the funeral director, facilities offered, and on the town/city.

Documentation/processes necessary for local burial (your local undertaker should arrange this documentation):

• issue of medical death certificate by a doctor (‘INEC’ form)

• registration of death certificate at the Ecuadorean Civil Registry Office

• certificate of identification of the deceased person (if applicable)

• “Formaldehyde” certificate (embalming) for the preservation of remains by the Ministry of Health

• burial authorisation issued by the Ministry of Public Health (MSP - ‘Dirección Provincial de Salud’). If deceased in a small village, authorisation to be issued by the head of the medical centre

Costs for a funeral service, including a vigil in the funeral home chapel for up to 24 hours (open for family members to come and go, often accompanied by refreshment service) are around $800 - $1,500, but this may vary considerably depending on the funeral home and the level of facilities offered.

This cost includes embalming/body preparation prior to the service. Please note these costs are in addition to the above costs for cremation/burial/repatriation following the funeral service.

Most funeral homes are flexible with the type of funeral service offered and will listen to the family’s wishes in terms of a religious/non-religious service. You can request the funeral home to look into options of an English speaking person/priest to lead the funeral service in English.

If family members wish for the deceased to be dressed in particular clothes, or items of sentimental value to be placed with them in the coffin, this is usually possible and must be discussed with the funeral home. Families can choose to have an open or closed-casket vigil/memorial service (we recommend you request the funeral home to inform this decision to the person who leads the funeral service).

14.2 Cremation

Direct cremation service costs around US$1,000 to US$1,300 (including the cost of the coffin, transportation from the funeral home to the crematorium, the urn and all paperwork needed to fulfil local regulations for cremation).

Documentation/processes necessary for cremation (your chosen funeral home in Ecuador should arrange this documentation)

• issue of medical death certificate by a doctor (‘INEC’ form)

• registration of death certificate at the Ecuadorean Civil Registry Office

• certificate of identification of remains (if applicable)

• autopsy report (if applicable)

• cremation authorisation from next of kin (normally a declaration of three close family members that authorise in complete accordance, that the cremation process can be done without any future detriment)

• issue of cremation permission by the Ministry of Public Health (MSP - ‘Dirección Provincial de Salud’) to local undertaker, stating where it will take place

• cremation certificate (issued by the Funeral Home)

The only local prohibition for scattering ashes is in national protected areas. Despite this, we highly recommend you to consider any other people around you when you scatter the ashes in order to avoid offence or possible confrontation.

Note: Under Ecuadorean law, cremation is legally not permitted if the death occurred in violent circumstances, such as a murder, overdose or suicide. This is because legal investigations into the death are required. This may also apply to death from road accidents or other forms of accident, where the local authorities deem it necessary to conduct further investigation, and/or begin a legal procedure against another involved party (such as another driver). Therefore, in these situations the only options are for the body to be repatriated, or a local burial.

14.3 Repatriation of ashes

Local Funeral Directors can organise the repatriation of ashes, or the full body, to the UK or a third country.

The cost of cremation and transportation of ashes back to the UK is about US$800 – US$1,000 in addition to the cost of the cremation service detailed above (with the paperwork, but excluding airfare). Approximate airfare: US$480 – 500.

Documentation necessary for repatriation of ashes (your chosen Funeral Home in Ecuador should arrange this documentation):

• medical and death registration certificates (indicating the cause of death)

• deceased identity document

• permission certificate for repatriation of ashes, issued by the Epidemiology Department of the Ministry of Public Health (MSP - ‘Dirección Provincial de Salud’) to the assigned airline and local undertaker. This document should include a basic flight itinerary

• certificate from local undertaker stating that the coffin containing ashes complies with health regulations

In some cases, family members can travel with the ashes as hand luggage, rather than cargo (in which case the above airfare does not apply). This must be requested directly with the funeral director. It is important to note that the funeral director will need full details of the family’s planned itinerary including any transit stops, in order to arrange the necessary paperwork. Ashes are provided in a sealed urn with the necessary paperwork for travel.

14.4 Repatriation

Most funeral directors in Quito and Guayaquil provide an embalming service to preserve the body before repatriation. This cost is already included in other funeral arrangements.

Documentation/processes necessary for embalming (your chosen funeral home in Ecuador should arrange this documentation):

• medical death certificate, issued by a doctor (‘INEC’ form – indicating cause of death)

• registration of death certificate at the Ecuadorean Civil Registry Office (‘Registro Civil’)

• certificate of identification of the deceased person (if applicable)

• autopsy report (if applicable)

• issue of ‘Formaldehyde’ Certificate for the preservation of the body issued by the Ministry of Health/District Prosecutor´s doctor and/or police pathologist.

The cost of preparing and transporting a body to the UK is about US$3,500 - $4,000 (with all paperwork, excluding the airfare). Approximate airfare: US$19.80 per kilo (average coffin´s weight is 180-200 kg). Some funeral directors have a maximum weight limit of around 200kg for a body / 12kg for ashes.

It is worth noting that the repatriation airfare can vary greatly depending on the airline, and it depends on availability and notice given before the flight is booked. Therefore, it is a good idea to request the funeral home to obtain quotes from various airlines (2 or 3 minimum) and check the final quotes before making a decision. If the family has flexibility on dates for the repatriation, this can reduce expense, as costs can vary on a day-to-day basis even with the same airline.

If you choose to repatriate your beloved one to the UK, you must be aware that under Ecuadorean law some organs must be removed, treated and returned to the body before being repatriated to another country. We understand that this can be very distressing for families, but we are unable to interfere with Ecuadorean law on this matter (*).

If there is any religious needs regarding organ retention or removal, you should inform as soon as possible the consular officials and your chosen funeral director. Local authorities may take this into consideration for exceptions according to the rules and circumstances.

An update on the new local regulation, which came into force in January 2022, is in progress, but it states that local undertakers and pathologists should take into consideration the requirement from the other country when repatriating a body overseas. Despite most of the information here remains valid, it can be that some other organs are removed within this process. Do ask specifically the UK/local funeral directors about this, moreover when there is the possibility of a second post-mortem back in the UK.

(*) The encephalic mass (brain), the thoracic-abdominal viscera which includes the lungs and heart; organs of the respiratory, cardiovascular, and lymphatic systems; the inferior portion of the oesophagus; and the thymus gland are removed and immersed in a chemical solution of formol-water-glycerine, for their conservation. Those that are in good condition should be returned to the body in their place as much as the body permits. Any that are already in a bad state or in deterioration will be incinerated to avoid affecting other organs or the actual preservation aesthetic treatment.

Documentation/processes necessary for repatriation of body (your chosen Funeral Home in Ecuador should arrange this documentation):

Apart from other documents listed above:

• certificate of removal of organs and embalming process

• permission certificate for repatriation of body, issued by the Epidemiology Department of the Ministry of Public Health (MSP - ‘Dirección Provincial de Salud’) to the assigned airline and local undertaker. This document should include a basic flight itinerary

• the ‘Formaldehyde’ certificate for the preservation of remains issued by the Ministry of Public Health/District Prosecutor´s doctor and/or police pathologist

• certificate from local undertaker stating that the coffin containing body complies with health regulations: special hermetically sealed coffin (inner metal-casket and external wooden-container) is required for repatriation of a body. In addition, the local undertaker needs to certify that an embalming and ‘formolisation’ (formaldehyde) procedure has been done, and that the coffin does not contain any drugs, weapons or explosives

• air waybill issued by airline

• all corresponding documents for repatriation are verified by the International Health Department, Customs and the Anti-Narcotics department at the airport

Please note if a local burial or cremation takes place, then an inquest in the UK will not be possible. For more information on inquests, see the information on UK coroners and inquests.

The body can be donated to medical science if it is the wishes of the person who died or next of kin. This should be informed to the British Embassy Quito.

15. Return of personal belongings

If the person who died had insurance, check with the insurance company if this covers the return of their personal belongings.

Under Ecuadorean law, if a person dies in sudden, suspicious or violent circumstances, the specialised police unit(s) for this process will be engaged in the formal removal of the body (‘Acta de Levantamiento de Cadáver’). This will be led by officials from ‘DINASED’ and the forensic police (‘criminalística’). All valuable belongings (such as personal documents, mobile phone and cards) will be taken into custody to the Judicial Police storage room, through an official inventory (‘formulario de cadena de custodia’) within the police report (‘parte policial’). If the deceased was collected from a private establishment or hotel, other belongings will be left inside a plastic bag.

You can send another authorisation to the local funeral director to help you retrieving belongings from private establishments. However, for those in legal custody, the appointed district prosecutor (‘Fiscal’) will be responsible for ordering their return, through an official declaration and authorisation from the next of kin. In some cases, the prosecutor may demand a notarised sworn declaration. The British Embassy’s consular team will be able to guide you in this process, by sending you the relevant authorisation template for your signature (with copy of your passport) and by preparing the relevant covering letter. However, please bear in mind that the authorisation should be granted to the local undertaker’s official as the British Embassy is not allowed to receive personal belongings. Also note that some prosecutors may be stricter about the above documentation to facilitate their recovery authorisation. Once the belongings are retrieved, the local undertaker, in liaison with the family in the UK, and/or UK funeral director and insurance company, will organise the return of these belongings to the family. However, some objects (e.g. mobile phone) are not permitted by the airline and therefore the funeral director will arrange another way to get these objects to you (i.e. courier).

Depending on the circumstances, either the police or funeral director will draw up an inventory of the belongings that can be shared with the family.

In murder or manslaughter cases, the local authorities may keep some belongings as evidence. The consular officials can explain this to you.

Families can raise concerns or complaints directly to the local authorities, funeral home, insurance company or through the British embassy consular officials.

Please note, the British Embassy, High Commission or Consulate cannot take responsibility for the personal belongings of the person who died.

16. Steps to take in the UK

You can find more information on the steps to take in the UK online. This includes information on arranging the funeral, telling the government about the death, UK pensions and benefits, and dealing with the estate of the person who died. There is a step-by-step guide about what to do when someone dies.

17. British passport cancellation

In order to avoid identity fraud, the passport of the person who died should be cancelled with His Majesty’s Passport Office (HMPO). To do this, you will need to complete a “D1 form”.

The the form and instructions on where to send the passport is available online

If you plan to repatriate the person who died to the UK, you may require their passport to do this. In these circumstances, you should cancel the passport after they have been repatriated.

18. Child deaths

The same procedures and investigation process are followed for the death of a child. Social services will only get involved in specific circumstances, depending on the cause of death.

19. Deaths in road traffic accidents and deaths investigated as murder or manslaughter

19.1 If the local police have confirmed that they are investigating the death as a murder or manslaughter a dedicated team within the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office will be available to provide support, including by referring you to a specialised organisation. You can find more about how the FCDO can help with murder and manslaughter abroad.

You should note that if the deceased is repatriated to parts of the UK a coroner or procurator fiscal may decide to hold an inquest. See the section on UK Coroners and inquests below.

Investigative action is taken following a death in suspicious circumstances, death from a road traffic accident, sudden/accidental or violent death. The investigation is led by the examining prosecutor, but supported by the judicial police (and Servicio de Accidentología Vial – traffic accidents investigation police). Police may make a copy of their report available to the family, upon request.

Brief description of the judicial process if the police apprehend a suspect and the State decides to prosecute:

• inquiry phase handled by the judicial police, but under the control of the state/district prosecutor. Confidential inquiries within the first 24-48 hours – no public access

• if evidence found, the state prosecutor will lead a 90-day investigation phase (45 days for road traffic accidents). Inquiries within this period are delegated to the district judicial police. Public access

• after this period, if the prosecutor has sufficient evidence, they will request the judge to convene a hearing to formulate charges

• if a suspect is accused, a preliminary hearing should take place before the judge for a final verdict

• if a trial is called by the judge, the court hearing should take place before the designated court

• court to submit sentence

The local authorities are usually forthcoming with updates and will reach out to the family via consular officials. Please bear in mind that local legal procedures can be lengthy, the consular officials will talk you through the process and give you timelines.

20. UK coroners and inquests

If you repatriate the person who died to England and Wales, there may be an inquest and second post mortem. The decision on when to hold an inquest is made by His Majesty’s Coroner. Please note, an inquest will usually only happen in certain situations, for example, when someone has died in suspicious, unnatural, and violent circumstances or whilst in detention. If the person who died is cremated and only their ashes are brought home, there will not be an inquest.

If you repatriate the person who died to Scotland, the Procurator Fiscal may decide to call for a Fatal Accidents or Injuries Inquiry.

If you repatriate the person who died to Northern Ireland, there will be no coronial inquest or further inquiry.

Please note, Procurators Fiscal and Coroners do not have jurisdiction in another country, nor do they seek to apportion blame to a named individual. They would not have access to the Ecuadorean judicial file. The UK Coroner may however, request a copy of the Ecuadorean police and post mortem reports through the FCDO’s Consular Directorate. However, these reports may be only provided once the judicial processes (if any) have been completed. In some cases, this can take several months.

You can find more information on Coroners and the Procurator Fiscal in the FCDO guide on death abroad

21. Legal Aid

If it is a public accusation, the state prosecutor will be in charge of the inquiry/investigation of the case. “Pro Bono” lawyers Public Defendants may only be available for criminal cases.

For private allegations, consular officials of the British Embassy has a list of local English-speaking lawyers, some of which offer pro-bono service.

22. Compensation

Accusations of negligence by a state entity - requesting compensation amount for damages (such as death by electrocution: civil lawsuit against national electrical company for not having put warning signs out). The next of kin of the deceased can apply for government compensation:

• civil lawsuit (including legal deposition) against the national company (legal representative) to be submitted to the district Judge by a lawyer on behalf of victim’s next of kin. You must first grant a power of attorney to your appointed lawyer to guide you on the local legal process. Check the list of English speaking private lawyers in Ecuador

• it is essential to have enough evidence. The amount paid for damages is up to the judge’s discretion

• judgement – acceptance of deposition and payment of damages

• appeal is possible – to be reviewed by the Provincial Court and state prosecutor

• likelihood of a settlement agreement

There is a mandatory “public road accident insurance policy” (SPPAT – “Sistema Público para Pago de Accidentes de Tránsito”) which is an insurance for road accident victims, covering medical expenses (up to US$3,000); hospital transport expenses of injured people (up to US$200); disability compensation (up to US$5,000); death compensation (up to US$5,000) and funeral expenses (up to US$400). The SPPAT is a mandatory insurance for all vehicles. This insurance guarantees that every road accident victim is provided with immediate medical assistance in either a public or private hospital, without having to pay a deposit, in addition to the above compensation amounts.

You can find information on UK compensation for victims of terrorism overseas

23. Translation and Interpretation

Not all local authorities will speak English or feel comfortable sharing information in English with the next of kin. An interpreter will only be provided by local authorities in court for legal proceedings. For other processes, such as the confirmation of the identity of the body, the family will need to get an interpreter or Spanish-speaking friend. All documents issues in Ecuador will be in Spanish. Ecuador list of private translators and interpreters

23.1 Support organisations in the UK

In the UK, there are many organisations that can help bereaved families. Some of these are listed in the guide coping with death abroad.