Guidance

Uruguay bereavement information

Updated 22 November 2023

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.

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 1500.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

Under Uruguayan law there is no such figure as next of kin; it is direct family (spouse/civil partner, children, parents, siblings, etc.) who are responsible for taking any decisions in the event of death or illness.  This relationship must be proved with supporting documentation and the person must be over 18.

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 of this may be only available to next of kin. Consular staff may be able to obtain this themselves, or they may put you in touch directly with the authorities overseas. They may be able to provide you with details of others who can advocate on your behalf such as lawyers, charities, or other organisations.

Access to information concerning a death such as post-mortem reports, toxicology and histopathology results and police reports may be restricted until the Investigating Judge has reviewed the evidence. The Uruguayan authorities will not usually provide this information directly to next of kin, nor to third parties, including our Consulate, until after the conclusion of the preliminary investigation.

Consular staff can assist with making requests for information but courts have no obligation to pass on the information to us. Depending on each court, the release of any information can take days, weeks, several months and in some more complicated instances, years.

In some cases, in order to have access to the investigation and obtain information from the court files, the next of kin will have to appoint a local lawyer to represent them and make their request through them.

Find an English speaking lawyer.

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. They may have a list of approved funeral directors to help you make arrangements or be able to cover some of the costs.

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.

Appointing a funeral director

If you decide to bring the deceased to the UK for the funeral or cremation, 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 Uruguay you can find a list of funeral directors in Uruguay.

A relative or a formally appointed representative must instruct a local funeral director in Uruguay or an international funeral director in the UK for the person who died to be repatriated to the UK, or buried or cremated in Uruguay. However if the person who died was insured the relevant insurance company should be notified immediately as they will be able to help with the arrangements the next of kin decides upon.

You may need the insurance policy number. If the insurance company confirms that there is a current policy, you should not appoint your own funeral director or be pressurised by local funeral agencies to do so. It will be the insurance company that will appoint the funeral director both locally and in the UK.

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. Sometimes a funeral director can do this for you. You will usually need documents about you and the person who has died, which includes information such as full name, date of birth and passport number.

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.

You do not need to register the death with the UK authorities. The local death certificate can usually be used in the UK for most purposes, including probate. If it is not in English, you will need to obtain and pay for an official translation and have it legalised at the Uruguayan Ministry of Foreign Affairs for use abroad.

In Uruguay, the funeral director will be able to register the death at the Uruguayan General Registry Office on behalf of the next of kin.  In order to do so, they would need the doctor’s death certificate, a copy of the deceased passport, and if available, the next of kin to sign the death registration form.

Once the death is registered at the General Registry Office in Uruguay, you can obtain the death certificate.  This certificate will be issued in Spanish and is likely to take a couple of days. We suggest that you request at least three certified copies for any future legal procedures.

Uruguayan death certificates will state the cause of death, as would be the case in the UK.

Consular death registration

You do not have to register the death of a British national that occurs overseas with the UK authorities. You can sometimes apply for a consular death registration. This is not mandatory and cannot be used instead of a death certificate from the country where the person died. It is only available in some countries. If you wish to do this, you can [find more information on registering a death and apply online[(http://www.gov.uk/register-a-death).

Post mortem examinations (autopsies)

A post-mortem, which is also known as an autopsy, is normally performed in all cases and certainly when the death is not by natural causes. A doctor in a state hospital may also request a post-mortem for a death by natural causes when the cause of death is unclear.

Post-mortems are carried out by forensic doctors appointed by the hospital or by the court sometimes called pathologists. They normally include a histopathology and toxicology studies. Reports on these two studies can take between 40 days and 12 months to become available depending on the mortuary’s resources.

During a post-mortem, small tissue samples and organs may be removed and retained for testing, at the discretion of the forensic doctor, without you being informed or consulted.

This is done in order to better understand the cause of death and to evaluate any disease or injury that might be present. It can be crucial to establish cause of death in cases where criminal or civil legal procedures are underway. Cultural or religious sensitivities may not be taken into account.

In some cases, it may be necessary to have a further post mortem in the UK even though one has been carried out overseas and, when repatriation is to England or Wales, it is probable that the Coroner will wish to hold an inquest.

Mortuary facilities

Cold storage facilities are available in the capital and most mayor cities in Uruguay. Outside these areas however, standards vary and most morgues will not have the same standard as those in the UK. Where a death occurs in more remote locations, the person who died will normally be taken to a designated morgue. Not all funeral homes have their own cold storage facilities. Family members may be allowed to visit the person who died if they are being kept in a Judicial Morgue but would need to request special permission.

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.

Local burial

If you choose to proceed with a local burial in Uruguay, you will need to instruct a Uruguayan funeral director about the arrangements and your specific requirements and confirm what is included in the cost and service offered.

Please note that in Uruguay ‘burial’ can mean either an underground burial or an aboveground niche. Rights to these are normally held between two to five years, unless specifically purchased in perpetuity. Funeral directors in Uruguay can provide further information on this.

In Uruguay, human remains are not permitted to be exhumed before one year and one day has passed from the date of burial, unless ordered by a judge.

For more information on inquests, see the information on UK coroners and inquests.

Cremation

There are local cremation facilities in Uruguay. If you choose local cremation, a local funeral director will be able to arrange the necessary paperwork and transportation for the ashes.

You might be asked to identify the body prior to cremation either through physical inspection or a photograph. If you appoint someone to do this for you, let the funeral director know in writing the name of this individual and their relationship to the deceased.

Following the identification, you or your representative will most likely be asked to sign an identification form or a letter of consent. However, when post-mortem examinations are being carried out, the cremation has to be authorised by the judge. Not every judge will allow for a cremation to take place.

There are no regulations to the local scattering of ashes. Ashes are considered of free disposal and some funeral directors can be instructed by the family to carry it out. Please note that if 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.

Repatriation

If you decide on a repatriation and the person who died is covered by travel insurance, you should immediately contact the insurance company to establish if they are able to cover for the repatriation expenses and make the relevant arrangements. If the insurance company confirms that there is a current policy you should not appoint your own funeral director or be pressurised by local funeral agencies to do so.

The insurance company will normally have a standing agreement with an international funeral director in the UK to arrange repatriations.

If the person who died is not covered by insurance, you will need to appoint an international funeral director as soon as possible, who will in turn appoint a local funeral director to act on your behalf.

Funeral directors in Uruguay are equipped to carry out repatriation procedures and will provide the special caskets required. They will also arrange any necessary documentation such as a local civil registry death certificate, a certificate of embalming and a certificate giving permission to transfer the remains to the UK.

Local formalities for repatriation may take some days to complete. In certain circumstances, immediate repatriation may not always be possible. Our consular staff will try to tell you as soon as possible if this is the case.

Administrative burial

If no relatives have been traced or if family members are unable to pay for funeral arrangements or repatriation, an administrative burial will be carried out by the local authorities.

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

Embalming

Most mortuaries in Uruguay provide embalming services to preserve the remains.

Donation of bodies to medical science and organ donation

It is possible to donate a body to medical science. However, there may be some restrictions on the donation of a body and certain medical conditions may lead to the offer being declined. Further information can be obtained from the medical faculty of the state university (Facultad de Medicina de la Universidad de la Repúplica). If a body cannot be accepted, the next of kin of the person who died will need to make alternative arrangements.

Uruguay has a national office regarding organ donations and act according to Uruguayan law for organ donation and transplants. For further information you should contact Uruguayan National Donation and Transplant Institute (Instituto Nacional de Donación y Trasplante de Células, Tejidos y Órganos).

Necessary documentation for each process

Repatriation

• death certificate* – issued by the treating doctor or forensic doctor)
• death certificate* – issued by local General Register Office (Registro Civil)
• conservation certificate issued by the Sanitation Department (Dirección de Salubridad) of the relevant Town Hall (Intendencia)
• next of kin authorisation
• air waybill bill – the issued by the cargo company or airline
• legalisation of all documents by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores) and translated into English

Burial

• death certificate* – issued by the treating doctor or forensic doctor
• death certificate* – issued by local General Register Office (Registro Civil)
• Certificate of Identification of Remains issued by the Judicial Police and District Prosecutor (Fiscalía) for violent and/or sudden death (if applicable)
• next of kin authorisation

Cremation

• death certificate* – issued by the treating doctor or forensic doctor
• death certificate* – issued by local General Register Office (Registro Civil)
• Certificate of Identification of Remains issued by the Judicial Police and District Prosecutor (Fiscalía) for violent and/or sudden death (if applicable)
• next of kin authorisation
• autopsy report (if applicable)
• certification of the signature of the doctor to be submitted to the Montevideo or Canelones Town Hall (intendencia)
• cremation letter issued by the Town Hall

Autopsies

• death certificate* – issued by the treating doctor or forensic doctor
• death certificate* – issued by local General Register Office (Registro Civil)
• Certificate of Identification of Remains issued by the Judicial Police and District Prosecutor (Fiscalía) for violent and/or sudden death (if applicable)
• next of kin authorisation

Embalming

• death certificate* – issued by the treating doctor or forensic doctor
• death certificate* – issued by local General Register Office (Registro Civil)
• Certificate of Identification of Remains issued by the Judicial Police and District Prosecutor (Fiscalía) for violent and/or sudden death (if applicable).
• autopsy report (if applicable)
• next of kin authorisation
• Sanitary Certificate issued and Preservation of Remains Protocol Sanitary Department from the Town Hall

*For deaths at a health centre, the death certificate is issued by the health centre. For deaths outside a health centre, the death certificate is issued either by the forensic doctor or by the family’s general practitioner.

Return of personal belongings

Personal belongings found on the person who died at the time of death are either handed over to the family, if they are present, or taken by the police. If the next of kin chooses to repatriate the person who died, it is advisable to instruct the local undertaker to collect the belongings from the police or court and to ship them together with the person who died. If there is an investigation into the death, the clothing may be retained as evidence and is not returned until the court case is finished.

Please note that neither the British Embassy nor the Consulate can take responsibility for the personal belongings of the person who died.

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.

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 are 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.

Child deaths

Police in Uruguay will hold a full investigation into any death, other than those of natural causes; there are no separate procedures for deaths involving children.

In Uruguay if a baby is born (at any stage) alive and survives a minute or more, it will be registered and have a birth certificate.

Deaths in road traffic accidents

Police in Uruguay will hold a full investigation into any death and there are no separate procedures for deaths involving road traffic accidents.

Deaths investigated as murder or manslaughter

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.

If a death is regarded as suspicious, the relevant Judge or Public Prosecutor will investigate in full. If a perpetrator is identified, they will be charged but not normally detained until the trial hearing unless the Judge considers there is a risk the person might flee from justice or hinder the investigation.

Judges or Public Prosecutors will not reach out to inform the family with their updates. If the family would like regular updates, our consular staff can ask the Prosecution Office for information. However, it will be at the discretion of the relevant Judge or Prosecutor to share information with us as we are considered a third party. If the relevant Prosecution Office is not forthcoming, the family will need legal representation to obtain updates for them.

UK coroners and inquests

If you repatriate the person who died to England and Wales, there may be an inquest. 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.

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

Legal Aid

Please find a list of Uruguayan lawyers here.

Compensation

In Uruguay there is a criminal injuries compensation fund law (Ley Nº 19.039 Pensión a las víctimas de delitos violentos).  We advise you look for legal advice to confirm if, as direct family member, you have the right to it.

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

Translation and interpretation

The official language is Spanish in Uruguay. Most local authorities and organisations do not have a good ability to communicate in English.

Uruguayan local authorities do not provide translation or interpretation in English.

You may need to use an official translator when dealing with Uruguayan procedures.

Additional support

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

Funeral homes in Montevideo

Rogelio Martinelli
Canelones 1450, Montevideo-Uruguay
Phone: +598 2908 7721/25

email: rogelio@martinelli.com.uy

Web: www.martinelli.com.uy

Road Hnos. Ltda.
26 de Marzo 1065 / Isla de Flores 1418, Montevideo-Uruguay
Phone: +598 2708 4084 / +598 2707 7849

email: road1@adinet.com.uy

Abatte y Compañía
Tomás Basáñez 1277, Montevideo-Uruguay
Phone: +598 2622 2032

email: abbate@adinet.com.uy

Forestier Pose
Nueva Palmira 2199 esq. Cufré, Montevideo-Uruguay
Phone: +598 2409 6616

email: gerencia@forestierpose.com.uy / administracion@forestierpose.com.uy

Web: www.forestierpose.com.uy

Luis Moro e Hijos
Ariel 4737, Montevideo-Uruguay
Phone: +598 2359 3090

email: empmoro@adinet.com.uy

Web: www.luismoroehijos.com

Carlos Sicco
Rivera 2236, Montevideo-Uruguay
Phone: +598 2408 5041

E-mail: carlossicco@carlossicco.com.uy

Web: www.carlossicco.com

Empresa Belvedere
San Quintín 4272, Montevideo-Uruguay
Phone: +598 2309 3812 / +598 2307 0089

email: velvedere@adinet.com.uy

Los Parques del Uruguay
Francisco Soca 1376, Montevideo-Uruguay
Phone: +598 2709 8241

email: Info@parquedelrecuerdo.com.uy

Web: www.parquedelrecuerdo.com.uy

Disclaimer

This document is provided by the British Embassy Montevideo for the convenience of British nationals who request advice on bereavements in Uruguay. While every care has been taken in the preparation of this document, neither His Majesty’s Government or any officer of the British Embassy can act as a guarantor of the competence or probity of any mentioned parties, or take any responsibility in regard to the consequences of accepting advice. The information contained in this document is not meant to be a definitive statement of the law, nor is it to be taken as a substitute for independent legal advice.