Chad: Bereavement information
Information to help the family and friends of British nationals who have died in Chad.
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.
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 (FCDO)
There is a lot of information below, but you may still have questions. You can speak to someone by phone 24/7, any day of the year by contacting the FCDO 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 online
The priority of the FCDO is to assist 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 is generally a family member. He or she 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 FCDO can help you to 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.
Funeral directors in Chad
In Chad, in most cases, deaths are not declared. Funerals tend to be prepared in line with Muslim traditions.
In Chad, it is the next of kin / relatives of the deceased who must find ways to repatriate the body. Chad does not have any services that deal with the repatriation of bodies abroad.
Release of information to next of kin
The FCDO will try to obtain as much information as possible after your relative or friend has died abroad, but it can be a bureaucratic and slow process in Chad. Some of this information may be only available to next of kin, and the funeral director appointed in Chad is in the best place to gather information on your behalf. Consular officers may be able to obtain these themselves, or they may be able to provide you with details of others who can advocate on your behalf such as lawyers, charities, or other organisations.
Insurance
It is very important to check if the person who died had insurance; if they had, contact the insurance company as soon as possible. They may have a list of approved funeral directors 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 FCDO 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 FCDO produces a list of international funeral directors based in the UK.
If you decide to hold a funeral in Chad, you can find a list of local funeral directors on GOV.UK - Find a funeral director abroad. It is the next of kin’s responsibility to appoint and instruct a funeral director as soon as possible after being notified of the death, by making direct contact with them. Once the funeral director has the next of kin signed authority to proceed, they will liaise with Chad authorities to organise funeral arrangements, burial or repatriation and assist with the issuing of the deceased’s death certificate.
Payment for these arrangements is a private agreement between the next of kin and the funeral director. Services offered vary from agency to agency so we would recommend that you make enquiries with different funeral directors to find the one who can best assist you. If the person who died had insurance, the insurance company will appoint their own international or local undertaker. You should not enter into an arrangement with an undertaker without speaking to the insurance company first.
The local funeral director may liaise with the funeral director in the UK. Please note that to sign consent and give instructions to a funeral director in Chad, the next of kin does not need to be physically in country and may keep in direct contact with the funeral director via telephone or email.
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
The Chadian local authorities will issue a death certificate (in Arabic or/and French), upon presentation of a medical certificate. As this certificate will not only mention date and place of birth of the deceased, but also his/her parents’ names, it is essential that the next of kin can provide these details (including the mother’s maiden name). With this information, the certificate will be produced more rapidly.
Please note that the death certificates do not give details of the cause of death like in the UK.
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.
You can register a death 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 and apply online on GOV.UK
Burial, cremation, repatriation
The next of kin of the person who has died will usually need to decide between a local burial, cremation (not an option in Chad) 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.
Steps to take in the UK
You can find more information on the steps to take in the UK on GOV.UK - When someone dies. This guide 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.
British Passport cancellation
To avoid identity fraud, the passport of the person who died should be cancelled with His Majesty’s Passport Office (HMPO). Instructions on how to do this and where to send the passport are available on GOV.UK - What to do with a passport when the passport holder has died.
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 only cancel the passport after they have been repatriated.
Further information
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 and refer you to a specialised organisation. You can find more information on GOV.UK.
You should note that if the deceased is repatriated to the UK, a coroner or procurator fiscal might decide to hold an inquest. See the section on UK Coroners and inquests below.
UK coroners and inquests
If you repatriate the person who died abroad 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 or violent circumstances or whilst in detention. If the person who died was cremated and only their ashes are brought to the UK, 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 in the FCDO guide on death abroad.
Legal Aid
There is no legal aid available in Chad. Some local lawyers will take pro-bono cases, but they would decide this depending on the merits of the case. Please find further information on GOV.UK - Find a lawyer abroad.
Compensation
You can find information on GOV.UK about UK compensation for victims of terrorism overseas. There is no local government compensation scheme in Chad.
Supporting organizations in the UK
In the UK, many organisations can help bereaved families. Some of these are listed in the guide coping with death abroad.
Useful links on GOV.UK:
What to do if someone dies abroad (part of the guide ‘What to do when someone dies’)
What to do after a British national dies abroad
International funeral directors based in the UK
Professional services abroad (includes funeral directors, lawyers etc.)