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View Full Version : What to do after a death in Tenerife



Zara
04-01-2012, 10:31
Apologies for the morbid start to the New Year but I was wondering if someone could give a check list of who has to be contacted should someone die in Tenerife.

Having recently experienced a death in the UK and the amount of time available (5 days) for registering, then arranging funeral etc. I was wondering how the process works here. I have heard things can happen very quickly like a person can be buried/cremated within 24 hours.

Bearing in mind that those closest may be the only ones available to carry out the process and are in a state of shock, who should be the first person to contact (I assume emergency services) and where does it go from there.

What are undertakers called and do they carry out the same services as they do in the UK - removal of body, notices, hearse.
Where is the death registered, who should do it and what is the timescale?

Thanks in advance for any info

Balcony
04-01-2012, 11:05
I would think the first call would be to the emergency services - ambulance, who would put some some sort of procedure into place.

Deaths have to be registered at the Civil Registry (registro civil) (at a town hall). Registration applies to everyone, irrespective of their nationality, or whether they are residents, or just visitors.

A death must be registered with 24 hours at the town hall of the district where the death took place. If the deceased is a foreigner the town hall will need the passport or residents card (residencia) and the death must also be registered with the deceased's local consulate or embassy. A death need not be registered with the police unless it resulted from an accident, or crime (or in suspicious circumstances). A death certificate must be prepared and signed by the doctor who attended the death (either in hospital or elsewhere) and must legally certified by a judge. In the case of a foreigner it must be presented to the deceased's consulate/embassy to obtain a certificate valid in the deceased's home country. The certificates are required for insurance claims and to execute a Will.

A body can be cremated or buried locally, or flown to another country for burial.

In Spain a funeral must be arranged through an undertaker (funeraria) who will arrange everything, including death certificates. Funerals are not cheap and normally include 5 years rent on a cemetary niche (nicho). Cremation is cheaper, but there are not many crematoriums. Funeral services are broadly similar to a UK funeral service. Burial usually takes place 48 hours after death, or where there is no refrigeration a burial MUST take place within 72 hours. Note: refrigeration is often an extra cost.

When a resident of Spain dies all interested parties must be notified and several copies of the death certificate will be required for banks and other institutions.

chifleta
04-01-2012, 16:02
Having had the sad task of helping organise a cremation for a tenants husband a few years ago (when I still worked in an estate agency), I have since kept hold of the business card for the funeral service here. The norm is, if the person has passed away at home, not in the hospital, is that the Guardia Civil are called and informed, and they send the specialist to confirm death (this was also the case of when a colleage sadly passed away). The funeral services here are called "Servisa Especiales, S.A.", they have an office situated in Guaza (if they are still situated there, as this was approx. 5 years ago), telephone number 922 769 157 - website address www.servisa.es.

I went with the spouse as she didn't speak Spanish, but they were still ever so kind and helpful and sympathetic with her, even though she hardly understood, and helped her to organise everything. The only problem we came across was the courthouse has to release the body once they are satisfied that there are no strange circumstances pertaining to the persons passing. Unfortunately in this case, the court judge was (in my opinion) being (I can't think of any nice words so refraining) pedandic! hmmm doesn't quite say it ... he was basically not releasing the body of, from what I had heard, any foreign persons deceased, so as to protect his back, even though the death was natural, the poor man had already had a stroke. Anyway, long and short of it, the spouse had to pay a lawyer 200€ to get the courts to agree to release him so that she could have a funeral/cremation service in Santa Cruz.

I also went to the crematorium twice, at one point I even translated some of the service, and i'm aethist (had to rack my brain to try remember the Lords Prayer). It's very hard keeping a stiff upper lip, even if you don't know the people very well. Oh, Servisa will get the death certificate for you from the courthouse also. Again, this was about 5 years ago, but I doubt things have changed that much.

These experiences made me grow up and face reality though, made me realise that we have to enjoy life, move away from the moaning and complaining as much as possible, and stick with what makes you happy and smile :)

Because life's too short.... is what I mean :)

timmylish
04-01-2012, 16:11
To save an awful lot of grief, expense and uncertainty we took out "death insurance" some years ago. Upon death one telephone call (24hr) to the insureres results in them taking over and arranging every conceivable step necessary here. I would suggest, very strongly, to look into such cover. I know you,ll ask and I,m not too sure but it will depend on age etc. I am 64 next birthday with Mrs. some 15 years younger and we pay in total just over 60€ every 3 months for both so in essence 10 + € per month per person. We regard it money well spent where no medicals were involved and the understanding that we have that a basic funeral costs in excess of 3k! I understand that there is a surprising number of non-claims against policies in this category, possibly due to people moving away, not continuing with payments etc etc. Canx/ is automatic on failkure to make payment of the quarterly dues.

chifleta
04-01-2012, 16:21
To save an awful lot of grief, expense and uncertainty we took out "death insurance" some years ago. Upon death one telephone call (24hr) to the insureres results in them taking over and arranging every conceivable step necessary here. I would suggest, very strongly, to look into such cover. I know you,ll ask and I,m not too sure but it will depend on age etc. I am 64 next birthday with Mrs. some 15 years younger and we pay in total just over 60€ every 3 months for both so in essence 10 + € per month per person. We regard it money well spent where no medicals were involved and the understanding that we have that a basic funeral costs in excess of 3k! I understand that there is a surprising number of non-claims against policies in this category, possibly due to people moving away, not continuing with payments etc etc. Canx/ is automatic on failkure to make payment of the quarterly dues.

Totally agree... unfortunately the two I helped with didn't have any insurance, so their friends/family were left to pay.

I have an insurance policy with Santa Lucia for funeral costs, for me, OH and son, costs about 11€ a month for the 3 of us, and this insurance also covers some dental costs (2x freebie teeth cleans a year, so worth it just for that, and also some discounts on fillings), and also it is like a private medical insurance for overseas (unless hubby is mistaken again, which wouldn't surprise me, but i'll only find out if I ever need medical attention next time i'm in UK or France LOL).

I do also know of someone who has an agreement signed whereby when she passes away, her body goes to Santa Cruz to medial science, thereby saving her money that she can enjoy now whilst she's alive :) . I'm probably going to do this, much to the disgust of my better half.

Zara
04-01-2012, 16:45
To save an awful lot of grief, expense and uncertainty we took out "death insurance" some years ago. Upon death one telephone call (24hr) to the insureres results in them taking over and arranging every conceivable step necessary here. I would suggest, very strongly, to look into such cover. I know you,ll ask and I,m not too sure but it will depend on age etc. I am 64 next birthday with Mrs. some 15 years younger and we pay in total just over 60€ every 3 months for both so in essence 10 + € per month per person. We regard it money well spent where no medicals were involved and the understanding that we have that a basic funeral costs in excess of 3k! I understand that there is a surprising number of non-claims against policies in this category, possibly due to people moving away, not continuing with payments etc etc. Canx/ is automatic on failkure to make payment of the quarterly dues.

Like you Timmy both myself and OH have a funeral plan which we paid in full and were assured that whatever price funerals are when we decide to 'snuff it' the cost will be fully covered. There is also a local number for a funeral director (if they are still there as the plan is now 8 years old). The theory is great and I certainly hope it works but like all insurance policies you don't know how good they are until you need to use them.

I opened the subject by saying it was morbid but following PMs with Balcony, it really isn't. We are all going to die one day and the more prepared we are for it the better and hopefully easier it will be for those left behind. If it is just a case of having a checklist to hand that says, phone this number for the funeral plan, call an ambulance on this number, call the Guardia on this number, where is the Registry Office located, then it is something less to worry about.

Thank you all for your comments, I hope we all have a long and happy life, but when the day catches up with us as it will eventually, it is nice to know that a few of us are prepared. ;)

Thank you all again xx

dede
04-01-2012, 17:04
I have just been involved with someone passing away this week and even though we knew death was certain we still called the emergency services who came out and certified the death and then we phoned the funcanarias internacional in cabo blanco and they came out an hour later and organised everything that needed to be done from start to finish. No police involved at all as some people say.

Jackie
04-01-2012, 17:47
As you say Zara, death comes to us all in the end and apart from making sure things are as easy as they can be for those left behind there is not much more we can do.

I would like to thank you for starting this thread because now I know who I have to call when my husband sadly falls down a barranco on his next visit ;)

Goforgold
04-01-2012, 18:31
As you say Zara, death comes to us all in the end and apart from making sure things are as easy as they can be for those left behind there is not much more we can do.

I would like to thank you for starting this thread because now I know who I have to call when my husband sadly falls down a barranco on his next visit ;)

I know who I'd call first if my OH fell down a barranco, but I'm not telling you his name as you may know him!! ;)

Balcony
05-01-2012, 14:21
LOL, well if you're all still around next week the beer's on me!

Goldenmaniac
05-01-2012, 16:20
The police would only really become involved if the death is suspicious or accidental and then there may have to be an autopsy and an enquiry.

If the deceased died of natural causes and outside a hospital and was registered with the Canarian Health service and has a national health GP here and died during normal hours, your medical centre should be the first call. The local doctor will issue the death certificate and Funeral directors may not disturb the remains until that is issued.

If it is out of hours or at a weekend ring or the deceased was not registered dial 112 and ask for an English speaker (if necessary) they will then advise the duty doctor who will come to the home
the next call should be either to you funeral plan operator (there are many good ones but I recommend http://www.goldenleaves.com/) or to the local funeral director.

If the loved one is to be cremated then I would agree with the above poster and use SERVISA
local office in Guaza
CALLE Lomo de la fuente, 14 ARONA tel. 922 169 157

We only have 2 Crematoriums on the island and both are in Santa Cruz - SERVISA operate one of them and are used to dealing with Ex-Pats.
Finally or concurrently you may want to get in touch to arrange a religious service -
FATHER KEITH GORDON
TEL: 922 742045 MOB: 679 66 02 77
kagordon40@hotmail.com
Residencia Sonia No.17
Calle La Laja
Callao Salvaje

Normally the funeral director will obtain as many international or ordinary copies of the death certificate for you as you require. You will need these to advise banks, insurance companies etc and of course the tax office here. Inheritance tax is another thorny issue which is dealt with on the forum and is too complicated to include here, but you should be aware that you have 6months from the date of demise to deal with this have a look here http://www.diana-mcglone.com/#inheritancetax.