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Repatriation of ashes - any experiences?

(20 Posts)
kittylester Mon 25-Sep-23 20:28:57

My brother in law is reliving his misspent youth. He lives in Thailand, has a Thai 'girlfriend' and has lost all his money. He is 85.

He is in good health but has told his daughter that, when he dies, he would like his ashes to be brought back here and scattered near his childhood home.

For various reasons, I believe his daughter won't go to Thailand for the funeral so we were wondering how she would go about getting the ashes back here.

crazyH Mon 25-Sep-23 20:40:42

I suppose he would have to put all that down in writing ie in his Will. I don’t know what the laws are in Thailand. How has he lost all his money ? The mind boggles. There’s no fool like an old fool - sorry …

kittylester Mon 25-Sep-23 21:03:31

He has said all that in emails to his daughter - hadn't thought about him putting it in his will.

And, an old fool and his money are easily parted. crazyH. And your mind is right to boggle.

Fleurpepper Mon 25-Sep-23 21:21:01

Perhaps try to find a FB or other site for expats in Thailand- and ask there. And check with the British and Thai Embassies.

A friend took her mum's ashes to NZ, and the formalities were very complicated. The urn had to be officially sealed with police presence at Undertakers, to ensure no contamination.

Fleurpepper Mon 25-Sep-23 21:24:25

There is a FB site, for exemple

www.facebook.com/britishexpatsthailand/

perhaps ask a friend to ask on there, just in case.

Whiff Mon 25-Sep-23 21:27:33

Kittylester I would imagine it would cost a lot of money for his daughter to do that as they would have to be transported as air freight . Also it may not be possible to do it in case customs suspect they may contain drugs as they would be going from Thailand. I would imagine it would cost over a £1,000. But it may be against British rules to accept ashes from a list of certain foreign countries. His daughter would need to get in touch with the foreign office to see what the rules are and cost.

If I was her I wouldn't carry out his wishes as he will be dead and it wouldn't be him paying.

Aldom Mon 25-Sep-23 23:00:50

I've just Googled this. There's a lot of useful information both UK Gov.
and Thai. It seems fairly straightforward. Copies of the usual certificates required.

Callistemon21 Mon 25-Sep-23 23:14:45

If I was her I wouldn't carry out his wishes as he will be dead and it wouldn't be him paying

If he leaves money for that purpose fair enough.
But otherwise, it is unfair to ask his daughter to do that.

Perhaps his girlfriend could make the arrangements over there if she is Thai?

Wenmore Mon 25-Sep-23 23:19:54

Whiff

Kittylester I would imagine it would cost a lot of money for his daughter to do that as they would have to be transported as air freight . Also it may not be possible to do it in case customs suspect they may contain drugs as they would be going from Thailand. I would imagine it would cost over a £1,000. But it may be against British rules to accept ashes from a list of certain foreign countries. His daughter would need to get in touch with the foreign office to see what the rules are and cost.

If I was her I wouldn't carry out his wishes as he will be dead and it wouldn't be him paying.

What a load of utter tosh.
The ukgov website gives helpful information and it seems straightforward, either someone brings them in on a flight or use a specialist transportation company.

Hithere Mon 25-Sep-23 23:23:41

What does this daughter think about these plans made for her to execute?

Smh

Wenmore Mon 25-Sep-23 23:23:46

kittylester

My brother in law is reliving his misspent youth. He lives in Thailand, has a Thai 'girlfriend' and has lost all his money. He is 85.

He is in good health but has told his daughter that, when he dies, he would like his ashes to be brought back here and scattered near his childhood home.

For various reasons, I believe his daughter won't go to Thailand for the funeral so we were wondering how she would go about getting the ashes back here.

Good on him.

Callistemon21 Mon 25-Sep-23 23:29:13

What a load of utter tosh
How rude Wenmore.

Callistemon21 Mon 25-Sep-23 23:33:48

Does he have enough money for a cremation for a start?

Perhaps your BIL has insurance? Anyway, he might live to 100+ if he's enjoying life!

Wenmore Mon 25-Sep-23 23:43:09

Callistemon21

^What a load of utter tosh^
How rude Wenmore.

I'm utterly correct so no apology. Move on. No side show here.

Callistemon21 Mon 25-Sep-23 23:50:33

Rude again.

Memo to self - best to ignore such posts.

kittylester Tue 26-Sep-23 05:48:48

Thank you all for taking the time to reply.

Obviously, we, and his daughter, gave looked at the relevant websites. I was hoping for anyone with actual experience of the process to give us practical pointers.

Whiff Tue 26-Sep-23 06:37:28

Wenmore utter tosh thanks for that😠. Also good on him. Why because he has lost all his money as the OP has stated. So he expects his daughter to fund his wishes. It's up to him to fund his own wishes not expect his daughter to foot the bill. That is the act of a very selfish parent at 88 he should know better.

Callistemom21
thank you for your support.

PamelaJ1 Tue 26-Sep-23 09:55:35

We took my brother in law’s ashes to Australia, no problem. We had the relevant certification from the undertaker and he traveled in DH’s suitcase.

Fleurpepper Tue 26-Sep-23 09:58:48

A holiday inb Thailand for you and OH Kitty? As and when.

Callistemon21 Tue 26-Sep-23 10:27:06

PamelaJ1

We took my brother in law’s ashes to Australia, no problem. We had the relevant certification from the undertaker and he traveled in DH’s suitcase.

I don't know why that made me smile, but it did, PamelaJ1
🙂

DH knew someone who was a veteran, and this man spent all his money on drink. When DH went to his funeral he was ery upset to find it was a pauper's funeral.
So I don't know what would happen in Thailand unless your BIL has made some provision for the cost of a cremation.
To request that his ashes be brought back to the UK must mean he has done this but he needs to be more specific.