Our team speaks Spanish and can assist with communication, ensuring no detail is overlooked. The decision for burial or cremation is yours, and we’re here to support whichever path you choose, understanding the cultural and emotional significance of these choices.
International Shipping of Remains to Puerto Rico
Losing a loved one is a profound loss, and when they pass away far from home, the process of bringing them back to Puerto Rico for their final resting place can feel overwhelming. At Fairhaven Memorial Chapel, we understand the importance of allowing your loved one to rest, surrounded by family and traditions that matter most.
Our team is dedicated to supporting you through every step of shipping remains to Puerto Rico, handling the process with care, respect, and professionalism. This guide is part of our international shipping services, with a focus on Puerto Rico, offering clarity and comfort based on the standard practices for shipping remains within U.S. territories.
Process & Requirements
The process typically starts with initial arrangements, where we gather necessary information and obtain legal documents like the death certificate from the state where the death occurred. Embalming is usually required to preserve the body for transport, followed by preparing it in a suitable container. Documentation is crucial, including a death certificate and transit permit from the state where the death occurred, with no need for apostilles or translations. Transportation is often by air, included in our pricing, and we coordinate with the receiving funeral home in Puerto Rico for final arrangements.
Shipping Remains to Puerto Rico:
Step-by-step Guidance
Shipping remains to Puerto Rico involves multiple steps, each requiring careful attention. Here’s how we handle the process, drawing from current practices:
Shipping remains to Puerto Rico involves multiple steps, each requiring careful attention. Here’s how we handle the process:
- When you notify us of the death, our staff begins by gathering essential information and coordinating with local authorities to secure the death certificate – a key document for transport within the United States.
- We know this is an emotional time, and we’re here to guide you, answer questions, and offer the support you need.
- The body is embalmed to preserve it for transport, a standard requirement for shipping human remains across states or territories, typically completed within 24 hours of death per health guidelines.
- We prepare the remains with dignity, dressing them and placing them in a selective sealer casket or container suitable for the process. Honoring your loved one’s memory is our priority.
We assist you in obtaining critical paperwork, including:
- Death Certificate: Secured from the state where death occurred, this document is vital for transport.
- Transit Permit: Required from the state where the death occurred, facilitating the movement of remains.
- Embalmer’s Affidavit
- Letter of Non-Contagious Disease: Obtain a letter stating that the cause of death was not a contagious disease.
- Passport of Deceased (if obtainable): If the deceased had a passport, obtain a copy.
- Letter on funeral home letterhead: Provide a letter on funeral home letterhead stating:
- That only human remains are inside the container.
- The flight itinerary.
- The consignee’s name, address, and telephone number
- We arrange transportation, typically by air (airtray and airline fees included), working with carriers experienced in handling human remains to ensure a respectful process.
- Our team coordinates with the receiving funeral home in Puerto Rico for a seamless handoff, managing logistics based on availability and routes.
- Upon arrival, we confirm the receiving funeral home is ready to handle the remains, preparing them for burial or a funeral as you wish. We stay in touch to keep you updated.
- This process typically takes anywhere from a few days to 2 weeks, depending on documentation and transport schedules, aligning with industry norms.
Family Responsibilities
What You Need To Provide
While we manage most arrangements, your help with a few items ensures a smooth process:
- Receiving Funeral Home Details: Share the name, address, phone number, and email of the funeral home in Puerto Rico receiving the remains for final coordination. Having these ready early helps avoid delays, and our staff can assist with communication if needed, ensuring clarity and support throughout, based on general practices from Shipping Remains.
- Additional Identification: If requested by the receiving funeral home or local authorities.
Having these ready early helps avoid delays, and our bilingual staff can assist with communication if needed.
Financial Transparency
Understanding the Costs
Our pricing for shipping remains to Puerto Rico is all-inclusive, designed to ease your burden. Here’s what’s covered:
- Transfer of Remains
- Embalming
- Basic Funeral Arrangements
- Dressing/Casketing
- Hearse
- Selective Sealer Casket
- Airtray
- Airline
- Health Department
Additional services, like extended ceremonies or specific caskets, are extra and can be detailed upon request. Cremation and ash transport are more affordable alternatives—we’re happy to provide separate quotes if that’s your preference.
Additional Considerations
Let's Make the Process as Smooth as Possible
To make the process smoother, consider the following tips:
- Start arrangements as soon as possible to avoid delays, especially with document processing.
- Ensure all documents are in order, as airlines require death certificates and permits, based on CDC Importation of Human Remains.
- Communicate regularly with the receiving funeral home in Puerto Rico to coordinate arrival and final arrangements.
Our team speaks Spanish and can assist with communication, ensuring no detail is overlooked. The decision for burial or cremation is yours, and we’re here to support whichever path you choose, understanding the cultural and emotional significance of these choices.
Our team at Fairhaven Memorial Chapel is here to handle this process with you, ensuring your loved one is honored with the respect they deserve.
Ready to get started?
Frequently Asked Questions
The timeline can vary, typically taking a few days to a week, depending on documentation availability and transportation schedules. We’ll keep you updated throughout.
If these are unavailable, you may need to provide a declaration stating the relationship and confirming identity. Our team can guide you through this, ensuring compliance with local requirements.
Yes, we offer various options for caskets and containers. Our staff can assist in selecting the most suitable one based on your preferences and needs, ensuring it meets transport regulations.
As a U.S. territory, Puerto Rico may have local assistance programs, but typically, all costs are the family’s responsibility. We can guide you on potential resources if needed.
We’ll do our best to accommodate your schedule, but some services may have limited availability during holidays or weekends. Planning ahead is important, and we’ll advise on the best course of action.
Cremation is a more economical option, involving obtaining a cremation certificate and transporting ashes. Airlines or customs may request this certificate, and we can provide a separate quote if needed, ensuring a dignified process.
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