Transcript of the above video:

As the title of this video suggests, we are discussing well what happens if you pass away here in Thailand. I have done other videos on this in the past; I had some questions on this recently, I thought I would do another video. 

I thought of making this video also after reading a recent article from the Phuket Express, that is thephuketexpress.com, the article is titled: American Tourist in Phuket dies after snorkeling in Phan Nga. Quoting directly: "An American Tourist in Phuket has been pronounced dead after snorkeling at an island in Phang Nga. The Phuket Marine Police told the Phuket Express that on Wednesday, November 22^nd, they were notified from a tour boat operator than an American man went on a speedboat ride for snorkeling at the Khai Island (Egg Island) in the Koh Yao District near Phuket with his daughter." A lot more going on in there. Very sad state of affairs. 

I urge those who are watching this video, go check that out but it caused somebody to send me the link and then ask me "well what happens when Americans pass away out here?" Well quite a lot. I do have to say that although I can be critical at times of the Embassy staff that operate here in Thailand, when it comes to matters of Americans dying abroad they are on it; they are very much on it; I've watched them be on it. I actually have had friends over the years who had to be Duty Officers when they were outside the Embassy and things, they just had their phone with him and man, if a call comes in that an American has passed away, they're gone, they're off dealing with something. That was years ago and I haven't seen that myself recently but I have been witness to it in the past and I am here to tell you, they are spot on when they are dealing with death here in Thailand or anywhere for that matter. And I have got to imagine, it's not the most pleasant thing because a lot of these Consular Officers are then also tasked with having to inform the family. They have to get on the phone and call someone back home and say "hey so and so has passed away; here's some information about what you can do to get the body brought back to America", things of that nature. 

The other thing that Embassy will do again very quickly, just right out of the gate, and they are very efficient about it is issuance of what is called a Consular Report of Death Abroad, a CRDA, as opposed to what's called a Consular Report of Birth Abroad a CRBA, (which they sometimes refer to as a CRBAs) but yeah the CRDA; that is something that they will then go ahead and issue. Here in Thailand, the Thai Authorities will also issue a Death Certificates and the two of them in tandem can be used when dealing with things like insurance and other matters that will arise after someone passes on. 

So yeah, there is a lot that the Embassy actually undertakes. They even assist folks when making funeral arrangements; they will assist folks with getting a body transported back to the United States. Again they don't necessarily pay for these things but they can assist in coordination. We oftentimes will assist folks oftentimes when a Will arises in a probate matter pertaining to someone who has passed away here in Thailand. Again all of these things will come up in pretty short order after somebody passes away. I have got to say, generally speaking it has always been my observation that the Embassy is quite efficient when an American passes away here in the Kingdom of Thailand.