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Bit morbid but I will ask.
Anyone had any experience with the procedure for getting a death certificate for an expat who has died here & what is the lawful procedure/requirement for cremation etc for someone who has died here but has no legal family here?
I am looking for actual experience, not a copy & paste from the internet form one of the "forum experts"
-@goodolboy

A while back I was looking into that myself (thinking ahead) and found some good information on the U.S. Embassy website.

Hopefully someone can give better real-life insight.

There was a similar situation during Covid times involving someone dying who was a U.S. expat in Vũng Tàu (best known to the crowd at Belly's).

Maybe one of our VT regulars has information about how his case was handled.

I'm pretty sure Ciambella was aware of what was going on (the guy was a friend of her husband's) but she's not active on the forum any longer.

I'll ask her if she has any insights.

This from Ciambella:

The only case I know was Dale, the American expat who died of brain tumor during Covid. The US Embassy tried to contact his daughter but she couldn’t afford to come over to claim his remains. The VNese government gave him a cremation and, according to my niece, sent the ashes to a place in Tân Bình where, during Covid, the military took greater care of it and others daily (lit incense). I can find out more if I research the law, but it’ll take a lot of time.

She also says (if you are asking about someone else):

You start with the Embassy that represents your country. That’s what they’re there for. If you’re not the deceased’s relative, you can’t do anything. Unless you know someone who has a title in the Party.

but if you are doing advanced planning for yourself...

go to Công Chứng and ask to have a will, or a declaration, to authorize (your) live-in gf to act after (your) demise. If Công Chứng certifies it, she’ll be (your) legal representative

Bit morbid but I will ask.
Anyone had any experience with the procedure for getting a death certificate for an expat who has died here & what is the lawful procedure/requirement for cremation etc for someone who has died here but has no legal family here?
I am looking for actual experience, not a copy & paste from the internet form one of the "forum experts"
-@goodolboy

A while back I was looking into that myself (thinking ahead) and found some good information on the U.S. Embassy website.

Hopefully someone can give better real-life insight.

There was a similar situation during Covid times involving someone dying who was a U.S. expat in Vũng Tàu (best known to the crowd at Belly's).

Maybe one of our VT regulars has information about how his case was handled.

I'm pretty sure Ciambella was aware of what was going on (the guy was a friend of her husband's) but she's not active on the forum any longer.

I'll ask her if she has any insights.
-@OceanBeach92107

Thanks OB hoping I have another 10 years left but like you I am looking ahead & trying to make the situation crystal clear for my Family, Ms My & my Scottish solicitor.

I have already looked at the UK.GOV web site & its pretty clear what their take on it is & what my family in Scotland have to do. However there are some complications with my estate when the time comes as I have "lets say" a complicated financial situation in multiple countries & all of them are requiring the "original" Vietnamese death certificate not copies. Notarised copies of the translation from Vietnam to English are OK but the actual death cert has to be with "wet" signature.

My Scottish solicitor has advised that if someone dies in UK its not a problem they can have up to 3 death certs with "wet" signature & over that you can get as many as you want but have to pay for them.

However this end I am drawing some pretty blank looks from my Vietnamese friends so will have to do the sensible thing & visit a local solicitor for advice.

I just wondered if anyone had any actual hands on experience in a similar situation & if anyone knows it will be Ciambella.

In contrast to the individual that GOB was inquiring about, if one has a wife or significant other in Vietnam, what's wrong with having ones ashes interned or otherwise disposed of by said spouse in Vietnam.  Do you really think that you will know that you are not laying next to your Celtic or Anglo-Saxon forebearers?  At least in Vietnam, someone may light incense for you.

In contrast to the individual that GOB was inquiring about, if one has a wife or significant other in Vietnam, what's wrong with having ones ashes interned or otherwise disposed of by said spouse in Vietnam. Do you really think that you will know that you are not laying next to your Celtic or Anglo-Saxon forebearers? At least in Vietnam, someone may light incense for you.
-@THIGV

In Vietnam a "significant other" has no legal right's to decide what happens to the mortal remains of a foreigner unless the foreigner has arranged through a lawyer that the "significant other" is given authority by the foreigner or his family to do the business.............well thats taking it from the UKGOV guidance.

My issue again is not that I will worry about what will happen to me cos as you said I will be dead. My worry is what will happen to my estate (not in Vietnam thats all taken care of )  but world wide because from my contact with my banks & investments they will all want to have in their hands an original death cert with "wet signature" not a copy to release the funds. So can you imagine if the Vietnamese will only issue one original death certificate & say you have 10 individual investments, that one death certificate will be traveling all over the world there & back & if it got lost say after the 5th delivery, the other 5 investments wont pay out.

Anyways I have a meeting with my solicitor this week about it to see what can be done & I have also arranged with a expat friend here who is married to a Vietnamese lady to help & he said he would. Until then I just hope I keep breathing in & breathing out.

@goodolboy

It is commendable of you to address this while you still can, but I wouldn't be too, too worried, GOB.

In my personal experience, it is absolutely amazing just how resourceful "beneficiaries"  can be.

@goodolboy
It is commendable of you to address this while you still can, but I wouldn't be too, too worried, GOB.
In my personal experience, it is absolutely amazing just how resourceful "beneficiaries" can be.
-@Aidan in HCMC

Can you simply put everything in a trust that owns all of the property and investments in multiple countries?  Then one death certificate is delivered to the trust and the trust lawyers and administrators can then pass investments to the rightful heir(s).

Can you simply put everything in a trust that owns all of the property and investments in multiple countries? Then one death certificate is delivered to the trust and the trust lawyers and administrators can then pass investments to the rightful heir(s).
-@SteinNebraska

Thanks very much, I will do some enquiries about that idea, but I can see one problem with that. All my enquiries with all my investments about this have stated that probate will be required for each investment held area or country law IE. Scotland, IOM, Singapore, Hong Kong & US & all will require to have actual wet signed death certificates (not notarised copies) before they can release the funds. So even a trust say in UK would still need to arrange probate in all these areas & provide "wet copies" My solicitor is Scotland has advised that it is quite normal for multi "wet signed" death certs to be issued.

Anyway I have arranged a meeting with a lawyer in HCMC after TET & hopefully all will become clear. Anyways the way things are going here with visa's there is a good chance I will not snuff it in Vietnam & it will all be irrelevant!!

I am not advocating anything, per forum rules, but we all know that all kinds of certificates can be purchased for a fee whether they certify a genuine event or not.    I have seen more than one totally fake purchased birth certificate that helped Vietnamese emigrate.   Under the circumstances I suspect that it would be possible to obtain multiple death certificates that are exact replicas of the first one, particularly as all the information would be true and you are just needing additional "wet" signatures.   It likely just depends on knowing who to ask.

I am not advocating anything, per forum rules, but we all know that all kinds of certificates can be purchased for a fee whether they certify a genuine event or not.  I have seen more than one totally fake purchased birth certificate that helped Vietnamese emigrate.  Under the circumstances I suspect that it would be possible to obtain multiple death certificates that are exact replicas of the first one, particularly as all the information would be true and you are just needing additional "wet" signatures.  It likely just depends on knowing who to ask.
-@THIGV

Thanks I am sure you are right & I am starting to wish I had not started this post as all I really wanted to know was if anyone on the forum had actual experience handling the death of an expat in Vietnam & it has drifted off, mostly my own fault by getting to in depth about my own circumstances. Now its time for me to take legal advice to cover all my questions & as I said I have set up a meeting with a local solicitor to hopefully get some information after TET & have asked an ex pat friend & he has agreed who is married to a Vietnamese & contacts with the police to help Ms My & my family sort things out this end.

Thanks again to everyone for all the input & advice.

@goodolboy

Please don't forget to let us know what you find, GOB.

@goodolboy maybe try to get back to the UK just before you snuff it?

@goodolboy maybe try to get back to the UK just before you snuff it?
-@mikedylan2001

hahahahaha yes well the way the visa situation is going here mike that might just be the easiest solution. Mind you even just the thought of going back to UK they way things are there these days makes me want to go & have another stiff drink!!

Just as an update on this one...........just back from the lawyers office this morning & all sorted. She will be the contact in HCMC for my Daughter & Ms My & will guide them through the legal process for a foreigner who dies in Vietnam & will sort out my requirement for multiple death certs with "wet stamps & signatures" It was quite enlightening really.

Obviously there will be a fee involved but money well spent to know there is someone with all the legal knowledge to guide them through the process. Oh & as a slight distraction ..........................just cutest lawyer I have ever seen too.

Just as an update on this one...........just back from the lawyers office this morning & all sorted. She will be the contact in HCMC for my Daughter & Ms My & will guide them through the legal process for a foreigner who dies in Vietnam & will sort out my requirement for multiple death certs with "wet stamps & signatures" It was quite enlightening really.
Obviously there will be a fee involved but money well spent to know there is someone with all the legal knowledge to guide them through the process. Oh & as a slight distraction ..........................just cutest lawyer I have ever seen too.
-@goodolboy

This morning just back from second visit to the lawyer with Ms My this time to sign the MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) which authorises the law company to take care of, guide my family & Ms My all the way through the process on death of a UK foreigner in Vietnam which as it turns out can & is quite a complicated step by step process.

Anyone who has any worries about the process please contact me by PM & give me an e mail contact & I will send you a copy of the step by step guidance in English.

Just as an update on this one...........just back from the lawyers office this morning & all sorted. She will be the contact in HCMC for my Daughter & Ms My & will guide them through the legal process for a foreigner who dies in Vietnam & will sort out my requirement for multiple death certs with "wet stamps & signatures" It was quite enlightening really.
Obviously there will be a fee involved but money well spent to know there is someone with all the legal knowledge to guide them through the process. Oh & as a slight distraction ..........................just cutest lawyer I have ever seen too.
-@goodolboy
This morning just back from second visit to the lawyer with Ms My this time to sign the MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) which authorises the law company to take care of, guide my family & Ms My all the way through the process on death of a UK foreigner in Vietnam which as it turns out can & is quite a complicated step by step process.
Anyone who has any worries about the process please contact me by PM & give me an e mail contact & I will send you a copy of the step by step guidance in English.
-@goodolboy

Good stuff, GOB. Glad to hear you're navigating your way.

If at all possible (and if not containing personal details), would you post the steps you mentioned to the "Sticky", "VIETNAMESE FAMILY LAW ACT"?

Just as an update on this one...........just back from the lawyers office this morning & all sorted. She will be the contact in HCMC for my Daughter & Ms My & will guide them through the legal process for a foreigner who dies in Vietnam & will sort out my requirement for multiple death certs with "wet stamps & signatures" It was quite enlightening really.
Obviously there will be a fee involved but money well spent to know there is someone with all the legal knowledge to guide them through the process. Oh & as a slight distraction ..........................just cutest lawyer I have ever seen too.
-@goodolboy
This morning just back from second visit to the lawyer with Ms My this time to sign the MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) which authorises the law company to take care of, guide my family & Ms My all the way through the process on death of a UK foreigner in Vietnam which as it turns out can & is quite a complicated step by step process.
Anyone who has any worries about the process please contact me by PM & give me an e mail contact & I will send you a copy of the step by step guidance in English.
-@goodolboy

Good stuff, GOB. Glad to hear you're navigating your way.

If at all possible (and if not containing personal details), would you post the steps you mentioned to the "Sticky", "VIETNAMESE FAMILY LAW ACT"?
-@Aidan in HCMC

Done