Death of an American Citizen Abroad

Communicating Your Relationship to the Deceased

We seek to carry out the wishes of the Next of Kin. Generally the Next of Kin is held to be the spouse, the adult children, the parent(s), or the siblings of the deceased.

You must complete an Affidavit of Surviving Spouse or Next of Kin, and have it notarized by a U.S.-recognized Notary Public. Then fax or email scanned copies to the Embassy or Consulate, to be followed by the original document via courier to the attention of the Consular Section. Contact information is available here.

This affidavit is for our use in learning who the Next of Kin is so that we may assist with the disposition of remains and provisional disposition of effects. This affidavit does not serve in place of decisions made by a will, probate, and/or litigation in determining the final disposition of the deceased's effects, possessions, and/or funds.