ChiFRA

An article by Dave Fisher

I would like to thank the ChiFRA members who after their sad loss have helped me compile this article. Although talking about deaths brought back many sad memories they felt it was important to pass on their experiences to help others. 

In Spain many people have a funeral insurance policy; to not have one will cause your loved ones a great deal of stress and problems unless they can happily pay out between 3,600 and 6,000 euros. + IVA at currently 21%. Most funeral directors will want proof that they can be paid before arranging the funeral, and certainly will need to be paid within one week.  We have heard of some accepting credit cards but this is not always the case.

Please go back and read the previous paragraph again; HAVE DEATH/FUNERAL INSURANCE!!  ...or have between 3,600 and 6,000 euros set aside for the process – but insurance is better. The above is a strong recommendation from Bob Hamilton, President of Age Concern Costa de la Luz Sur who has had to help others in this unfortunate situation. 

One further complication is that joint accounts are usually frozen on someone's death until probate is done. This can mean that the remaining partner may have no access to funds for some time. So another strong recommendation is that everyone should have their own bank account.  

What follows is a brief list of the things you need to do following the death and then a personal account of the experience of one of our members following the death of a family member. Read on or click here to go straight to that story

What the text books say:-

If the death occurs in a hospital the administrative authorities will manage the process. However, you don’t have to use their funeral director although there will be a lot of pressure to sign forms to do this. Please do not sign any forms irrespective of pressure. Having an interpreter with you can relieve an enormous amount of stress.

If the death occurs at home then:-

You must call the police tel: 092, as they will decide if the death occurred in suspicious circumstances or will involve an investigation;
Contact a doctor (the police may do this for you) who will certify the death and issue a death certificate.

The doctor will need the following information:- 
• Full name of the deceased
• Names of the deceased’s parents
• Marital status
• Nationality
• Date and location of birth
• Birth registration details
• Last known place of residence

Contact your chosen funeral director to remove the body (identification must accompany the body in order for it to be moved)
Register the death within 24 hours at the Civil Registry which is normally located in the local Town Hall (your funeral director may do this for you).

Finally if you are unfortunate enough to have an experience of a death in the family, and can offer help or advice to other members, then please contact ChiFRA This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Click read more for a personal account of the experience of one of our members following the death of a family member.