Death of An American Citizen

When an American Dies in Tonga:

 

WHAT HAPPENS FIRST.  Tongan law  (Public Health Act, section 159) requires that interment be made within 24 hours from time of death, subject to the Inquest Act and directions by the Minister for Health.  However, this is not enforced or strictly adhered to, as interment usually takes place within 3-7 days.

(According to a senior health official, this law is outdated and was drafted in the days when there was no mortuary or funeral home in Tonga.) 

INITIAL DEATH CERTIFICATE (DOCTOR'S CERTIFICATE).  Regardless of where the death occurs, a doctor needs to certify the death.  If the death occurs in a remote area with no doctor, then the district nurse and town officer will sign a death notification for a death certificate to be issued later at a base hospital by an authorised senior doctor. This certification will be required for burial, embalment  or shipment to take place.

If the death occurs in a hospital, the attending physician will provide the certification. An autopsy is only performed if the death is a ”police case”, that is if the death is suspected of being a result of foul play. An autopsy normally takes just one day, but the completion of the autopsy report will take one week. If further laboratory tests/analyses are needed to be done overseas,  the autopsy report will not be completed until the results of these tests are received back in Tonga.

AGENTS  There are no agents to handle funeral arangements in Tonga.

MAXIMUM PERIOD BEFORE BURIAL.  Tongan law dictates that burial takes place within 24 hours, but this is not enforced as this requirement was put in place to safeguard the public from deaths due to contagious diseases.  Relatives usually keep the remains in the funeral home or morgue for a few days before burial.

EMBALMING.  Embalming facilities exists in Tonga.  There are no written rules or Tongan law that mention embalming.  However, according to Department of Health authorities, funeral directors are aware that they are not allowed to embalm a body that has not been certified dead by a doctor.  Health authorities are also aware that embalming should not take place within four (4) hours of death.

 

CREMATION.  There are no cremation facilities in Tonga. 

CASKETS AND CONTAINERS.  The funeral home has caskets that are used for shipment of remains overseas.  The casket is put in a tray and then covered with cardboard before shipment.

EXPORTATION OF REMAINS.  The documents that are required for shipment of remains are:

1) Embalmment of the remains.

2) Enclosure of the remains in casket as described above

3) Mortician’s Certificate of embalming

5) Tongan Death certificate

6) The deceased’s passport (or copy) if a citizen of the United States/ if the deceased is an LPR, the ”green card” or a copy is required.

EXHUMATION AND SHIPMENT.  Although exhumation is rarely done, Tongan authorities may permit disinterment upon certain conditions.  All applications for disinterment maybe made to the Prime Minister who will decide the terms under which a permit may be given.  Once a permit is granted, Tongan law states that the applicant is expected to be responsible for the transportation and/or reinterment of the remains.

APPROXIMATE COSTS.

Remains:

1.  Interment of remains in local cemetery:  There is a cemetery in Nuku’alofa with plots reserved for foreigners who may have to be buried in Tonga.  Past practice has seen the plots free of charge but costs maybe associated with the preparations (casket) and trasportation of the remains to the cemetry $300 – 500

2.  Preparation and air shipment to the U.S. (California): $2,500 (Embalment, casket, shipment)

     Preparation and air shipment to the U.S. (New York): $3,000 (Embalment, casket, shipment)

FUNERAL HOMES AND/OR LOCAL OFFICIALS WHO CAN ASSIST WITH ARRANGEMENTS:

1.  Funeral Home

Dr. Makameone Taumoepeau : Phone:  16600/ 24 814

2.  Ministry of Lands and Survey (for cemetery plot): Lands Management Section:23611

3.  Air Pacific Air Cargo:  Mr. Lani Hiliau, Air Cargo Supervisor Phone:  23423

4.  Vaiola Hospital:  Dr. Siale ’Akau’ola, Phone: 23 200