Death of a British national abroad in suspicious circumstances

As well as the support which we can offer if someone dies from natural causes, we can also suggest the best way to raise any concerns with the local authorities if there is evidence of someone dying in suspicious circumstances.

Basic information

We can also offer basic information about the local police system and legal system, including any legal aid that is available.

If required, we can provide lists of local lawyers and interpreters (although we do not pay for either) and, where possible, details of support groups.

In all cases where you, as next of kin, have concerns about the circumstances surrounding the death, we suggest you get professional legal advice.

Can't investigate ourselves

We cannot investigate deaths ourselves and, in many countries, investigating authorities and the courts will not answer enquiries, including from our own staff. If this is the case, it is very important to consider appointing a local lawyer who can look after your interests in court and follow any trial for you.

Standards vary

We will consider making appropriate representations to the local authorities if there are concerns that the investigation is not being carried out in line with local procedures or if there are justified complaints about discrimination against the person who has died or their family. The standard of investigative procedures and expertise varies greatly across the world.

Meeting family representatives

Consular staff in London are available to meet family representatives. They will contact the next of kin if the investigating authorities tell us about any new developments. Where possible, if the next of kin visits the country where the person died during the early stages of the investigation and initial court hearings, our staff there may be able to meet them.

Bereavement

There are a number of organisations in the UK that can help bereaved families and friends come to terms with a death, whether the death was natural or otherwise. Some, such as Support after murder and manslaughter, can help you face the problems and difficulties that arise from death overseas under suspicious circumstances.

We also have a leaflet called Victims of crime abroad  [PDF 329KB, new window] which you may also find helpful. You can find details on our travel website under 'Our publications'.

Local information

When a British citizen dies in Bulgaria, the local police contact their next of kin and inform the Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Ministry would then officially inform the British Embassy. If the local authorities are unable to contact the next of kin, they can call upon the British Embassy to assist.

In Bulgaria a post mortem will always take place if the deceased is a foreign national. If the death is deemed to be by natural causes, the deceased can be released to the next of kin. Next of kin may be asked to produce a document certifying that they are indeed the legitimate next of kin. A local death certificate is obtained from the municipality in which the British citizen died. If the cause of death is not identified or it is not deemed to have been death by natural causes, the regional court deals with the case.

If someone dies in Bulgaria, the British Embassy can assist the next of kin in contacting the local authorities and clarifying the procedure for obtaining the local death certificate. We can also assist with general information about repatriation, cremation and burial procedures.

If the next of kin decides upon cremation, they need to write a declaration in front of an English-speaking notary or lawyer stating that they agree to their relative being cremated. In Bulgaria cremation can only take place in Sofia.

A burial cannot take place in Bulgaria, without a declaration from the next of kin clearly stating that they wish to bury their relative in Bulgaria. The only exception is when the death was from a contagious disease.