Death & Estates 

Consular officers provide assistance when a U.S. citizen dies in Costa Rica. The degree and nature of consular assistance depends upon whether a deceased U.S. citizen was accompanied by family and whether he or she was a visitor to Costa Rica or was residing here. 

The Consular Section can provide advice on funeral homes that prepare remains for shipment to the U.S. and we will issue a Consular Report of Death, which serves in the United States as a death certificate for probate and other legal purposes. The Embassy does not have funds to pay for funeral or burial expenses of Americans who die abroad. 

In the case where an unaccompanied U.S. citizen dies in Costa Rica, a U.S. Consular officer may serve as a provisional conservator of the deceased's personal estate and will take custody of his or her portable personal effects. As provisional conservator, the consular officer's duties include arranging for the effects to be sent to the legal next of kin, subject to local laws. In general, real property or contested property will be disposed of in accordance with local Costa Rican law.

How to reach us: For more information, please contact us at 506-2519-2000, extension 2453, Monday to Friday, from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM to 4:30 PM. On weekends, holidays, or after regular work hours, we may be reached via the Embassy’s emergency duty officer, at (506)2519-2280, (506) 2519-2279 or (506)2220-3127. We may also be contacted at: consularsanjose@state.gov 

Estimated costs: The cost for local burial in San Jose is about $500 without embalming, and approximately $1600 with embalming. That cost does not include the cemetery plot, which will vary according to the cemetery (costs vary between approximately $1300 and $3500). Cremation is available for about $2,200, including preparation and temporary storage of the remains. Shipping the ashes to the U.S. costs approximately $500. Should the next-of-kin prefer to have the remains returned to the U.S. for burial, the costs would be substantially greater, due to the high cost of airfreight and embalming. The total approximate cost for preparation and air shipment is between $3500 to $5200.

Funeral homes in the San Jose area: The following are four funeral homes in San Jose which have experience with shipping remains internationally. (The U.S. Embassy does not recommend one service over another):

CAMPOSANTOS LA PIEDAD
Address: Desamparados, east 500 meters from the Cruce, south 700 meters.
Contact: Mariaelena Cortes Castillo
Telephone: (506) 2259-5296
Fax: (506) 2259-4827
English speaking staff: Yes
Email: m.cortes@lapiedad.co.cr 
Website: http://www.lapiedad.co.cr

FUNERARIA YIRE (does not have cremation facility)
Address: San Antonio de Desamparados, San José
Contact: Mr. Ruben Zamora
Mobile: (506) 8365-3565
Telephone/FAX: (506)2276-9654
Email: funerariayire@racsa.co.cr

JARDINES DEL RECUERDO (has own cremation facilities) 
Address: From Pizza Hut Paseo Colon 300 meters South, San Jose, Costa Rica
Contact: Giovanni Corazzari
Telephone: (506) 2222-9022
Fax: (506) 2233-3176
English speaking staff: Yes 
Email: jalvarez@jardinesdelrecuerdo.co.cr 
Website: http://www.jardinesdelrecuerdo.co.cr 

MONTESACRO (has own cremation facility)
Address: 50 meters West from the Catholic Church, San Pedro, San Jose, Costa Rica
Contact: Mr. Cristian Coronas or Ms. Miriam Jorge
Telephone: (506) 2253-8181 // (506) 8884-8814 (24 hrs)
Fax: (506) 2234-2247
Email: funeraria@montesacrocr.com
Website: www.montesacrocr.com
English speaking staff: Yes

POLINI (has own cremation facility)
Address: Calle 30, Avenida 6, Barrio Don Bosco, 
Contact: Mr. Cristian Coronas or Ms. Karla Carvajal
Mobile: (506) 8884-8814 (english spoken/24 hours)
Telephone: (506) 2223-4333 // (506) 2223-4155
Fax: (506) 2258-7953
Email: fpolini@racsa.co.cr 
Website: www.funerariapolini.com 
English speaking staff: Yes

more Information… 

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