LCS Post Life Planning Program

Once you have read through the documentation, be sure to fill out the 2-page application completely, providing all information requested. After your signature is witnessed by two people, take the application to the LCS office. A $200 peso fee covers the application notarization. After the notarization process, a copy will be available for your records. We will e-mail you that it is available to be picked up at LCS. If you have any questions the LCS office volunteers will be happy to assist you.

Post-life planning is essential in Mexico. The Lake Chapala Society has created a program in conjunction with a Guadalajara funeral home, San Miguel Funeral Home, to facilitate the legal disposition of deceased members.

The funeral home will provide service to all who have done their Post Life Planning. They have English-speaking representatives to be notified in case of death. The procedure is: call the funeral home and report the death, providing the immediate information, i.e., address where remains may be picked up, telephone number at that address, etc. See name and phone number below. Payment for the services of the funeral home are due when all necessary action is completed.

IT IS IMPORTANT TO KEEP THIS INFORMATION CURRENT! Each fall when your Lake Chapala Society membership is renewed, please ask to review your Post Life Planning Form, verifying that the information is current and correct. Changes in address, phone number (of you or next of kin), or other pertinent information should be changed at the office immediately. This information is used only by those persons carrying out your wishes. If desired, you may put sensitive, confidential information in a sealed envelope, which will be stapled to the data form. This will not be opened until after your death.

TO REPORT A DEATH, CALL:
SAN MIGUEL FUNERAL HOME (24-hour service): 01-333-121-7540 or 01-333-825-1556
Contact Mrs. Maria Elena Risso or Carlos Risso (ENGLISH SPOKEN)

DO NOT CALL THE POLICE, RED CROSS OR GREEN CROSS, AS THIS WILL ONLY DELAY THE PROCESS.

OTHER IMPORTANT PHONE NUMBERS:
Canadian Consulate: 01-333-615-5642 or 01-333-615-6270

CANADIAN CITIZENS
REQUIREMENTS WHEN A SPOUSE DIES

IMPORTANT PHONE NUMBERS--

Your Mexican doctor: _______________________________________
San Miguel Funeral Home (24-hour service): 01-333-121-7540 or 01-333-825-1556
Mrs. Maria Elena Risso or Carlos Risso (English spoken)

Canadian Consulate: 01-333-615-5642 or 01-333-615-6270

PROCEDURE--

1. If death occurs at a place other than a hospital, be sure to have a doctor who is familiar with both of you, so he or she can sign the Death Certificate.

2. Make sure all the information stated on the Lake Chapala Society Post Life Form is correct . The doctor signing the Death Certificate will need this information.

3. The doctor or hospital will notify the San Miguel Funeral Home as recommended by the LCS to pick up the body.

4. At this point you will be contacted by the funeral home about your wishes concerning the Burial, Cremation or Shipment of the remains. You may wish to arrange viewing of the body in their Chapel.

5. The funeral parlor will present you with a Certificado de Defimcion (Death Certificate), an Acta de Defunction an Estados Unidos Mexicanos (official registered Death Certificate) and a Certifado de Cremacion (Cremation Certificate) or other certificates as to burial or shipment of the body. At this time you will also be presented with their invoice for payment of services rendered They may also ask for payment of hospital and/or doctors fees. It is better to pay yourself. To ease your administrative burden, you may ask, when originally contacted by the funeral parlor, for a certified translated copy of the Death Certificate into English. At a fee it will become part of the package delivered to you.
Note: Shipment of the body back to Canada is not recommended. It is very costly and in no way guarantees arrival back in Canada.

6. To simplify matters you may want to engage a Notary or a Lawyer to do the required paper work for you, or you may want to do it yourself.
For the do-it-yourself process: take the original and translated copies of the Death Certificate to the Canadian Consulate in Guadalajara. It is located on the main floor of the Hotel Fiesta Americana in Guadalajara. They will affix the official seal of Canada on the translated copy at a fee. Bring lots of cash.
Note: They have been very helpful in the past in making all the necessary arrangements in case of sudden death away from the lakeside area. It is imperative that you phone them first before talking to police or making funeral arrangements. They know how the system works.

7. Then take your spouse's passport, applicable immigration documents and the original Death Certificate to Immigration. They are located in the Federal Building near the Cathedral in Guadalajara. A good start is to go to the information window to pick up a handout stating the requirements. Number of copies etc. Copies can be obtained at a reasonable fee right on the premises. Once you have fulfilled their requirements you will receive an official form to take with you when next you renew your Immigration Document

8. Place an obituary in a local newspaper, i.e. the Guadalajara Reporter to satisfy the legal requirement for publication.

9. To settle the Estate and comply with Canadian Government requirements, i.e. Social Security, Canada Pension, Bank accounts, Real Estate etc. the translation with the seal from the Canadian Consulate is required. They will not accept copies, but will want to make their own from the original. Some may even want the original in Spanish to copy. If you are not returning to settle affairs in Canada it is recommended that you courier the documents to a person or persons with your Power of Attorney.

10. To change the titles to hers, his, or joint possessions in Mexico, Real Estate and/or others, you will have to consult with or engage a Notary or Lawyer.

SAN MIGUEL FUNERAL HOME
Pedro Moreno No. 1029 S.J.
44160 Guadalajara, Jal.
Phone/Fax: 01-333-121-7540 or 01-333-825-1556

FUNERAL HOME SERVICES

CREMATION SERVICE:

Includes transportation of deceased from your home or hospital to the funeral home and crematory. Professionally embalm if necessary and presentation of deceased. All paperwork and fees to the Mexican Government. Original Death certificate and certificate of cremation, and requests Report of Death from U.S. or Canadian Consulate. All professional fee services to assist next-of-kin or legal executor. Cost of urn as required and delivery of ashes in the Metropolitan Area of
Guadalajara, Jalisco: Total Cost: $550.00 U.S. DLLS.
Any Lake Chapala Area: Total Cost: $620.00 U.S. DLLS.
*If ashes should be sent out of the country freight will be paid by you.

SHIPMENT OF REMAINS TO U.S. OR CANADA:
Includes transportation of remains from your home or hospital to the funeral home. Professionally embalm and presentation of deceased. Wood Casket in wood of good quality, and special shipping container. Original death certificate. Transportation from funeral parlor to Guadalajara's International Airport, transit permit from all Mexican Government offices and U.S. or Canadian Consulate. Corresponding customs arrangements at Airport.
Total Cost: $2,100.00 U.S. DLLS.

(*) AIR FREIGHT TO DESTINATION COVERED BY YOU. We make necessary arrangements with airlines, but it is indispensable you provide a Funeral Home at destination to receive the remains. If remains are recollected within Metropolitan area, i.e. Guadalajara, Tlaquepaque, Tonala or Zapopan, any lake Chapala Area, there will be no extra charges.

BURIAL SERVICE IN THE CITY OR LAKE AREA: Includes transportation of remains from your home or hospital to the funeral home, professionally embalm if necessary and preparation of deceased. All paperwork and fees to the Mexican Government Offices. Professional fees services to assist next-of-kin or legal executor. Payment to the funeral home, Chapel service, transportation from funeral home by Funeral Coach, Pallbearers. Death Certificate, requests Report of Death from U.S. or Canadian Consulate.
With metal casket... Total Cost:      $1,000.00 U.S. DLLS.
With casket in wood of good quality... Total Cost: $1,400.00 U.S. DLLS.

DOES NOT INCLUDE CEMETERY EXPENSES. (WE MAY HELP YOU OBTAIN PROPERTY AND MAKE CORRESPONDING ARRANGEMENTS IN THE CEMETERY.)

NOTES:
1. Remains recollected from the morgue in Ocotlan, Jalisco will have an additional cost of $100.00 (One hundred 00/100 DLLS) in any services: cremation, shipping or burial.

2. For any questions or information call MR. CARLOS OR MRS. MARIA ELENA RISSO,
PHONE: 01- 333-641-6815 (English spoken).