Dying In Spain ~ Will You Rest In Peace?
Spanish Funeral System ~ Make sure you understand it.
Many British and other foreign nationals are falling foul of the funeral system here in Spain whether
on holiday or living here. Why? Spanish system must be completed in a very short time. By law, a
death must be registered within 72 hours, and funerals generally take place within 48 hours, with
the “norm” being 24hrs.
Payment must be made in advance before any funeral can take place, extra days will mean extra
mortuary costs. If payment is not forthcoming, then assets and bank accounts can be embargoed
meaning very little or even no access to funds.
No plan in place leaves the funeral director in control of your finances and service.
On the day you or your loved ones will have very little choice other than to sign the body release
form and go along with the process from there. Not signing will mean that you are left with the body
and signing means a financial obligation. The next or even the same day will find you negotiating
prices and service, and this is where costs start to escalate. There are many stories and evidence
which demonstrate that costs can escalate way above the national average which is currently
around 4,500€. The cost of a funeral has risen historically by approximately 10% a year.
Losing a loved one is a very distressful and painful time for all. The last thing we need is to be
misunderstood and presented with a large bill and a funeral that does not meet your family’s
personal needs. Mostly there is a language barrier too. Asking your friend or interpreter to deal with
the arrangements is not necessarily the best choice - all s/he can do is interpret and give you the
price. The Spanish also fall into the same trap when there’s nothing is in place!
What do the Spanish do? Most Spanish take out funeral insurance but it’s usually taken from
childhood. Insurance from birth or a young child can be very expensive . . . imagine a family of
four paying for two generations or more . . . here the average person dies at 85. If payments are
stopped for whatever reason then all or most of the funds are lost. Quite often insurances ask for
more money as the sum assured diminishes over time, or only provide a contribution. Despite
popular belief many UK insurance plans do not cover Spain. You or your family may also find
yourself dealing with the funeral and reclaiming your costs at a later date. Insurances have clauses
so beware!
Pre-paid plans can be a brilliant solution. One phone call can be all that is needed, to an English
speaking service and one which can guarantee a fixed cost for life, generally under the national
average of 4,500€. They will take care of all the required paperwork. Some even cover you in the
UK! There is no need for lump sums either with some companies providing interest free options, or
up to 10 years with interest. It fixes the cost at today’s price and it’s guaranteed for life. There are
no restrictions and everyone is accepted.
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