Checklist After a Death in Costa Rica: First 24 Hours to First Month

When someone dies in Costa Rica, the administrative sequence is rigid and time-sensitive. Missing a step doesn't just delay things — it can freeze bank accounts permanently, void insurance claims, or result in the state burying unclaimed remains. This checklist gives you the order and the deadlines.

First 24 Hours

Secure the scene. Call 9-1-1 if the death occurred outside a hospital. Do not move the body. For sudden, accidental, or suspicious deaths, the OIJ (Organismo de Investigación Judicial) will take custody and transport remains to the Judicial Morgue in Heredia.

Contact your embassy. US citizens: +506 2519-2000 (American Citizen Services). British citizens: +506 2258-2025. Canadian citizens: +506 2242-4400. Complete the required forms — DS-5501 for US citizens. The embassy issues consular death documents you'll need later.

Retain a bilingual funeral director. Sign the written authorization allowing them to act before the OIJ, Ministry of Health, and Civil Registry on your behalf. Ask for a cost estimate and timeline.

Do not use the deceased's bank cards or online banking. This is illegal post-mortem and can trigger criminal charges.

First Week (Days 2–7)

Make the disposition decision. Local burial (cheapest, ~US$1,000, must happen within 48 hours without embalming), cremation ($1,300–$1,900, requires mandatory autopsy), or repatriation ($2,200–$5,000, requires embalming + hermetic casket + permits). If undecided, embalming preserves the remains while you coordinate.

Wait for OIJ release (if applicable). For forensic cases, sample collection takes 1–2 days. Once complete, the OIJ releases the body to your designated funeral home.

Notify insurers in writing. Accidental death claims with Costa Rican insurers (INS) must be filed within 7 business days. File the written notification even if you don't have complete documentation yet.

Register the death. The funeral director typically handles the filing with the Civil Registry (TSE). Ensure the medical death certificate and the deceased's passport are submitted. Standard processing: 8 business days.

First Month (Weeks 2–4)

Secure the deceased's housing. If they rented under a long-term lease, surviving cohabiting family members have lease subrogation rights under Ley 7527, Article 85. Formal notice to the landlord must be delivered within 3 months. For short-term rentals or hotels, collect personal effects immediately.

Notify banks in writing. Deliver a formal notification of death to each bank branch where the deceased held accounts. Request a preventive freeze and a Certificación de Relaciones Bancarias listing all balances and liabilities. Cancel automated debits.

Notify the employer (if applicable). If the deceased was employed in Costa Rica, the employer must calculate and deposit accrued labor benefits (unpaid wages, pro-rated aguinaldo, vacation pay, severance) with the Labor Court. Surviving dependents claim these through a formal consignation process.

Obtain death certificate copies. Digital copies from the TSE online portal cost ₡1,575 each. Physical copies from the TSE Sede Central (Ventanilla 12, San José) cost ₡17.50 each. Order multiple — you'll need them for the embassy, insurance, probate, and each bank.

Months 2–6

Wait for the OIJ final autopsy report (if applicable). Forensic laboratories take 1–6 months to process toxicology and tissue samples. Once finalized, the Civil Registry updates the death record with the definitive cause of death. This is required for life insurance claims that depend on cause of death.

Initiate probate. With the final death certificate, retain a notary public (for uncontested estates with all adult heirs in agreement) or a civil litigation attorney (for contested estates, intestate cases, or cases involving minors). The notary or attorney files the probate proceeding, publishes notice in La Gaceta, inventories assets, and guides the process to its conclusion.

Claim CCSS survivor pension (if eligible). Surviving spouses or common-law partners can file for a monthly Pensión por Muerte through the CCSS if the deceased met the minimum contribution requirements (36 quotas in the last 60 months, or 180 total quotas, or 12 in the last 24 months).

Search for pension accounts. Use the SUPEN database to locate mandatory and voluntary pension fund accounts held by the deceased. Contact the identified administrator to claim release of funds.

Managing From Abroad

If you cannot travel to Costa Rica, every step on this checklist can be handled remotely — but only if you designate a local representative. Your funeral director handles the immediate logistics. For ongoing legal matters, a bilingual attorney or notary with power of attorney (which you execute through a Costa Rican consulate in your country) manages the probate, bank notifications, and property issues.

The Someone Died in Costa Rica: English Speaker's Emergency Guide includes the complete printable checklist with all deadlines, contact information, bilingual templates, and the full probate roadmap.

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