What to Do When Someone Dies in Panama

Your first 24 hours after a death in Panama will determine whether the weeks ahead go smoothly or spiral into preventable delays. Panamanian law requires specific steps in a strict order — and the process differs sharply depending on whether the death happened in a hospital, at home, or under suspicious circumstances.

Here is exactly what to do, in order.

Step 1: Secure the Medical Death Certificate

If the death occurs in a hospital or clinic, the attending physician issues a clinical death certificate (parte clínico de defunción) at no charge. This document must state both the cause of death and the exact time — the Civil Registry will reject any certificate missing either detail.

If the death happens at home from natural causes, call a licensed forensic physician or local public health officer to examine the body and issue the certificate.

For unattended, accidental, or suspicious deaths, contact the National Police and the Public Prosecutor's Office (Ministerio Público) immediately. The body stays in forensic custody until the prosecutor issues a written release — you cannot move it to a funeral home without that document.

Step 2: Contact a Licensed Funeral Home

Once you have the medical certificate or forensic release, select a licensed funeral home (funeraria) to take custody of the body. The US Embassy in Panama maintains a vetted directory. Three commonly used agencies:

• Grupo Lefevre — across from Hospital Santo Tomás, Panama City. Phone: (507) 390-2552
• Funeraria Da Silva — Colón Province. Phone: (507) 441-2263
• La Auxiliadora — Calle 32 Este, Panama City. Phone: (507) 227-3458

The funeral home coordinates transport and handles most government filings on your behalf, including Civil Registry registration.

Step 3: Register the Death with the Civil Registry

Under Ley 31 de 2006, every death in Panama must be registered with the Civil Registry (Registro Civil) of the Electoral Tribunal (Tribunal Electoral). Your funeral home typically handles this filing, but you need to provide the deceased's passport or cédula and your own ID.

The registry issues electronic death certificates with unique verification codes, valid for 30 days. You will need certified copies for banking, probate, and consular reporting.

Step 4: Report to the US Embassy

For US citizens, contact the American Citizen Services unit at the US Embassy in Panama City. The emergency line is +507-317-5000 (after hours). You will need to complete Form DS-2060 online to initiate the electronic Consular Report of Death Abroad (eCRODA).

The eCRODA carries a digital signature and official consular seal. It is the legally recognized death certificate for US courts, insurance claims, Social Security, and VA benefits processing. Additional copies cost $50 each through the Department of State.

If the deceased received Social Security or VA benefits, report the death directly to [email protected].

Step 5: Make Immediate Financial Decisions

Do not use the deceased's bank cards, debit cards, or online banking credentials — even for funeral expenses. Panamanian banks monitor post-death transactions closely, and unauthorized withdrawals can trigger criminal fraud charges.

Instead, notify all local banks holding the deceased's assets. Individual accounts will be frozen to protect the estate. Joint accounts with a survival clause ("and/or" accounts) remain accessible to the surviving co-holder.

What Comes Next

Within the first week, you will need to decide between local burial, local cremation, or international repatriation of the remains. Each option carries different documentation requirements and costs — repatriation of a body can run $5,000 to $15,000, while local cremation with ash repatriation typically costs $1,150 to $2,550.

Within the first month, retain a licensed Panamanian attorney to begin the estate succession process. Foreign heirs must execute an apostilled Power of Attorney from their home country.

The Panama Expat Death Guide walks through every step from Day 1 through final estate settlement, with Spanish-language scripts, document checklists, and cost breakdowns specific to Panama's legal system.

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