Pre-planning can provide valuable guidance, but it is important to consider what may happen if you relocate or die while travelling outside the Calgary area.

Transportation, documentation and local requirements can vary depending on where the death occurs.

A little additional preparation can help your family understand whom to contact and what steps may be required.

Contact Simply Cremations if you move to another community, province or country after creating your plan.

We can review your arrangements and help you understand:

• Whether Simply Cremations can still provide the selected services
• Whether additional transportation charges may apply
• Whether a prepaid agreement can be transferred or cancelled
• Whether another funeral provider will need to become involved
• Whether the products and services available in the new location are comparable
• Whether your contact and next-of-kin information needs to be updated

Do not assume that every agreement is automatically transferable. Portability and cancellation terms depend on the specific contract.

Even when you remain within Alberta, a move may affect your arrangements.

For example:

• Your preferred cemetery may change
• Transportation distances may increase
• Your family may now live in another community
• You may wish to use a different service location
• Your executor or next of kin may have changed
• Your contact information may no longer be current

Reviewing your plan following a move helps keep everything accurate.

When a person dies outside their home community, a funeral provider in the location where the death occurred may need to assist with the initial arrangements.

Depending on the circumstances, coordination may be required between:

• Local authorities
• A hospital, care facility or medical examiner
• A local funeral service provider
• Simply Cremations
• An airline or transportation provider
• An insurance company
• A Canadian embassy or consulate
• The family or legal representative

Transportation back to Calgary may involve additional documentation and expenses.

International deaths can involve complex requirements.

The family may need assistance with:

• Registering the death in the country where it occurred
• Obtaining local permits and documents
• Preparing the deceased for international transportation
• Airline or cargo arrangements
• Consular documentation
• Translation of documents
• Customs requirements
• Transportation to the destination funeral provider

Travel insurance or a separate travel-assistance product may provide coverage for some expenses, but coverage differs between policies.

Before travelling, review your policy and ask:

• Does it cover repatriation following a death?
• Is there a maximum benefit?
• Does the insurer select the local funeral provider?
• Who must be contacted before arrangements are made?
• Are pre-existing medical conditions excluded?
• Does it cover a travel companion or family member?
• Does the policy cover transportation to Calgary or only to the nearest Canadian location?

Keep the insurer’s emergency contact information with your travel documents.

Consider keeping the following information somewhere accessible:

• Your full legal name
• Emergency contacts
• Travel insurance information
• Simply Cremations contact information
• The name of your executor or personal representative
• Important medical information
• A note indicating that pre-arrangements exist
• The location of your pre-planning documents

Do not carry your only original copies. Leave the originals in a secure location that your family or executor can access.

Airlines, countries and transportation providers may have different requirements for travelling with cremated remains.

Before travelling:

• Contact the airline
• Review the destination country’s requirements
• Carry the required cremation and transportation documents
• Use an appropriate container
• Confirm whether the urn can pass through security screening
• Keep important documents with the person carrying the urn

Our team can help explain the documentation normally provided following cremation.

A pre-plan is most helpful when the people responsible for your arrangements know that it exists.

Tell your family or executor:

• That you have pre-planned with Simply Cremations
• Which location they should contact
• Where the documents are stored
• Whether you have travel or repatriation coverage
• Which insurance company should be called
• Who should make decisions on your behalf

Contact us after a move, a change in family circumstances or a major change in your travel habits.

We can review the information on file and help you identify anything that should be updated.