U.S. Embassy & Consulates
in France

Consular Report of Death of an American Citizen Abroad (CRODA)

The “Consular Report of Death of an American Citizen Abroad” is an official report that provides the essential facts concerning the death of a U.S. citizen and is based on the French death certificate.

In order to assist you with legal matters that may arise as a result of the death of your relative, certified copies of the “Consular Report of Death of an American Citizen Abroad” prepared by the U.S. Embassy will be forwarded to you as soon as possible. This document is in English and can generally be used in U.S. courts to help settle estate matters, bank accounts, insurance policies, and similar matters.

To complete the Report of the Death Abroad, the next-of-kin or legal representative will have to providing us with the information and documents indicated below. You may send the documents by mail to the address provided below, or send scanned copies to citizeninfo@state.gov, with the exception of the valid U.S. passport which must be sent to our office address (Attn: Special Consular Services Unit).

• The full copy of the French death certificate (copie intégrale de l’acte de décès) issued by the city hall.
• Her last address in the U.S.
• Her most recent U.S. passport, which will be canceled and returned to you.
• A doctor’s letter stating that the cause of death was natural (“certificat de mort naturelle”).  If not available, please provide the contact information for the physician or the funeral home.
• Name and address of the person responsible for custody of her personal effects.
• Place of burial (indicate if the deceased was cremated or buried).
• Name and address of the person who should receive copies of the Report of Death.

Upon receipt of the required items, the SCS unit will prepare the “Consular Report of Death of an American Citizen Abroad” and send copies to the next-of-kin and/or legal representative.  Twenty (or more if you desire) certified copies of the Report of Death are normally issued at the time of death, and will be provided free of charge.

If in the future you find that you need additional copies, submit a signed, written request including all pertinent facts along with requester’s return address and telephone number. There is a $30 fee for a certified copy of Reports of Death, and a $20 fee for each additional copy provided at the same time.  Please send a written request together with a check or money order made payable to the Department of State to the following address:

U.S. Department of State                                                                          
Passport Services Correspondence Branch
1111 19th St., NW, Suite 510
Washington, D.C. 20522-1705
U.S.A
(Telephone (202) 955-0307)

Please do not hesitate to contact the Special Consular Citizens Services Section at the U.S. Embassy in Paris at citizeninfo@state.gov if you have any further questions.

If the death occurred in southern France, (region of Marseille, Nice or Toulouse) you may also contact the Consulate General in Marseille by telephone, Monday through Friday, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., at 01.43.12.47.54, or 011.33.1.43.12.47.54 when dialed from the United States, except, on French and American holidays, after business hours and on weekends.  You may also write to us at: CitizeninfoMarseille@state.gov .

For emergency information the Embassy’s Duty Officer can be reached by telephone after working hours and on weekends by dialing: 01.43.12.22.22 in France, and 011.33.1.43.12.22.22 from the United States.