Lithuanian law does not place a limit on the time between death and burial. Ordinarily, interment takes place within three days of death.

If the death was accidental, or did not occur in a hospital, in order to determine the cause of death an autopsy may be performed upon the request of relatives or legal authorities at the morgue (State Forensic Medicine Service), Didlaukio 86E, Vilnius, tel:(+370 5) 278 9048. Normally, an autopsy can be performed within four hours.  The morgue prepares a medical death record.  If needed, on the basis of the medical record the Lithuanian Certificate of Death may be issued by the Civil Registrar Office at Kalinausko 21, tel: (+370 5) 212 2633.  In Vilnius, similar autopsy and embalming facilities are provided at State Pathology Center, P. Baublio 5, Vilnius, tel: (+370 5) 272 0668.  Corresponding facilities exist in other cities as well.  All are operated by civil authorities.

Fees include collection and transportation of remains, wooden casket, funeral home charges, administrative fees, burial costs and other services.  Local burial costs roughly $1800.

Cremation is available in Lithuania; there is one crematorium in the country Metalistu 3, Kedainiai, tel: (+370 347) 55560. It is also possible to transport bodies for cremation to Latvia or Poland.

Mortuary firms provide assistance in preparation for burial and cremation, caskets, facilities for public viewing, containers for shipping, hearses and other transportation to cemeteries.

Mortuary fees for preparation of the body, coffin, and transportation to the crematorium are approximately $1,200.  The cremation itself, in Kedainiai, Lithuania, costs about $500.

The documentation needed is a Cremation Certificate showing that the cremated remains are that of the deceased person and a death certificate. Some airlines do not allow cremated remains to be placed in checked luggage. Also, the airlines will not under any circumstance open an urn or container with cremated remains in it. Therefore, the cremated remains MUST be transported in a temporary container that can pass through TSA x-ray machines. This should be a container constructed of wood, plastic, cardboard or any non-lead based ceramic.

Options available to a family depend upon local law and practice in the foreign country. Certain documents are required by U.S. and foreign law before remains can be sent from one country to another. These requirements may vary depending on the circumstances of the death. Final preparation for shipment of remains is performed by mortuary firms, including preparation of the shipping container and delivery to the airport.  Human remains transported out of Lithuania must be within a coffin encased within a sealed metal container and placed in a wooden packing case adequate for overseas transport.  The coffins, metal containers, and shipping cases are all available locally.  They are prepared according to international regulations and meet the requirements for shipment out of country.  The total cost of mortuary preparation of travel coffins and the body, and air shipment to the U.S. is approximately $7000.  There will be additional costs if remains need to be transported within country prior to their departure from the capital.

To export human remains, the following documents are required:

1. Official Death Certificate (translated).
2. Report of Death of a U.S. Citizen (if the deceased was U.S. Citizen).
3. Consular Mortuary Certificate. A U.S. consular mortuary certificate is required to ensure orderly shipment of remains and to facilitate U.S. Customs clearance. The certificate is in English and confirms essential information concerning the cause of death. The U.S. consular officer will prepare the certificate and ensure that the Lithuanian death certificate, affidavit of the foreign funeral director, together with the consular mortuary certificate, accompany the remains to the United States.
4. Affidavit of Foreign Funeral Director. The U.S. consular officer will ensure that the required affidavit is executed by the local funeral director. This affidavit attests to the fact that the casket contains only the remains of the deceased and the necessary clothing and packing materials. The affidavit may also state that the remains have been embalmed or otherwise prepared.

Exhumation is only possible with a prosecutor’s order or with permission from the State Public Health Service in the place of burial.