Disposition of Remains Report

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Disposition of Remains Report for Republic of Moldova

Updated March 2020

U.S. Embassy Information

The following general information is provided to assist families with their initial decisions following the death of a loved one.

Profile of Religions of the Host Country and Religious Services Available to Visitors

Religions:  Eastern Orthodox Christianity is the predominant religion in Moldova.

Baptist, Pentecostal, Jehovah’s Witness, Seventh Day Adventist, Mormon, Roman Catholic, and Jewish faiths are also represented in Moldova.

Funeral Directors, Mortician and Related Services Available in Chisinau

DISCLAIMER:  The U.S. Embassy Chisinau, Moldova assumes no responsibility or liability for the professional ability or reputation of, or the quality of services provided by, the following persons or firms. Names are listed alphabetically, and the order in which they appear has no other significance. Professional credentials and areas of expertise are provided directly by the funeral directors, morticians, and other providers

Morgues

LEGAL MEDICINE CENTER BALTI
101 Decebal Str., Balti
Phone: + 373 231 73198

LEGAL MEDICINE CENTER CAHUL
150 Stefan cel Mare Str., Cahul
Phone number: + 373 299 34173
E-mail: alexandri.ceban@ms.md

LEGAL MEDICINE CENTER CHISINAU
8 Korolenco Str., Chisinau
Phone: +373 22 727933; ‎; +373 22 738303;

LEGAL MEDICINE CENTER CIMISLIA
135 Alexandru cel Bun Str., Cimislia
E-mail: andrei.pascari@ms.md
Phone number: +373 241 23282

LEGAL MEDICINE CENTER COMRAT
2 Odescaia Str., Comrat
E-mail: carolina.topal@ms.md
Phone number: +373 298 31140

LEGAL MEDICINE CENTER EDINET
1 Soseaua Bucovinei Str., Edinet
E-mail: sava.vremea@ms.md
Phone number: +373 246 25282

Embalming and Shipment

MOLINARI S.R.L.
11 Aeroport Str., Chisinau
E-mail: office@molinari.md
Phone: +373 22 524102; +373 22 502401
www.molinari.md

Funeral Services

“ANGHEL” FUNERAL SERVICE
22 Mateevici str., Chisinau
E-mail: oraniea@mail.ru
Tel. 14840, +373 22 276677; +373 69104197

“LILIA PREST” COMPANY
7/2 Dacia str., Chisinau
E-mail: nikitazzz617@gmail.com
Tel. +373 22522409; +373 69168144

“ORFEI” FUNERAL SERVICE
148 Kirova str., Ribnita
E-mail: w.igor.88@mail.ru
Tel. +373 61052560; +373 77738506

RITUS-AV S.R.L.,
193 Doina str., Chisinau
E-mail: ritusnic888@gmail.com
Tel. +373 79001488; 14888
www.ritus.md

RITUAL PROF COMPANY
28 A. Mateevici str., Chisinau
E-mail: ritualprof@mail.ru
Tel. +373 22 260600; 14088

Services Available in Moldova

Preparation and air shipment of remains is carried out in accordance with the laws of and facilities available in the Republic of Moldova. In most cases the services fall short of those expected in the United States. It is recommended that a hometown funeral director be requested to determine the advisability of viewing the remains. 

Burial and Autopsy

Existing Moldovan law does not address the maximum period before burial. An autopsy is mandatory under the law when the cause of death is unknown or sudden. Under Moldovan law, autopsies can be waived by the Office of the Special Prosecutor of the region.

Embalming

There are no mandatory rules about embalming in Moldova, except in cases when the body needs to be transported. 

Cremation

Cremation is not available in Moldova.  However, funeral companies can assist with arranging cremations in Odessa, Ukraine.

Caskets and Containers

A casket containing human remains is treated as ordinary freight.  Shipping companies require that the remains be placed in a galvanized casket. Suitable caskets or transfer cases are readily available in Moldova and meet the requirements of the U.S. Public Health Service and U.S. Port Authorities.

Repatriation of Remains

When remains are to be transported out of the country (repatriated), the body must be embalmed. The following documents are required for transportation of human remains: Official Death Certificate, Affidavit of Funeral Director and Mortuary Certificate, copy of autopsy certificate, copy of the deceased person’s passport.

CDC requirements for importing human remains to the United States depend upon if the body has been embalmed, cremated, or if the person died from a quarantinable communicable disease.

At this time, COVID-19 is a quarantinable communicable disease in the United States and the remains must meet the standards for importation found in 42 Code of Federal Regulations Part 71.55 and may be cleared, released, and authorized for entry into the United States only under the following conditions:

  • The remains are cremated, OR
  • The remains are properly embalmed and placed in a hermetically sealed casket, OR
  • The remains are accompanied by a permit issued by the CDC Director. The CDC permit (if applicable) must accompany the human remains at all times during shipment.
  • Permits for the importation of the remains of a person known or suspected to have died from a quarantinable communicable disease may be obtained through the CDC Division of Global Migration and Quarantine by calling the CDC Emergency Operations Center at 770-488-7100 or emailing dgmqpolicyoffice@cdc.gov.

Please see CDC’s guidance for additional information. 

Costs

Charges are estimated based on an exchange rate of approximately $1.00=17.7 lei.

  • Autopsy will be paid by police department if the cause of death is unknown.
  • The cost for storing human remains is about $1.04 per hour at the State morgue. Private funeral companies charge $0.45.
  • The cost of a galvanized casket is $225.
  • Cremation fee, transportation to Odessa, and casket is about $660.
  • Embalming fee is roughly $30-$50.
  • Local Burial: Fee includes collection and transportation of remains to cemetery, wood casket, and interment costs roughly $500-1000.
  • The cost of local burial plot is $60.
  • Grave digging is $71 in summertime and $74 in wintertime.
  • Preparation for shipment includes embalming, documentation, casket, storage, and local transportation (roughly $1000-1500).
  • The average cost for transportation of remains from Chisinau to New York City or Chicago is about $5000-$6000.

When death occurs outside of the Chisinau municipal area, the remains may be transferred to Chisinau for preparation. Under these circumstances, additional transportation fees may be charged.

Air Freight

Airlines charge the normal freight charge per kilogram. The current charge is $4-$8 per kilogram to Frankfurt, Germany, and from Frankfurt to the United States is $12-$18 per kilogram. The average weight of an export type casket with human remains is 230 kilograms. Costs for air freight shipment from Chisinau to various points in the United States will vary.

Exhumation and Shipment

Exhumation of remains is rare in Moldova. The Moldovan Legal Medicine Department can issue the permission for exhumation

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