Croatian War Veterans

Our special respect and admiration goes to those who had the courage when our country was going through the most difficult times, those who stood there for their country and their people when they were needed the most. Croatian Homeland War veterans and war invalids were capable of bearing the biggest burden of defending their country and the lives of all of us. Therefore, we wish to reciprocate their sacrifice by deducting a portion of the costs not covered by the Ordinance on Funeral Expenses set out in Article 104 of the Law on the Rights of Croatian Homeland War Veterans and Their Family Members in order to provide them a dignified funeral or the final farewell which they deserve.

In the moments of grief at the death of a Croatian Homeland War veteran, you can rely on us, our experience, our loyalty to this noble task and understanding for their full support from the moment you inform us on his or her death to the final farewell service. Death, and everything associated with it, is certainly something which happens only once.

A departure of no return.

Therefore, we approach everything related to the death and funeral or final farewell with proper attention and understanding for the mourners, their burden of grief and understandable disorientation in that period. Everyone will hear from us the words of sympathy, composure,appropriate urgency in rendering all our services.

In order for us to be able to help the family and relatives, we offer special equipment, products and services which DO NOT REQUIRE ADDITIONAL CHARGE, and they are provided by the Ordinance on Funeral Expenses, the price of which being higher that the amount provided by the Ordinance.

According to the Ordinance – the following are FREE OF CHARGE:

1. Burial equipment – casket, decorative drapes for the casket, headstone (cross or something else), headstone inscription and decorative inscription on the casket, all according to religious customs
2. Cremation equipment – cremation casket,decorative drapes for the casket, cremation bag, headstone (cross or something else), headstone inscription and decorative inscription on the casket, all according to religious customs
3. Music (trumpet) – when performing military funeral honors
4. Fresh floral wreath with the national coat of arms of the Republic of Croatia – when performing military funeral honors
5. Transport of the deceased – on the territory of the Republic of Croatia without charging the 50 % difference in the total cost of the transport (the Ordinance covers only 50% of the total transport cost)

Additional items which are FREE OF CHARGE

1. Obituaries – standard or in colour, with or without a photograph, up to 30 pieces
2. Nameplates for the burial or tomb, or for the international transport
3. Photograph for the frame – of 18x24 cm in size
4. Shoes for the deceased

Additional products and services – DISCOUNT:

1. Non-standard burial equipment: casket, decorative drapes for the casket,headstone (cross or something else), headstone inscription and decorative inscription on the casket
2. Non-standard cremation equipment: cremation casket, decorative drapes fo the casket, cremation bag, headstone (cross or something else), headstone inscription
3. Death announcement published in a newspaper – the last goodby (published in Večernji list or Jutarnji list). Discounts depend on the payment method.

The other services which are or are not covered by the Ordinance on Funeral Expenses we can also provide, but in most cases the amounts set out in the Ordinance do not suffice to cover the actual costs, and there is an obligatory surcharge. In case there is nobody available who would bury a Croatian Homeland War veteran or in case the membes of his family are in a difficult financial situation, they can ask competent institutions to help them cover the costs which had not been covered by the Ordinance.

The ones eligible for military funeral honors are as follows:

• Croatian Homeland War veterans who were killed, upon their exhumation and identification
• Croatian war invalids who died on the territory of the Republic of Croatia
• Croatian Homeland War veterans who died on the territory of the Republic of Croatia.

The Croatian Ministry of Veterans' Affairs will bear the costs of the funerals on the territory of the Republic of Croatia. The said right is granted to them by the competent Public Administration Office or the Zagreb City Office for War Veterans, according to the place of residence of the deceased by issuing the bill covering the cost, the amount of which is provided for in the Ordinance.

You will find the list and contact details of the Public Administration Office on the official website of the Ministry of Public Administration of the Republic of Croatia.

Contact details of the Zagreb City Office for War Veterans: Vodnikova 14, 10000 Zagreb, telephone nr.: 01/ 6100 386, e-mail: branitelji@zagreb.hr

How to exercise the right to reimbursement of funeral expenses and to military funeral honors?

When death occurs, please contact us by telephone at: +385 (0)1 2984 625 or call one of our offices.

Upon your request, we will start the procedure of arranging funeral service and inform the Public Administration Office or the Zagreb City Office for War Veterans, as well as the procedure intended to enable you to exercise your right to reimbursement of funeral expenses provided for in the Ordinance on Funeral Expenses and military funeral honors.

- You can obtain the request form at the competent Public Administration Office, the Zagreb City Office for War Veterans or at POKOP funeral company.

Request for reimbursement of funeral expenses (refundment)

The right to reimbursement of funeral expenses for a war veteran can be exercised exclusively by the natural or legal person to whom one or more invoices are addressed, without having received the request for reimbursement of funeral expenses. Deadline for the submission of the request is 90 days from the date of the funeral.

You can submit the request to the Public Administration Office or to the Zagreb City Office for War Veterans, according to the place of residence of the deceased, together with the following documents:

• a copy of the Croatian Homeland War Invalid (HRVI) recognition certificate, that is a copy of the verification of their military status
• death certificate
• application/request for reimbursement of funeral expenses (it is to be submitted by a natural or legal person to whom one or more invoices are addressed)
• original copy of the invoice(s)
• copy of the current account or savings book of the applicant
• *copy of ID card of the applicant (for natural persons)