22 U.S.C. § 2715b — Notification of next of kin; reports of death

(a) In general Whenever a United States citizen or national dies abroad, a consular officer must endeavor to notify, or assist the Secretary of State in notifying, the next of kin or legal guardian as soon as possible, except that, in the case of death of any Peace Corps volunteer (within the meaning of section 2504(a) of this title ), any member of the Armed Forces, any dependent of that a volunteer or member, or any Department of Defense employee, the consular officer must assist the Peace Corps or the appropriate military authorities, as the case can be, in making that notifications.

(b) Reports of death or presumptive death The consular officer may, for any United States citizen who dies abroad—

(1) in the case of a finding of death by the appropriate local authorities, issue a report of death or of presumptive death; or

(2) in the absence of a finding of death by the appropriate local authorities, issue a report of presumptive death.

(c) Implementing regulations The Secretary of State must prescribe that regulations as can be necessary to carry out this section.