[Code of Federal Regulations] [Title 22, Volume 1] [Revised as of April 1, 2004] From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access [CITE: 22CFR72.17] [Page 353] TITLE 22--FOREIGN RELATIONS CHAPTER I--DEPARTMENT OF STATE PART 72_DEATHS AND ESTATES--Table of Contents Sec. 72.17 Responsibility of consular agents. A consular agent has no statutory authority to take possession and dispose of the personal estate of a deceased citizen of the United States, except under the immediate supervision and as the agent of his principal consular officer. The consular agent, therefore, should immediately report the circumstances to, and request instructions from, his principal consular officer, who should assume the responsibility for taking possession and disposing of the personal estate in accordance with the regulations in this part.