Other Croatian veterans’ and their families’ rights

Decoration of a grave site with a tombstone

Deceased Croatian veterans and deceased disabled Croatian Homeland War veterans are entitled to paid costs for decoration of a grave with a tombstone

The following persons are entitled to paid costs of decorating a grave site with a tombstone in the amount of up to 2.000,00 EUR including VAT:
 
  • deceased Croatian veterans in accordance with Article 6, paragraph 1, items a) and b) of the Act
  • deceased Croatian veterans referred to in Article 6, paragraph 1 items a) and b) of the Act - after exhumation and identification
  • deceased group I-IV disabled Croatian Homeland War veterans who, until their death, were beneficiaries of the allowance for the care and assistance provided by another person.
The right can be exercised on the basis of an order of the competent administrative department of the county or the City Office for Veterans of the City of Zagreb issued to the name of the contractor or by applying for a refund if you paid for the decoration of the grave site yourself.

Required documentation

In order to exercise the right to the reimbursement of costs, the applicant is required to provide personal data to an official at the competent administrative department of the county, or the City Office for Veterans of the City of Zagreb and attach the following to the application:
  • original invoice issued to the name of the person submitting the application for reimbursement of costs
  • second-instance decision on family disability allowance or financial benefit (for deceased and identified veterans)
  • certificate of affiliation and circumstances of death (for killed Croatian veterans, if there is no beneficiary of family disability allowance)
  • report on identification and burial and report of the fact of death (for identified Croatian veterans)
  • a copy of the second-instance decision on the recognised group I-IV disabled Croatian Homeland War veteran status with the right to the care and assistance provided by another person
  • written report of the state administration office, competent according to the place of burial, on the decoration of the grave site with the tombstone
  • a copy of the current or protected account.

For decorated grave sites with a tombstone outside the territory of Croatia, it is necessary to enclose the applicant’s statement on the decoration and a clear photograph of the grave site with the tombstone.

The application for the issuance of an order or the application for a refund with the required documents is to be submitted to the competent administrative department of the county.

The list and contact details of the administration bodies are available on the website of the Croatian County Association.

Maintenance of the grave site

Croatian veterans who died while defending the sovereignty of the Republic of Croatia are considered historically significant persons within the meaning of the Cemeteries Act. The owners of cemeteries (local self-government units) are required to maintain the grave sites of historically significant persons.

The obligation to maintain the grave sites of historically significant persons refers to the grave sites of Croatian veterans who died without any living heirs.