We had to wait for the ME's office to release Adam to us for his wake and funeral. It was a very surreal time knowing that he had passed and then having to wait for red tape to clear so we could proceed.
I actually know what that's like. I've written all about my brother's death, but we also had a long delay.
He was killed in Tennessee east of Nashville on the interstate. It was very complicated getting him home. At the time, he was in the middle of transferring from Fort Bragg, NC to Korea so he didn't have a home station. He was on leave from the Army.
Elements of it ended up being handled by three different Army posts (Fort Bragg, Fort Campbell, and Fort Leonard Wood). It was very complicated and took a week before he got home. The visitation and funeral didn't start for a week. It was a couple more weeks before his car and all of his property got home. I think my dad drove to Tennessee to get the car.
I actually do know how that is to have the delay.
My prayers are with you.