When a consular officer learns that a United States citizen or non-citizen national has died in the officer's consular district, the officer must—

(a) Report the death to the Department; and

(b) The officer must also try to notify, or assist the Secretary of State in notifying, the next of kin (or legal guardian) and the legal representative, if different from the next of kin, as soon as possible. See §72.3 for exceptions to this paragraph.