Thursday 04 December 2008
Service Provider
Home Office
Description of Service
Exhumation of both buried and cremated remains generally requires a Home Office licence

Reasons - Exhumations occur for a number of reasons, including:
  • movement from the original grave to a subsequently acquired family plot in the same or other cemetery;
  • repatriation overseas to be buried along with other family;
  • transfer from one cemetery scheduled for development to another; or
  • court orders requiring further forensic examination.

Requirements

However, it is an offence to exhume any human remains without first obtaining the necessary lawful permissions.  Funeral directors can help in obtaining these.
Interactions
Burial Law and Policy in the 21st Century (PDF 508 Kb)
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