Exhuming a deceased body

Reasons

Exhumation occurs 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

It is an offence to exhume any human remains without first obtaining the necessary lawful permissions, funeral directors will be able to assist in this.

• a licence must be obtained from the Home Office, see link to the right, these licences will contain certain conditions that have to be observed.
• if the person is buried in consecrated grounds, permission from the church must be obtained.
• an Environmental Health Officer must be present at the exhumation of the body to ensure that there is no threat to public health.
• occassionally cadaver certificates will be required, in addition to exhumation licences.

Decency and safety

An Environmental Health Officer must be present at the exhumation to supervise the event to ensure that respect for the deceased is maintained and that public health is protected.

If the conditions of the licence are not met, or there are public health or decency concerns, the exhumation may not proceed.