Exhumations
Exhumations are rare and tend to be traumatic for the family involved. They can take a long time to arrange and are usually expensive. For these reasons, it is always best to consult with all the relatives before proceeding.
Reasons why exhumations occur
Exhumations occur for a number of reasons, including:
- a need to move the body from the original grave to a family plot in the same or another cemetery
- repatriation overseas to be buried along with other family
- transfer from one cemetery scheduled for development to another
- court orders requiring further forensic examination.
Requirements and conditions
Exhumation of both buried and cremated remains requires a Home Office licence, and an Environmental Health Officer must be present at the exhumation to supervise the event. This is to ensure that respect for the deceased person is maintained and that public health is protected.
To arrange a license, please contact the Department of Constitutional Affairs on 020 7210 0049 / 0066 or email coroners@dca.gsi.gov.uk.
Additionally,
- if the person is buried in consecrated grounds, permission from the church must also be obtained
- occasionally Cadaver Certificates are required in addition to exhumation licences (this confirms that no epidemic of infectious disease occurred in the borough for some three months preceding the death).
Decency and Safety
An Environmental Health Officer must be present at the exhumation to supervise the event.
The Officer will ensure that:
- the correct grave is opened
- the exhumation commences as early as possible in the morning to ensure maximum privacy
- the plot is screened as appropriate for privacy
- health and safety of all workers is maintained
- everyone present shows due respect to the deceased person and to adjoining graves
- the nameplate on the casket corresponds to that on the licence
- the new casket has been approved by the Environmental Health Officer
- all human remains and all the pieces of casket are placed in the new casket
- the new casket is properly sealed,
- the area of exhumation is properly disinfected
- satisfactory arrangements are in place for the onward transmission of the remains.
If the conditions of the licence cannot be met, or there are public health or decency concerns, the exhumation may not proceed.
More information
For more information about exhumations, please contact our Environmental Health team using the details at the top-right corner of this page.
Page updated: 16 Mar 2010