‘Exhumation’ means the removal of human remains, either in the form of a coffin burial or cremated remains.

They are very rare and are only allowed in exceptional cases - for example:

• transfer a deceased from the original grave site to a new grave
• repatriate a deceased overseas to their country of origin or to be buried with other family members
• deepen an existing grave for a further burial
• send the human remains for cremation
• there is a court order requiring further forensic examination

It is an offence to disturb any buried human remains without obtaining the necessary lawful permissions. This applies to both full coffin burials and the burial of cremated remains. A funeral director can help you to get the necessary permissions.

Different permissions are needed depending on whether the deceased is buried on consecrated or non-consecrated ground and where they will be moved to.

If the deceased is resting in consecrated grounds, you will need to get permission from the church and pay any fees.

Consecrated

A ‘Bishop’s Faculty’ application is needed for an exhumation to take place on consecrated ground. There is a fee for this. Applications can be obtained from the Church of England Diocese for the area where the deceased is buried.

Non-consecrated

A Ministry of Justice application is needed for exhumations on non-consecrated ground.

Please note there is no guarantee that an exhumation will be approved.

No matter the reason for the exhumation, a funeral director needs to be involved. It is up to the client and the funeral director to arrange for the appropriate licences.

The exhumation is carried out by our staff, but once exhumed the remains become the responsibility of the funeral director.

Exhumations are carried out in the early hours of the morning, this is to ensure maximum privacy.

An environmental health office will be present, it is their job to ensure that:

• the correct grave is opened
• the area is screened for privacy
• all health and safety requirements are being adhered to
• the nameplate on the coffin/casket matches what is on the licence
• all humans remains and all pieces of the original coffin are placed into the new coffin
• the new casket is correctly sealed
• the exhumation area is sanitised
• confirm that the remains are transferred to their new resting place

Should you wish to discuss this further please contact the cemeteries office cemeteries@bexley.gov.uk