Death - exhumations | Scarborough Borough Council

Death - exhumations

Exhumation of both buried and cremated remains generally requires a Ministry of Justice licence. An Environmental Health Officer must be present at the exhumation and supervises the event to ensure that respect for the deceased person is maintained and that public health is protected.

Who might require an exhumation?

In most cases an exhumation is instigated by the owner of the grave who is usually a relative of the deceased. The Coroner may also order an exhumation for further investigation into a death.

How to proceed

Whether it is a coffin or cremated remains that are to be exhumed the normal method is to work through a Funeral Director who will obtain all the legal documentation, submit it through the correct channels, provide a coffin or cremated remains casket larger than the original one and arrange for the eventual re-interment or cremation.

If the Coroner has ordered an exhumation he or she will make all arrangements.

The Council’s Environmental Health Officer is sent a copy of the license and may wish to be present at the exhumation to ensure that respect for the deceased person is maintained and that public health is protected.

Documentation

Normally a Licence to Exhume is required from the Ministry of Justice unless the exhumation is from consecrated ground and the re-interment is to be consecrated ground then an Ecclesiastical Faculty must be obtained from the local Diocesan Office.

The Ministry of Justice Licence is free but the Faculty attracts a fee.

If additional coffins must be exhumed to gain access to a particular coffin the documentation is required for each individual one.