Exhumations are generally 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.
Exhumation of both buried and cremated remains generally requires a Home Office licence.
Exhumations occur for a number of reasons, including:
However, it is an offence to exhume any human remains without first obtaining the necessary lawful permissions. Funeral Directors can help in obtaining these.
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.
If the conditions of the licence cannot be met, or there are public health
or decency concerns, the exhumation may not proceed.