Exhuming a deceased body

All enquiries regarding exhumation should initially be made to a funeral director who will liaise with us and obtain the necessary documents for completion.

In most cases a Ministry of Justice licence will be required. If the person is buried in consecrated grounds, the church must give permission for it to be exhumed in the form of a Faculty.

The table below sets out the Authority requirements.

Authority requirements for exhuming a deceased body
From To Authority required
Removal of remains from consecrated ground To a different grave plot that is also consecrated Faculty
Removal of remains from consecrated ground Re-interring in exactly the same grave Faculty + MOJ licence
Removal of remains from consecrated ground To unconsecrated ground Faculty + MOJ licence
Removal of remains from unconsecrated ground To consecrated or unconsecrated ground, or reinterment in the same grave MOJ licence