Exhumations in Brent

An exhumation is the removal from the ground of a deceased body or cremated remains. It also applies to the disturbance of remains within a grave. Exhumations are rare and can be traumatic for the family; however it is unlawful to disturb any human remains without first obtaining the necessary legal authority. The information provided here is a general guidance to the exhumation of buried or cremated remains.

Exhumation Licence

An exhumation cannot take place without a licence issued by the relevant authority. There are two types of licence, which can be issued, and it is important that the correct licence be obtained. The type of ground from which the deceased is being exhumed and the ground to which it will be reinterred will determine the type of licence required.

A Home Office licence covers exhumations of deceased persons interred in unconsecrated ground to be reinterred in unconsecrated or consecrated ground.

If the deceased is to be exhumed from consecrated ground and reinterred in consecrated ground a Bishops Faculty licence will be required.

Please note that on application, signatures from the owner of the grave and any close relatives of the deceased will be required. 

A Bishops Faculty licence can be obtained by application to the Church of England Diocese for the area where the deceased is interred. You will need to contact the local Church of  England representative. More details can be found in Crockford's Clerical Directory. There may be a charge for the application, which may take 4 to 6 weeks to come through.

Once you have received your licence, you will need to forward a copy of the licence, along with any relevant contact details to Brent Council’s Cemeteries Team at cemeteries@brent.gov.uk to request the exhumation. 

What happens next

It is important that you submit your request for an exhumation at least two weeks before the date of re-interment, to enable time to carry out necessary checks and review of required safety documents. Failure to do this may lead to the re-interment being delayed, cancelled or rescheduled which can mean additional distress and costs to the family.

An Environmental Health Officer will make contact with the funeral director and the exhumation contractor to ensure that all necessary requirements are in place to enable the exhumation to be carried out safely, hygienically and with dignity and respect for the deceased and the family.

On the day of the exhumation, an Environmental Health Officer will be present to supervise the event and ensure that the exhumation is carried out correctly. A member of the Cemeteries Team will also be present. If the conditions of the licence cannot be met, or there are health and safety, public health, or decency concerns, the exhumation will not proceed. All exhumation requests are dealt with individually. 

Repatriation of an exhumed body

If you intend to repatriate the exhumed body for re-interment in another country, you may require a cadaver certificate, which you can obtain from the Council. You should confirm with the receiving authority in the destination country if a certificate is required. To repatriate a body from the UK you will need the authority of the Coroner of the district in which the death was registered. Your funeral director will assist you in making the necessary arrangements.