Apply to exhume human remains
Application form for a licence to remove buried human remains (including cremated remains).
Applies to England and Wales
Documents
Details
Use this form to apply for a licence to remove buried human remains (or cremated remains) from a grave or memorial in England and Wales.
You might want this licence to examine the contents of the coffin or container, or to move the deceased person’s remains to another location.
Important note on submitting applications
Exhumation applications submitted by post may take longer to process than those submitted electronically, and we would ask you where you can to email the completed application to coroners@justice.gov.uk.
We will accept legible scanned or photographed copies of the application.
We will only provide electronic copies of the exhumation licence, this is sufficient for the exhumation to go ahead, If a paper copy is required, please explain why and this will be considered on an individual basis.
Updates to this page
Last updated 24 March 2020 + show all updates
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Update on submitting applications.
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First published.