Scotland - Apply for an Exhumation License

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Procedure

Apply In-Person:

1. To Apply for an Exhumation License in Scotland, the applicant has to approach the local council link
2. An application form will be provided to the applicant by the concerned officer or the applicant has to download the application form from the following link
3. The applicant must have a valid reason for the exhumation, and it's essential to consult with relevant professionals, such as funeral directors, cemetery managers, or legal advisors, to assess your eligibility.
4. The applicant has to fill in all the necessary details in the application form. (Incomplete applications are not accepted)
5. Make sure that the applicant has attached all the necessary documents that are mentioned in the “Required Documents” section of this page.
6. The applicant has to attach photocopies of the required documents along with the application form while submitting it.
7. Submit all the documents with the completed form to the concerned officer.
8. The applicant has to pay the prescribed fee as requested by the authority.
9. After receiving the application, the concerned authority will check the submitted application and document set. If all are in place, the application will be accepted.
10. All applications are processed within a reasonable time, having regard to the particular circumstances of each application, including the completeness of information and documents submitted to the authority by the applicant.
11. The authority may seek additional information from an applicant if this is necessary to assess the application. The authority does not need to deal further with an application until the applicant has provided this additional information.
12. Once the New-member application form and contributions are received by the fund, the authority will send the applicant a welcome pack, with his/her membership card and benefit information.
13. This entire process can be completed within 30 days or as per the timeline advised by the respective department authority.

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Required Documents

• Completed application form link
• Supporting documentation
• Proof of ownership or legal authority
• Consent from relevant parties
• Details of the proposed exhumation

Office Locations & Contacts

UNITED KINGDOM LOCAL COUNCIL
Westminster
Westminster City Hall, 64 Victoria Street,
London, SW1E 6QP
For assistance 0300 123 1837
Contact Details link
Local council Office link
Note: The applicant has to enter their Postcode to find nearby offices. If the applicant doesn’t know their postcode use the following link to find their postcode link

MINISTRY OF JUSTICE
Address:
102 Petty France
London
SW1H 9AJ
Phone - 020 3334 3555
email: [email protected]
Contact link

Eligibility

• To apply for an exhumation license in Scotland, the applicant generally needs to establish a lawful interest in the remains or the land where the remains are buried. The Act defines "lawful interest" as a person's right to possess or control the remains or the land where the remains are interred.
• Typically, those with lawful interest include close relatives, legal representatives, or landowners.

Fees

• The applicant has to pay the prescribed fee as per the authority’s request.

Validity

Explain the time until which the certificate/document is valid.
e.g. Birth Certificate Valid Forever

Documents to Use

• Application form [link

Sample Documents

Please attach sample completed documents that would help other people.

Processing Time

• This entire process can be completed within 30 days or as per the timeline advised by the respective department authority.

Related Videos

Videos explaining the procedure or to fill the applications.
Attach videos using the following tag <&video type='website'>video ID|width|height<&/video&> from external websites.
Please remove the '&' inside the tags during implementation.
Website = allocine, blip, dailymotion, facebook, gametrailers, googlevideo, html5, metacafe, myspace, revver,
sevenload, viddler, vimeo, youku, youtube
width = 560, height = 340, Video ID = Can be obtained from the URL of webpage where the video is displayed.
e.g In the following url 'http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0US7oR_t3M' Video ID is 'Y0US7oR_t3M'.

Instructions

• Applicants must complete the application form before submitting it. Incomplete applications will not be accepted.
• Applicants must provide genuine information while applying for this procedure.

Required Information

• Name of the applicant
• Address
• Email
• Telephone
• Employee id
• Date of birth
• Gender
• Relationship with the decade

Need for the Document

• An exhumation license, also known as a disinterment license or exhumation permit, is a legal authorization granted by the relevant authorities that allows for the removal of a body from its burial place. The need for an exhumation license arises in certain situations where it becomes necessary to excavate or relocate a buried body.

Information which might help

• For more information link

Other uses of the Document/Certificate

Please explain what are other uses of obtaining this document/certificate.
e.g. Birth Certificate can be used as proof of identity.

External Links

Link

Others

Here are some of the needs of the application

• LEGAL AND INVESTIGATIVE PURPOSES: In some cases, exhumation may be necessary for legal or investigative reasons. This could include re-examining a body to gather additional evidence in a criminal investigation or conducting an autopsy to determine the cause of death in suspicious cases.
• FAMILY REQUESTS: Exhumation licenses can be requested by family members who wish to move the remains of a loved one to a different burial site. This could be due to various reasons, such as the desire to reinter the deceased in a family plot or relocate them to a different geographic location.
• HISTORICAL OR ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESEARCH: Exhumation licenses may be required for archaeological or historical research purposes. This allows researchers to study human remains, burial practices, or artifacts associated with the burial site, providing insights into the past.