Exhumation Facts

What might be some of the reasons an Exhume Occurs?

The family may have interred their loved one in a monumental grave initially. The cemetery has since built a Mausoleum complex which the family would prefer their loved one to be interred in, so have requested the relocation of the deceased for personal reasons.
Coroner / Criminal investigator require further information relating to the deceased.
This may occur where technology advancements since the initial interment have progressed and may open new avenues for investigations.
The deceased was previously unidentified and has since been identified and the family would like to provide a proper service and resting place for their loved one.
There could be a request for repatriation for the deceased to be interred overseas.
Transfer to another cemetery or vault.
A change from burial to cremation as a mode of disposal.

In Victoria, Australia, the public health department recommends that applicants start planning early for a proposed exhumation and allow at least six months for their application to be considered.
The application for an exhumation licence is governed by the Cemeteries & Crematoria Act 2003.
A third party will likely be involved, often a Funeral Director will assist the family with the application process, however where circumstances are not of a personal nature a representative from the Coroner may be involved, particularly in a situation of criminal investigation. The third party will generally be responsible for ensuring the appropriate licences are applied for and the application meets the requirements of the relevant public health department.

If you are interested in learning more about the application process, seeing checklist requirements and a fact sheet, take a look at this link.

There is some interesting information on exhumations on the Vic Health site.

They have a fact sheet ‘Right of Interment for Human Remains Fact Sheet - health.vic’ an extract of which is below.

Of particular interest is the family can actually be refunded for a previously used grave, interesting…….