Exhumation

EXUMATION COST

REINTERMENT RULES

1. Preparation, completion and filing of required documentation
2. Grave reopening and establishing or confirmation the identity of the deceased person
3. Performing body forensic examination, test and analysis / Reinterment

Disinterment is the quite difficult and comprehensive procedure. It is involved an ethical and practical issues of working with human remains. It is mandatory to get official permission to exhume and to move grave of the relatives. At the time of reinterment, the following documentation shall be obtained and filed with appropriate authorities: a death certificate with signature and seal issued by appropriate authority on security papers; a general power of attorney in the name of the funeral designated agent that authorizes the agent to perform the funeral and burial arrangements; formal documents that may be used as evidence of family relationship/family status with a deceased person.

To arrange an exhumation, the following documents must be submitted

1. Death certificate.
2. Grave deed from the cemetery office where exhumation will be performed.
3. Grave deed from the cemetery office that the deceased will be reinterred in.
4. Documents certifying family relationship/family status of the person who seeks to exhume a body and order an exhumation service.
5. Notarized and signed power of attorney in the name of the funeral agent.

As a rule, during disinterment authorized city and cemetery officials should be presented. Forensic pathologists must be in attendance. As an exhumation tends to be traumatic and very distressing for the family involved, the doctors who may help, provide support and render required assistance to relative over the shock and the initial grief should also attend a disinterment.

Once the site is prepared and casket is unearthed, the deceased is exhumed technically and respectfully.

The reinterment is a well-thought-out and meticulously planned procedure. A grave opening, unearthing, lifting and keeping coffin intact should be performed carefully and cautiously.

Thereafter, the identity of the deceased person should be established or confirmed by the relatives. Exhumation shall not be performed without visual identification of remains as the family members must be assured that their loved one's remains has been buried in this specific buried plot. Photographs and video footage must be taken of each and every stage of exhumation. A forensic examination after disinterment is an imperative. Results of work performed should always be recorded in an appropriate document.

If necessary, a body can be transported for the repeat autopsy and forensic examination or moved to another cemetery.

The forensic examination may be conducted directly in the burying site.

Actually and in accordance with applicable rules and norms, the remains can be reinterred within one month from the date of death. If rebury doesn't take place within 1 month, the sanitary epidemiological service (SES) won't grant permission for reinterment for 1 year.

Disinterment is permissible only after the expiration of 12 months.

COMMON REASONS FOR EXHUMATION

Disinterment may be allowed under certain circumstances, such as:

1. Establishing and/or confirmation of deceased identity. Disinterment can be carried out if deceased had only one nearest surviving relative who didn't attend funeral. In this case next of kin has to confirm identity of deceased so that grave opening and subsequent exhumation shall be carried out.
2. Further and repeat forensic examination should be performed if family members obtain newly discovered evidence. It is possible that medical examiner didn't perform autopsy before burial or performed it improperly. Therefore, family members can demand to carry out a repeat forensic examination.
3. Disinterment may be arranged to satisfy family wish for an alternate resting place for the deceased. The relatives don't want to leave their loved one's gravesite without care and their intention to care for burial site is justified reason for exhumation.
4. The will of a deceased person. It is not always possible to fulfil the dead person wishes regarding the disposal of his or her body. It may be related to the transportation of the body from the field where he died to his birthplace, where he grew up. It is clear that funerals are customizable, so people can choose what they want within their budget. However, later it may occur that relatives will be financially capable to transfer the remains to another cemetery for the purposes of reinterment in accordance with deceased's wishes.

REBURIAL COST

It is important to remember that exhumation is quite expensive procedure. Disinterment expenses can be substantial and it is not easy to determine accurate cost breakdown. For example, exhumation cost depends on various factors, particularly:

• should a deceased person be transported locally and/or out of town and country to his final destination;
• should experts and specialists (forensic pathologist, investigators, environmental health and cemeteries officers, etc.) attend the disinterment;
what funeral accessories should be used in re-bury of deceased person.

REBURIAL COST

It is important to remember that exhumation is quite expensive procedure. Disinterment expenses can be substantial and it is not easy to determine accurate cost breakdown. For example, exhumation cost depends on various factors, particularly:

• should a deceased person be transported locally and/or out of town and country to his final destination;
• should experts and specialists (forensic pathologist, investigators, environmental health and cemeteries officers, etc.) attend the disinterment;
• what funeral accessories should be used in re-bury of deceased person.

And these factors are only the fraction of the exhumation total cost. It is always makes sense to consult with specialists of Ritual Lux Company before proceeding with disinterment. We are able to offer our expertise in exhumation and you can contact us in Moscow on phone: 7 800 333-29-94 for advice and support.