Exhumation

Exhumation, the disinterring of an interred corpse. To disinter a dead body without lawful authority is a common law misdemeanour. Unless a body is removed from one consecrated burial place to another by faculty, it is unlawful to remove any body or the remains unless by licence from the Secretary of State [(English) Burial Act, 1857 (c. 81), s. 25; (English) Fees (Increase) Act, 1923 (c. 4), s. 7; Cemeteries Clauses Act, 1847 (c. 65), s. 26]. A coroner may by common law order disinterment within a reasonable time for taking an original inquisition or a fee for the inquisition. For the purpose of cremating bodies already buried, an exhumation licence must be obtained from the Secretary of State.

The removal from the earth of something buried esp. a human corpse, disinterment, Black's Law Dic-tionary, 7th Edn., p. 595.