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Exhumation may be requested or required for the following reasons:

To establish identity of a body
To recover jewellery or documents
To open an inquest
To enable road schemes to proceed
To cremate a body
To transfer from one grave to another
Public health

There are three 'authorities' that can enable an exhumation to take place:

Coroners' warrant to exhume - Issued by the court on the coroners request. No other documentation is required.

Home Office license to exhume - Authority is given by the Secretary of State. A satisfactory reason and relevant documentation must be provided.

An ecclesiastical faculty - This is an authorisation to carry out specific work within the grounds or buildings belonging to the Church of England. Application should be made to the Chancellor of the Diocese.

Unless a warrant of exhumation is issued the Funeral Director must ensure the following:

To obtain a letter of authorisation from the clients requesting the funeral directors to take charge of the matter.
To obtain accurate details of the remains
If remains are buried in a common grave consent from the nearest surviving relative of others buried in that grave must be obtained in writing.
If exhumation is required for cremation and remains have been buried for less than one year medical certificates CR4 & CR5 are required.