Lift and reposition

Key messages

Bodily remains may be repositioned within a place of interment with written permission from the cemetery trust.
If a lift and reposition procedure is approved by the cemetery trust, an exhumation licence is not required.
A lift and reposition procedure cannot be approved if the of remains have been interred for less than 10 years.

Process for a lift and reposition procedure

A lift and reposition procedure allows a place of interment to be reused where there is insufficient space to accommodate further interments. The procedure involves:

opening a place of interment
lifting existing bodily remains which are interred in the place of interment
deepening or enlarging the place of interment if necessary
repositioning the existing bodily remains to provide space for further interments in that place of interment.

Step 1: Lift and reposition application

The holder of the right of interment or monumental agent/representative makes an application to the cemetery trust for approval to carry out a lift and reposition procedure. Note that an application must be in writing and accompanied by the relevant cemetery trust fee.

Step 2: Consideration of application for lift and reposition

The cemetery trust considers the application. A trust should not approve an application if it considers it would be inappropriate for any of the following reasons:

the nature of the soil would prevent or hinder the process
it would be impractical because the place of interment can't be sufficiently deepened
the physical state of the human remains
in the case of a mausoleum, the chamber is not able to accommodate additional human remains
religious, cultural, health or safety considerations.

Note that a trust must not approve an application if it relates to bodily remains that have been interred for less than 10 years.

Step 3: Approval of application for lift and reposition

The cemetery trust grants approval to carry out a lift and reposition procedure.

Note that this procedure can only be approved by delegated trust members. Approvals must be in writing.

Step 4: Lift and reposition of remains

Lift and reposition takes place.

Note that an exhumation licence is not required to carry out this procedure. Details about what may be done as a part of the procedure are provided in s. 90 of the Cemeteries and Crematoria Act 2003.

Comparison of exhumation and lift and reposition procedures

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Reviewed 19 July 2024

Health.vic

Contact details

Hours: Monday to Friday 9:00am to 5:00pm

Cemeteries and Crematoria GPO Box 4057, Melbourne , VIC 3001

50 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne, VIC 3000

Phone 1800 034 280

cemeteries@health.vic.gov.au