Law Commission Consultation on Burial and Cremation - Birmingham event

This in-person event is a part of our public consultation, following publication of Burial and cremation: Consultation Paper. As a part of the Law Commission’s overall Burial, Cremation, and New Funerary Methods project, the Burial and cremation Consultation Paper covers a wide variety of issues, including among other things, the proposed reuse of old graves, regulation of burial grounds, and issues in cremation law like what should be done regarding sets of ashes left uncollected at funeral directors’ premises.

During this in-person consultation event, we will be discussing the law of burial and cremation.

We are very grateful to the University of Birmingham for kindly hosting this event.

Some of the law on burial has remained unchanged since the 1850s, while the main piece of legislation on cremation dates to 1902. Aspects of the law in its current state offer too little protection to people who bury or cremate their family and friends. Research also shows that there is a risk of burial space running out in the future, which is an issue that law reform could help to address.

We know that this is an important and sensitive topic. This event is an opportunity to:

- hear about provisional proposals for reform from Professor Nick Hopkins, the Commissioner for Property, Family and Trust Law, and his team; and

- ask your questions about the Law Commission’s provisional proposals or the issues raised in the Consultation Paper.

The Consultation Paper and a summary are available on the project webpage, here, together with more information about the project. A questionnaire for those who wish to respond to the consultation can also be found on that page.

The deadline for responses to be submitted is 9 January 2025.

The Alan Walters Building is accessible from the main visitor car park (North East Multi-Story), from bus stops on Pritchatts Road, and a relatively short walk from University Station.

Host or Publisher The Law Commission