Burial: statutory forms

Burial form BF4: guidance notes

This Burial Form BF4 (available under Supporting documents) is for use only by the appropriate health authority or body to make an application for the individual or shared burial of the remains of a pregnancy loss under Part 3 of Burial and Cremation (Scotland) Act 2016 (the “2016 Act”).

The appropriate health authority or body is either the Health Board or the independent health care service that is providing care to the woman at the time when the pregnancy ends.

Please use Burial BF3 where an application for burial is being made either by the woman who experienced the pregnancy loss or by another individual nominated by the woman to make the arrangements on her behalf.

Different application forms (included under Supporting documents) are available for other categories of burial:

• Burial Form BF1 where the application is for the burial of the remains of an adult or child in a burial ground (other than a burial arranged by a local authority)
• Burial Form BF2 where the application is for the burial of the remains of a stillborn baby in a burial ground
• Burial Form BF3 where the application is for the burial of the remains of a pregnancy loss in a burial ground (by an individual)
• Burial Form BF5 where the application is for the burial of the remains of an adult or child by a local authority where they are making arrangements under section 87 of the 2016 Act
• Burial Form BF6 where the application is for the burial of a body/body parts donated for anatomical examination on or after the date of commencement of the Anatomy Act 1984
• Burial Form BF7 where the application is for the burial of body parts donated in Scotland and in possession of a person licensed under section 3(2) of the Anatomy Act 1984 before the commencement of the Anatomy Act 1984 or where the date of death is not known or is before 14 February 1988.

Different forms are used for cremation. See the cremation forms.

The burial authority should add their burial authority registration number to the top section on page one.

The Scottish Government expects each burial authority, cremation authority, hydrolysis authority and funeral director to be registered on the Funeral Sector Register where each organisation will be assigned its own unique registration number.

Under the 2016 Act burial, cremation and hydrolysis authorities have discretion whether to accept any application or to ask for additional information.

Details on how to register can be found by visiting the Funeral Sector Register.