“relevant registrar” and “Superintendent Registrar” have the meanings respectively assigned to them in the Marriage and Civil Status (Jersey) Law 2001;

2 Control of crematorium to vest in Minister

The control and administration of the crematorium shall be vested in the Minister.

2A Power of Minister to appoint medical referees[3]

(1) The Minister may appoint as a medical referee any person recommended by the Medical Officer of Health to the Minister for such appointment.

(2) The Medical Officer of Health shall not recommend a person for appointment as a medical referee unless satisfied that such person –

(a) is a registered medical practitioner of at least 5 years’ standing; and

(b) in the opinion of the Medical Officer of Health, has the character, experience and qualifications to discharge the duties required of a medical referee under these Regulations.

3 Maintenance of crematorium

The Minister shall take such steps as may be necessary to ensure that the crematorium is at all times –

(a) maintained in good working order;

(b) provided with a sufficient number of attendants; and

4 Restrictions on carrying out of cremation

(1) It shall not be lawful to cremate the remains of any person who is known to have left a written direction to the contrary.

(2) Except in a case where an inquest has been held, it shall not be lawful to cremate any human remains which have not been identified.

(3) Except in such a case as is mentioned in Regulation 9, no cremation shall be authorized until the death of the deceased has been duly registered in accordance with the provisions of the Marriage and Civil Status (Jersey) Law 2001.

(4) Except as otherwise provided in these Regulations, no cremation shall be authorized unless application has been made in accordance with the following provisions of these Regulations.

5 Application for cremation

(1) An application for cremation shall be made to a medical referee in the form set out in Schedule 1.[4]

(2) The application shall be made by an executor or by the nearest relative of the deceased:

Provided that the application may be made by some other person if the medical referee considering the application is satisfied with the reason given therein as to why it is made by that other person instead of by an executor or the nearest relative.[5]

(3) The application shall be verified by the counter-signature of –

(a) a Jurat of the Royal Court;

(b) a member of the States;

(d) a notary public;

(e) a minister of religion;

(f) a centenier;

(g) a manager of a bank; or

(h) a person liable to pay foncier rate under the Rates (Jersey) Law 2005,[6]

and the person countersigning shall certify that the applicant is known to the person and that the person has no reason to doubt the truth of any of the information furnished by the applicant.[7]

6 Certificates to accompany application[8]

Subject to the provisions of these Regulations, no cremation shall be permitted to take place unless the application is accompanied by –

(a) a certificate, in the form set out in Schedule 2, signed by a registered medical practitioner who attended the deceased during the deceased’s last illness and who can certify definitely the cause of death, together with a confirmatory medical certificate, in the form set out in Schedule 3, signed by another registered medical practitioner who has been registered as a fully registered medical practitioner under the Medical Act 1956 of the United Kingdom for a period of not less than 5 years, being neither a relative of the deceased nor a relative or partner of the practitioner who signed the first-mentioned certificate;

(b) in a case where, in accordance with the provisions of Articles 17 and 18 of the Inquest and Post-Mortem Examinations (Jersey) Law 1995 a post-mortem examination has been made and a certificate stating the cause of death has been authorized to be delivered to the relevant registrar, a certificate in the form set out in Schedule 4 to these Regulations, signed by the registered medical practitioner who made the examination; or

(c) in a case where an inquest has been held or opened, a certificate, in the form set out in Schedule 5, signed by the Viscount.

7 Powers and duties of medical referee[9]

(1) A medical referee shall not permit any cremation to take place unless satisfied –

(a) that the deceased did not leave any written direction to the contrary;

(b) except in such a case as is mentioned Regulation 9 that the death of the deceased has been registered in accordance with the provisions of the Marriage and Civil Status (Jersey) Law 2001;

(c) that the application therefor and the certificates produced in support thereof are such as are required by these Regulations and that the enquiry made by the persons signing the certificates has been adequate;

(d) that the fact and cause of death have been definitely ascertained.[10]

(2) The medical referee considering the application made under Regulation 5, if satisfied that all the formalities required by these Regulations have been carried out, and if having no grounds for refusing cremation under Regulation 8, shall issue the necessary authorization in the form set out in Schedule 6.[11]

8 Refusal to allow cremation[12]

Where –

(a) it appears to the medical referee considering an application under Regulation 5, from the cause of death assigned in the medical certificates accompanying the application, that the death has, or might have, resulted from poison, violence, any illegal operation or from privation or neglect; or

(b) the circumstances give rise to any suspicion whatsoever on the part of the medical referee considering the application,

the medical referee shall refuse to allow the cremation, and shall forthwith refer the matter to the Viscount.

9 Persons dying outside Jersey

Where it is desired that the remains of any person who has died in any place outside Jersey should be cremated, and the Viscount has authorized the landing of the remains in Jersey, a medical referee may accept –

(a) an application containing the particulars prescribed in the form set out in Schedule 1, if it is accompanied by a declaration by the applicant, made before any person having authority in that place to administer an oath or take a declaration, that all the particulars given therein are true to the best of the applicant’s knowledge and belief; and

(b) certificates in the forms set out in Schedules 2, 3 and 4, if they are signed by medical practitioners who are shown to a medical referee’s satisfaction to possess qualifications substantially equivalent to those prescribed by these Regulations in respect of each such certificate:

Provided that, if the Viscount is satisfied that the case is one in which cremation may properly take place, the Viscount may authorize a medical referee to grant the application notwithstanding the fact that the certificates required to accompany the application are not produced.[13]

10 Cremation of remains of stillborn child[14]

Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of these Regulations, a medical referee may permit the cremation of the remains of a stillborn child on production of a copy of the relevant entry in the Register of Stillbirths, signed by the relevant registrar.

11 Modification and suspension of Regulations

(1) The Minister may suspend or modify any of the provisions of these Regulations during an outbreak in Jersey of any epidemic, endemic or infectious disease.

(2) Where the remains of a deceased person have been buried for not less than 12 months, Regulations 5, 6 and 7 shall not apply, and such remains may be cremated subject to any conditions which may be imposed by the Minister and to any conditions which may be imposed by the Viscount on the grant of the certificate authorizing the exhumation of the remains.[15]

12 Disposal of ashes

(1) After cremation, the ashes shall, if so requested, be given into the charge of the person who applied for the cremation.

(2) If no such request is made, the Minister shall cause the ashes to be retained, and, in the absence of any special arrangement for their burial or preservation, they shall either be decently interred in a burial ground or scattered on land reserved for the burial or scattering of ashes.[16]

13 Registration of cremations, etc.

(1) A register of all cremations carried out at the crematorium, in the form set out in Schedule 7, shall be kept at the crematorium, and, as soon as may be after a cremation has taken place, the cremation shall be registered by a person appointed by the Minister for that purpose and a copy of the entry in the register shall be delivered to the Superintendent Registrar.

(2) The provisions of the Marriage and Civil Status (Jersey) Law 2001, shall apply in relation to the said register and to copies of entries therein as they apply in relation to registers kept in pursuance of the said Law and copies of entries in such registers.

14 Keeping of certificates, etc.[17]

The application form, medical certificates and other forms specified in Schedules 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 shall be kept at the crematorium for a period of not less than 10 years, after which they may be destroyed in such manner as may be directed by the Medical Officer of Health.

15 Citation

These Regulations may be cited as the Cremation (Jersey) Regulations 1961.

Schedule 1[18]

(Regulation 5(1))

APPLICATION FOR CREMATION

I, (name of applicant) ...........................................................................................
(address) .............................................................................................................
(occupation) ........................................................................................................
apply for the cremation of the remains of (name of deceased) .............................................................................................
(address) .............................................................................................................
(occupation) ........................................................................................................
(age) .................................................				(sex) ...................................................
(civil status of deceased – whether married or in a civil partnership, a surviving spouse or surviving civil partner or single) ............................................................................................................................
and I give the following answers to the questions set out below –
1	Are you an executor or the nearest relative of the deceased?
2	If not, state –
	(a)	your relationship to the deceased			(a)
	(b)	the reason why the application is made by you and not by an executor or any nearer relative			(b)
3	Did the deceased leave any written directions as to the mode of disposal of his or her remains? If so, what?
4	Have the near relatives* of the deceased been informed of the proposed cremation? *The term “near relative” as used here includes widow or widower, surviving civil partner, parents, children above the age of 16 and any other relative usually residing with the deceased.
5	Has any near relative of the deceased expressed any objection to the proposed cremation? If so, on what ground?
6	What was the date and hour of the death of the deceased?
7	What was the place where the deceased died? (Give address and say whether own residence, lodgings, hotel, hospital, nursing home, etc.)
8	Do you know, or have you any reason to suspect, that the death of the deceased was due, directly or indirectly, to –
	(a)	violence; .............................................................................................
	(b)	poison; ...............................................................................................
	(c)	privation or neglect? ...........................................................................
	(Give a separate answer to (a) (b) (c)).
9	Do you know, or have you any reason to suspect, that the death of the deceased occurred while the deceased was under an anaesthetic?
10	Do you know any reason whatever for supposing that an examination of the remains of the deceased may be desirable?
11	Give name and address of the ordinary medical attendant of the deceased.
12	Give names and addresses of the medical practitioners who attended the deceased during last illness.
I declare that to the best of my knowledge and belief the information given in this application is correct and that no material particular has been omitted.
(Date) ..................................			(Signature) .......................................................
The applicant is known to me and I have no reason to doubt the truth of any of the information furnished by the applicant.
			(Signature) .......................................................
			(Capacity in which signatory has signed) ......................................................
			(address) .........................................................
			.........................................................................
(Date) ..................................

Schedule 2

(Regulation 6(a))

CERTIFICATE OF MEDICAL ATTENDANT

I am informed that application is about to be made for the cremation of the remains of –
(name of deceased) .............................................................................. (address) .............................................................................................. (occupation) ........................................................................................
Having attended the deceased before death, and seen and identified the body after death, I give the following answers to the questions set out below –
1 On what date, and at what hour did he or she die?
2 What was the place where the deceased died?
(Give address and say whether own residence, lodgings, hotel, hospital, nursing home, etc.)
3 Are you a relative of the deceased? If so, state the relationship.
4 Have you, so far as you are aware, any pecuniary interest in the death of the deceased?
5 Were you the ordinary medical attendant of the deceased? If so, for how long?
6 Did you attend the deceased during his or her last illness? If so, for how long?
7 When did you last see the deceased alive? (Say how many days or hours before death.)
8 How soon after death did you see the body, and what examination of it did you make?
9 What was the cause of death?
	(a)	Disease or condition directly leading to death	(a) ...................................... due to (or as a consequence of)
(This does not mean the mode of dying, such as e.g., heart failure, asphyxia, asthenia, etc., it means the disease, injury or complication which caused death.)
	(b)	Antecedent causes	(b) .......................................... due to (or as a consequence of) (c) ..........................................
	(c)	Morbid conditions, if any, giving rise to the above cause stating the underlying condition last
What was its duration in years, months or days?
10 Was there any other cause which contributed to or accelerated death ? If so, state it, and if more than one other cause, state them all.
11 What was the mode of death ? (Say whether syncope, coma, exhaustion, convulsions, etc.)
What was its duration in days, hours or minutes ?
12 State how far the answers to the last 3 questions are the result of your own observations, or are based on statements made by others. If on statements made by others, say by whom.
13 Did the deceased undergo any operation during the final illness or within a year before death ? If so, what was its nature, and who performed it ?
14 By whom was the deceased nursed during his or her last illness ? (Give names, and say whether professional nurse, relative, etc. If the illness was a long one, this question should be answered with reference to the period of 4 weeks before the death.)
15 Who were the persons (if any) present at the moment of death ?
16 In view of the knowledge of the deceased’s habits and constitution, do you feel any doubt whatever as to the character of the disease or the cause of death ?

17 Do you know, or have you any reason to suspect, that the death of the deceased was due, directly or indirectly, to –
	(a)	violence; ...............................
	(b)	poison; ...............................
	(c)	privation or neglect? ...............................
(Give separate answers to (a) (b) and (c))
18 Do you know, or have you any reason to suspect, that the death of the deceased occurred while the deceased was under an anaesthetic ?
19 Have you any reason whatever to suppose a further examination of the body to be desirable ?
20 Have you given the certificate required for registration of death ?
I certify that the answers given above are true and accurate to the best of my knowledge and belief, and that there is no circumstance known to me which can give rise to any suspicion that the death was due wholly or in part to any other cause than
(disease)...................................................................................
(accident).................................................................................
and that there is no circumstance of any sort known to me which makes it undesirable that the body should be cremated.
(Signature)...............................................................................
(Address)..................................................................................
(Registered qualifications).......................................................
(Date).......................................

Schedule 3

(Regulation 6(a))

CONFIRMATORY MEDICAL CERTIFICATE

I have examined the foregoing medical certificate, and have made personal inquiry as stated in my answers to the questions set out below –
1 Have you seen the body of the deceased ?
2 Have you carefully examined the body externally ?
3 Have you made a post-mortem examination ?
4 Have you seen and questioned the medical practitioner who gave the above certificate ?
5 Have you seen and questioned any other medical practitioner who attended the deceased ?
6 Have you seen and questioned any person who nursed the deceased during his or her last illness, or who was present at the death ?
7 Have you seen and questioned any of the relatives of the deceased ?
8 Have you seen and questioned any other person ?
(In the answers to questions 5, 6, 7 and 8, give names and addresses of persons seen and say whether you saw them alone.)
I am satisfied that the cause of death was ......................... ...............................................................and I certify that I know of no circumstances which can give rise to any suspicion that death was due wholly or in part to any other cause than (disease) ...................................... (accident) ........................................ and that there is no circumstance of any sort known to me which makes it undesirable that the body should be cremated.
(Signature)...............................................
(Address)..................................................
.................................................
(Registered qualifications) .........................
(Date)..................................................

Schedule 4

(Regulation 6(b))

CERTIFICATE AFTER POST-MORTEM EXAMINATION[19]

I certify that, acting on the direction of the Viscount, I made a post-mortem examination of the remains of

(name)...........................................................................................

(address).......................................................................................

(occupation)..................................................................................

The result of the examination is as follows –

I am satisfied that the cause of death was ..................... .................................... and that there is no reason for making any toxicological analysis or for the holding of an inquest.

(Signature)...................................................

(Address).....................................................

.....................................................

(Registered qualifications) ...............................................

(Date)........................................................

(Office)......................................................

.......................................................

Schedule 5

(Regulation 6(c))

VISCOUNT’S CERTIFICATE[20]

I certify that I held/opened an inquest on the body of .............................................................. and that –
(a)	the finding was as follows –
	......................................................................................
(b)	the cause of death was –
	......................................................................................
(c)	the cause of death will be ascertained –
	......................................................................................
	medical evidence was given by –
	......................................................................................
I am satisfied from the evidence that the cause of death was ................................................................... (or that the cause of death will be ascertained) and that no circumstance exists which would render necessary any further examination of the remains or any analysis of any part of the body.
(Date)		............................................
...........................................
Viscount.

Schedule 6[21]

(Regulation 7(2))

AUTHORITY TO CREMATE

Whereas application has been made for the cremation of the remains of

(name) ..........................................................................................................

(address) ......................................................................................................

(occupation).................................................................................................

And whereas I have satisfied myself that all the requirements of the Cremation (Jersey) Regulations 1961, have been complied with, that the cause of death has been definitely ascertained and that there exists no reason for any further inquiry or examination:

I authorize the Superintendent of the Crematorium to cremate the said remains.

(Date)..............................................

....................................................................

Medical referee.

Schedule 7[22]

(Regulation 13)

No.

Date of cremation

Name, residence and occupation of deceased

Age and Sex

Whether married, in civil partnership or single

Date of death

Name and address of person who applied for cremation

Names and addresses of persons signing certificates

How ashes were disposed of

Endnotes

Table of Legislation History

Legislation	Year and No	Commencement
Cremation (Jersey) Regulations 1961	R&O.4253	17 May 1961
Cremation (Amendment) (Jersey) Regulations 1963	R&O.4421	6 March 1963
Cremation (Amendment No. 2) (Jersey) Regulations 1967	R&O.4902	4 March 1967
Cremation (Amendment No. 3) (Jersey) Regulations 1971	R&O.5576	6 October 1971
Cremation (Amendment No. 4) (Jersey) Regulations 1972	R&O.5749	1 January 1973
Cremation (Amendment No. 5) (Jersey) Regulations 1975	R&O.6195	1 October 1975
Cremation (Amendment No. 6) (Jersey) Regulations 1976	R&O.6366	1 January 1977
Cremation (Amendment No. 7) (Jersey) Regulations 1977	R&O.6400	6 April 1977
Cremation (Amendment No. 8) (Jersey) Regulations 1978	R&O.6567	1 January 1979
Cremation (Amendment No. 9) (Jersey) Regulations 1979	R&O.6662	23 May 1979
Cremation (Amendment No.10) (Jersey) Regulations 1980	R&O.6822	1 July 1980
Cremation (Amendment No. 11) (Jersey) Regulations 1980	R&O.6873	1 January 1981
Cremation (Amendment No. 12) (Jersey) Regulations 1981	R&O.6999	1 January 1982
Cremation (Amendment No. 13) (Jersey) Regulations 1982	R&O.7103	1 January 1983
Cremation (Amendment No. 14) (Jersey) Regulations 1996	R&O.8967	5 September 1996
Rates (Jersey) Law 2005	L.33/2005	2 December 2005
States of Jersey (Amendments and Construction Provisions No. 5) (Jersey) Regulations 2005	R&O.45/2005	9 December 2005
Cremation (Amendment No. 15) (Jersey) Regulations 2011	R&O.73/2011	14 June 2011
Civil Partnership (Consequential Amendments) (Jersey) Regulations 2012	R&O.47/2012	2 April 2012
Marriage and Civil Status (Amendment No. 5) (Jersey) Law 2023	L.6/2023	24 March 2023

Table of Renumbered Provisions

Original	Current
13A	14
14	spent, omitted from this revised edition; former Regulation 14 amended by R&O.5576, R&O.6662, R&O.6822
EIGHTH SCHEDULE	spent, omitted from this revised edition; former SCHEDULE inserted by R&O.4421; amended by R&O.5749, R&O.6195, R&O.6366, R&O.6567, R&O.6873, R&O.6999, R&O.7103

Table of Endnote References

[1] These Regulations have been amended by the States of Jersey (Amendments and Construction Provisions No. 5) (Jersey) Regulations 2005. The amendments replace all references to a Committee of the States of Jersey with a reference to a Minister of the States of Jersey, and remove and add defined terms appropriately, consequentially upon the move from a committee system of government to a ministerial system of government

[2] Regulation 1 amended by R&O.73/2011, L.6/2023

[3] Regulation 2A inserted by R&O.73/2011

[4] Regulation 5(1) amended by R&O.73/2011

[5] Regulation 5(2) amended by R&O.73/2011

[6] Regulation 5(3) amended by L.33/2005

[7] Regulation 5(3) amended by R&O.6400

[8] Regulation 6 amended by R&O.4902, R&O.8967, L.6/2023

[9] Regulation 7 heading amended by R&O.73/2011

[10] Regulation 7(1) amended by R&O.73/2011

[11] Regulation 7(2) substituted by R&O.73/2011

[12] Regulation 8 substituted by R&O.73/2011

[13] Regulation 9 amended by R&O.8967, R&O.73/2011

[14] Regulation 10 amended by R&O.73/2011, L.6/2023

[15] Regulation 11(2) amended by R&O.73/2011

[16] Regulation 12(2) substituted by R&O.45/2005

[17] Regulation 14 inserted by R&O.6400

[18] Schedule 1 amended by R&O.47/2012

[19] Schedule 4 amended by R&O.8967

[20] Schedule 5 substituted by R&O.8967

[21] Schedule 6 amended by R&O.73/2011

[22] Schedule 7 amended by R&O.47/2012

Page Last Updated: 24 Mar 2023

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Cremation (Jersey) Regulations 1961