Exhumation
It is not opening the grave that takes time. It is the permit.
Reopening a grave is never a light decision, and families often take it years after the funeral — because relatives have moved away, or because the wish for burial in the home country has taken hold.
The Swiss procedure is clear but entirely municipal. Here is how it runs.
The municipality in whose cemetery the grave lies. It decides under its own cemetery regulations, and those regulations differ from one municipality to the next.
Depending on the canton, an assessment by the cantonal or district medical officer is added, particularly where the period of rest has not expired.
Relatives' consent is what most often holds things up — not because it is refused, but because someone is hard to reach.
Some municipalities decide within a few weeks, others need considerably longer. There is no uniform statutory deadline.
If a repatriation is to follow, the consular part is added. We run both procedures in parallel, because they depend on each other: the laissez-passer is only issued after the opening, but the consulate has to be consulted beforehand.
It is possible, but it requires a comprehensible reason and the authority's consent. Public health conditions are then more likely. The wish for burial in the country of origin is frequently accepted in practice — though nobody can guarantee it in advance.
It takes place on the date agreed with the cemetery administration, as a rule outside visiting hours and with screening in place. We always attend with two staff.
Relatives may be present if they wish. Not being present is equally reasonable: many families choose that, and we then document the process.
Questions & answers
We charge the opening according to the time involved, with two staff; journeys, cleaning and expenses are included. Added to that are the municipal fees and, for a repatriation, the transport coffin, the documents and the freight.
That of the closest relatives. Where there is disagreement, the municipality decides under its regulations; in practice a conversation beforehand almost always avoids the procedure.
Yes, and it is simpler: a permit from the municipality giving up the grave, the consent of the receiving cemetery, and no laissez-passer. The cemetery administration will tell you which rules apply.
Considerably lighter. Recovering an interred urn requires the municipality's permission, but no grave opening in the proper sense and no medical assessment.