Explanatory Notes

Burial and Cremation (Scotland) Act 2016

2016 asp 20

28 April 2016

Commentary on Sections

Part 1 – Burial

Burial in burial ground

Section 16 – Right of burial: notification of pending extinguishment

47.Section 16 specifies that where a right of burial in a lair exists and the period of 25 years, or 10 years on renewal, referred to in section 14 is due to expire, the burial authority must notify the right-holder. The notice must be given at least 3 months before the date on which the right expires. The notice must inform the right holder of the date on which the right will be extinguished, of the right-holder’s right to apply for an extension and that the right will be extinguished if the right-holder does not apply for an extension of the right or if that application is refused. The right-holder is defined in subsection (3) as the person in whom the right vests. As such, the right-holder may be the person who applied for the right originally, or to whom the right has passed by whatever means, e.g. by succession.