Form BF2
Application for burial of the remains of a stillborn baby
| Burial number [official use only] | |
| Burial authority registration number | |
| Burial ground | |
| Baby’s name (if given) | |
| Day and date of burial | |
| Time of service |
This is a statutory form made under regulation 3 of the Burial (Applications and Register) (Scotland) Regulations 2024 and the information and questions contained in it should not be changed.
This form must be used to apply for the burial of the remains of a stillborn baby in Scotland. A stillborn baby is a baby delivered after 24 weeks gestation without showing any signs of life. The application is made to the burial authority you want to carry out the burial. The burial authority is the organisation responsible for managing the burial ground where the burial is to take place.
As the person who is applying for the burial, you are ‘the applicant’. You must have the legal right to apply for the burial.
The burial authority will need to check the form to make sure it contains all of the necessary information. Missing or inaccurate information may result in the burial being delayed or refused. If you are unsure about what information is required, or what any part of the form means, you can speak to the funeral director who is making the arrangements, staff at the burial authority or to any other person who is arranging the funeral. It is not a requirement to use the services of a funeral director to arrange a burial but where one is being used, the funeral director must sign the relevant part of this form.
Accompanying document
You should ensure that you have attached all required documents to this application form based on where the death occurred. The burial authority needs to have them for the burial to take place. Different documents are required depending on whether the death occurred in Scotland, England or Wales, Northern Ireland or abroad. See the Guidance Notes (a) for more information.
Personal data
The information provided on this form is a legal requirement under the Burial and Cremation (Scotland) Act 2016 and will be processed in line with data protection legislation. The data will be held by the burial authority. It will be held securely, in confidence and processed solely for purposes set out by or under the Burial and Cremation (Scotland) Act 2016. It will not be shared with any third party, party other than an inspector of burial, if requested. You have the right to know what data is held about you and you can, by contacting the burial authority in writing, receive a copy of that data. The burial authority is obliged to include in their privacy notice how the information will be held, for how long and how you may make a complaint to the Information Commissioner’s Office.
(a) https://www.gov.scot/publications/burial-statutory-forms/
Burial Authority Address: Council Offices School Place Kirkwall KW15 1NY registrar@ orkney.gov.uk
IMAGE: The first page shows Form BF2, the application title, an official-use table for the burial number, burial authority registration number, burial ground, baby’s name, burial date and service time, followed by explanatory text about applying for burial, accompanying documents and personal data.
Section 1: Your information ‘the applicant’
This section is used to record your details. In completing this form you are the applicant for the burial. Applicants must be 16 years of age to apply for the burial. Applicants may be under the age of 16 if they are the parent of the stillborn baby; however, you may wish to seek the support of a parent or guardian if you feel it would be helpful. If you are completing the form on behalf of a health authority, please use the business address and contact details.
| Title | |
| Full name | |
| Address | |
| Postcode | |
| Telephone number | |
| Email address | |
| Relationship to stillborn baby |
IMAGE: The second page contains Section 1 and a blank table for the applicant’s title, full name, address, postcode, telephone number, email address and relationship to the stillborn baby.
Section 2: Burial details
| Name of burial ground | |
| Burial ground address and postcode | |
| Type of burial | - [ ] Coffin burial - [ ] Ashes (from cremation) - [ ] Powder (from hydrolysis) |
| Type of lair(a) | - [ ] New lair ........................................................................................................ - [ ] Existing lair, but no previous burial Please describe location in burial ground (e.g. section and lair number) ........................................................................................................ - [ ] Existing lair which contains a previous burial Please describe location in burial ground (e.g. section and lair number) and give details of last burial (deceased’s full name and date of burial) ........................................................................................................ |
| Is this a war grave? | - [ ] Yes - [ ] No |
| If yes, have you contacted the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and/or the Ministry of Defence? Please briefly summarise any discussion here. | |
| Any other requests or instructions? |
(a) A lair is a Scottish term for a burial plot or grave.
IMAGE: The third page contains Section 2 and a blank burial-details table with options for coffin burial, ashes or powder; options for a new or existing lair; fields for the lair location and previous burial details; war-grave questions; and space for other requests or instructions.
Section 3: Application for the burial of the remains of a stillborn baby
This section is used to record the details of a stillborn baby (please tick only one option below and move to relevant section(s)).
For stillbirth
Please tick:
- [ ] I am the parent of the baby who was stillborn (please complete section 3A.)
- [ ] I have been authorised by the parent of the stillborn baby to make the application (please complete sections 3A, and 3B.)
Section 3A: Stillborn baby
| Forename of baby (if given) | |
| Surname | |
| Date stillbirth was delivered (DD/MM/YYYY) |
Section 3B: Authorisation details
| What is your relationship to the baby (if you are not the parent)? | |
| Name of baby’s mother | |
| Address and postcode of baby’s mother | |
| Unique identifying number (if you are applying on behalf of a health body). |
IMAGE: The fourth page contains Section 3, with two tick-box options identifying whether the applicant is the parent or an authorised person, followed by blank tables for the stillborn baby’s name and delivery date and for authorisation details.
Section 4: Hazards
This section is used to record details of anything which might be a public health hazard or have an environmental impact on groundwater. You do not need to complete this section for ashes/powder.
Are you aware if any of the following apply:
- Does the baby pose a risk to public health: for example, did the mother have a notifiable infectious disease immediately before delivery?
- [ ] Yes
- [ ] No
- Is the deceased chemically embalmed (e.g. formaldehyde present)?
- [ ] Yes
- [ ] No
- Are there implant(s) present in or on the body?
- [ ] Yes
- [ ] No
- Is there radioactive material currently present in or on the body?
- [ ] Yes
- [ ] No
If you answered ‘yes’ to the questions above about implants and/or radioactive material, please give details and state whether the device has been removed.
Section 5: Applicant’s declaration and consent
5.1: Authority to open lair for burial
Please tick:
- [ ] I am the registered lair right-holder
- [ ] I am purchasing a new lair and wish to be registered as the lair right-holder
- [ ] The lair right-holder is deceased(a)
Name of lair right-holder ...................................................................................................................
Relationship of lair right-holder to deceased ....................................................................................
- [ ] I am the representative or nearest relative of the deceased, but not the lair-right holder(b)
Name of lair right-holder ...................................................................................................................
Relationship of lair right-holder to deceased ....................................................................................
Any other information:
(a) If the lair right-holder is deceased, the burial authority may require you to sign an indemnity or complete a transfer of the right of burial. Please contact the burial authority separately to complete the process.
(b) If you are the nearest relative or representative of the deceased, but not the lair right-holder, you will require their permission to open the lair and written consent must be submitted with your application.
5.2: Declaration of entitlement to apply for burial
This section requires you to declare that the information you have provided in this form is true to the best of your knowledge and that you are entitled to apply for this burial. It is an offence to knowingly provide false information and if you do so you may be liable on summary conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to a fine up to Level 3 on the standard scale.
I am entitled to apply for this burial and I hereby declare that the details and information provided in sections 1-5 are complete and correct to the best of my knowledge.
Signed: ...................................................................................................................................................
Full Name: ..............................................................................................................................................
Date: .......................................................................................................................................................
Section 6: Funeral director declaration (if applicable)
This section is to be completed by the funeral director if services are used.
Coffin or casket details
| Coffin/casket material (including handles) | ||
| Coffin/casket shape | ||
| External Casket Measurements (in cm) | Overall length | |
| Width at widest part (including any handles fully extended) | ||
| Width at narrowest part | ||
| Depth | ||
| Any other requests or instructions? |
I declare that I have discussed the options with the applicant and know no reason why the burial cannot take place. I understand that if I become aware of anything that may mean the burial should be delayed, I must inform the burial authority and the applicant.
Signed: ...................................................................................................................................................
Full Name: ..............................................................................................................................................
Date: .......................................................................................................................................................
Business name and address: .................................................................................................................
Business email address: .........................................................................................................................
Business telephone: ...............................................................................................................................
Funeral director registration number: ......................................................................................................
IMAGE: The seventh page contains Section 6, with blank fields for coffin or casket material and shape, external casket measurements in centimetres, other requests or instructions, and the funeral director’s declaration and contact details.
Section 7: Authorisation for burial (to be completed by the burial authority)
Please record the location in the burial ground of the new or existing lair to be used for this burial (e.g. lair number/section/extension) .......................................................................................................
Please confirm that the application is in order and that the burial can take place (please tick).
- [ ] I confirm that I have received the necessary documentation to allow the burial to take place. If any document is missing, please contact the applicant or their funeral director.
- [ ] I confirm that all relevant sections of this form have been completed.
- [ ] I confirm that I approve this application for burial.
Signed: ...................................................................................................................................................
Full Name: ..............................................................................................................................................
Position: ..................................................................................................................................................
Date: .......................................................................................................................................................