Publication - Form

Burial: statutory forms

Last updated: 17 February 2025 - see all updates
Directorate: Population Health Directorate
Topic: Health and social care

Statutory forms and related guidance to be used as a requirement of The Burial (Applications and Register) (Scotland) Regulations 2024 which will come into force on 1 March 2025.

These seven statutory application forms (which include guidance notes at the end of each form) have been made under The Burial (Applications and Register) (Scotland) Regulations 2024, which will come into force on 1 March 2025. The forms are specific to different scenarios - see the table below for further information.

These statutory forms must be used to apply for a burial at any burial ground in Scotland from the start of business on 1 March 2025 and from then on. The forms can be completed electronically or printed and completed by hand. Paper and electronic versions of the forms, containing the relevant burial authority logo and address pre-filled, may be available directly from each burial authority.

If you are arranging a funeral, and you are using a funeral director they will be able to advise you about which form you will need to complete.

If you are not using the services of a funeral director and are making the arrangements yourself, you should speak to your chosen burial authority directly to make the necessary arrangements for the burial.

Read further guidance on The Burial (Applications and Register) (Scotland) Regulations 2024 and The Burial (Management) (Scotland) Regulations 2025.

For best results on electronic completion, it is recommended to use Adobe Acrobat Reader software which is free, a trusted standard for viewing, form filling, printing, signing and annotating PDFs.

Signing your PDF using Adobe Reader

Option 1: draw function

Applicants, funeral directors and burial authorities can sign the document using the freehand “draw” function. The benefit of this option is that the document does not lock down after adding the first signature, enabling further text and signatures to be added.

Open the PDF in Adobe Reader
Complete the relevant form fields
To sign – click the draw freehand icon
Free draw your signature on the signature line (note you will not be able to upload a photo of a signature using this method)
If you need to move or resize the signature, click select text and drag/ resize accordingly
Save and close your PDF

Please note, if you use the draw function and intend to print the document at any point, you must make sure you select ‘Document and Markups’ under the ‘Comments & Forms’ dropdown, otherwise the signature will not print.

Option 2: fill and sign

Open the PDF in Adobe Reader
Complete the relevant form fields
To sign – click the Sign icon next to the signature field
Choose add signature (if you have previously done this you will see them to choose from) then either:
draw or upload an image of your signature
Click to place your signature next to the signature field and drag the blue handle to resize accordingly
Save and close your PDF

Form	To apply for burial of the remains of:	Used by:
BF1	Adult or child	The nominated individual or the nearest relative
BF2	Stillborn baby	The woman who experienced the stillbirth, the nearest relative or the authorised health body (NHS Health Board or independent health care service)
BF3	Pregnancy loss on or before 24 weeks gestation	The woman who experienced the pregnancy loss or a nominated individual
BF4	Pregnancy loss(es) on or before 24 weeks gestation	The authorised health body (NHS Health Board or independent health care service)
BF5	Adult or child (section 87 application)	Local authority
BF6	A whole body or body parts following anatomical examination (where the body was donated on or after the commencement of the Anatomy Act 1984)	University anatomy school
BF7	Body parts following anatomical examination (where a person died and their body was donated before The Anatomy Act 1984 came into force or where date of death is not known but is understood to be before 14 February 1988)	University anatomy school