Burial of Suicides Act 1823

The Burial of Suicides Act 1823 (4 Geo. 4. c. 52), also known as the Right to Burial Act 1823, was an act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom granted royal assent on 8 July that year and coming into effect on that date.^[1][2] It removed the ban on burial of suicides in consecrated ground and banned the previous practices of burying them on highways and with a stake through the body. It stipulated that such burials had to occur between 9 pm and midnight within 24 hours of the conclusion of the coroner's inquest on the body and only allowed the use of the burial service if the body was in a churchyard or burial yard, without a stake, within those timings,^[1] and without a Christian service.^[3][4]

Burial of Suicides Act 1823

Act of Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Long title	An Act to alter and amend the Law relating to the Interment of the Remains of any Person found Felo de se.
Citation	4 Geo. 4. c. 52
Dates
Royal assent	8 July 1823
Commencement	8 July 1823
Repealed	1882
Other legislation
Repealed by	Interments (felo de se) Act 1882
Status: Repealed