We want to double up cremation urns in some plots, but they say we will have to purchase additional interment rights (besides all the other charges for opening and closing sites, etc.). Could regulations have changed since we made the original purchase? Does anyone have experience with this? Thank you!
The cemetery owns all the land within the cemetery and a client can purchase the rights to be buried. Were burial locations chosen back in 1973? Usually the cemetery would give the person who bought a location a document saying within what section and what plot number was purchased.
Sometimes were are mix-ups if no one comes forward for almost 50 years. The cemetery could have thought those plot locations had been abandoned, thus sold to some one else. You should be able to pick a new location within the cemetery.
As for burying the urns, that depends on State laws and the rules of the cemetery. Some cemeteries will allow one casket and one urn in one plot. And allow 2 urns in one plot. Some allow only one name per plot.
Some cemeteries have a special metal box container that can be purchased just for urns. These metal box containers remind me of the wall of mail boxes in an office building. These are less expensive than a regular cemetery plot.
Yes, there will be fees for "opening and closing" the plots, normally there is a separate "grave digging" company who does this work, separate from the cemetery. The cemetery will do all the logistics involved.
Hope everything works out.
Yes, you have to pay to have any grave opened. Used to be they would allow a cremated person to buried in the plot of a relative. But with more people opting for cremation, those laws have changed.
The death industry is in transition but laws are fairly stable.
It is true that you don’t *own* the property. You own the right to inter someone on the property. This isn’t new.
Read the Deed you purchased. It should explain what you are buying. Look up your specific state laws. Understand that cooperate owned cemeteries might have different rules than private or church cemeteries.
For instance, some cemeteries require flat markers (for ease in maintenance) while others allow an assortment of styles.
Also know that not every employee knows the rules. There is a high turnover in many cases while in small towns you might find an employee has been there for many years. Also large corporations will buy out a private cemetery, not change the name on the building but change the method of operation. You might still find the old empkoyee there only now they will be badmouthing the new rules.
If it turns out your lot is in a cemetery owned by a corporation, call the headquarters and discuss your situation. They will most likely honor the terms of any contract (as they have to). Just google your cemetery and check their website.
The person managing the cemetery may not have the authority to make any concessions that only the corporation can.
So just know that there are state laws, possibly additional county or city requirements and individual cemetery requirements to consider that might not have been discussed at the time of your purchase, not necessarily a new rule or law.
These type questions come up from time to time so you can do a search on this site as well to see issues others have experienced.
There is a fee for opening the plot, which the cemetery does here. I called not long ago and it’s about $2000 but she would not allow it to be prepaid. She also said the price can go up at anytime.
Funerals are a rip off.
FYI my great-great grandfather bought a 1/2 section in 1853 - there are 20 in it now - we have to comply with their regulations now but we OWN it outright