
Table of Contents
- How much does it cost to buy a cemetery plot?
- Can I pre-purchase a cemetery plot?
- What types of cemetery plots are there?
- What types of cemeteries are there?
- How long do you have a cemetery plot for?
- What else do I need to know before buying a cemetery plot?
- Where do I include information on decisions related to my cemetery plot?
- Find peace in choosing your final resting place
How much does it cost to buy a cemetery plot?
- The type of cemetery plot
- The location of the cemetery
- The plot’s placement within the cemetery
Can I pre-purchase a cemetery plot?
- It might save you money , as prices will always increase due to inflation, dwindling supply, and cemetery space. Pre-purchasing your cemetery plot may help you to side-step these issues.
- You have a better chance of choosing the location you want since certain cemeteries may not accommodate your wishes (i.e., burial style). Pre-purchasing your cemetery plot gives you the flexibility to find one that can.
- You can control your options and shop around without leaving the guesswork to loved ones and family who will be dealing with the emotional circumstances of your passing.
What types of cemetery plots are there?
In-ground options
- Single-depth burial spaces hold one person.
- Double-depth burial spaces hold two people, such as siblings or couples. The caskets are stacked on top of each other.
- Family lots are areas of land a family has bought for burial purposes.
- Private estates are “cemeteries within a cemetery.” A person is buried and then fenced or walled off from the other graves.
- Lawn crypts are pre-installed burial containers. They protect the casket or urn against the elements.
Above-ground options
- Columbariums house urns with cremated individuals. It can be a wall in a mausoleum or its own building.
- Community mausoleums are above-ground structures that house multiple people.
- Private mausoleums house couples or entire families.
An End-of-Life Plan is a document that outlines your final wishes once you pass away, including burial preferences.
What types of cemeteries are there?
- Monumental cemeteries feature upright tombstones or monuments, occasionally with low-level or flat headstones.
- Memorial park cemeteries have lawn-level memorials to make the cemetery feel and look like a park. Some memorial park cemeteries even have virtual tours that you can explore if you can’t visit the grounds in-person.
- Garden cemeteries combine upright tombstones and monuments with a natural or garden-like aesthetic.
- Municipal cemeteries are owned by cities or municipalities. They usually prioritize burying people who live in the same city or municipality or their family members. However, the specific rules for who can be buried there can differ depending on each city or state. To find out if you are eligible, check either the cemetery or relevant government websites.
- Religious cemeteries are owned and operated by specific religious groups to accommodate their worshippers.
- Veteran cemeteries are owned, operated, and controlled by the Veteran Affairs Administration on a state and national level.
- Graveyards are attached to a church’s property. The terms “cemetery” and “graveyard” are not interchangeable, but people often treat them as such.
- Natural burial or green cemeteries are newly popular eco-friendly options where the deceased is laid to rest in nature.
How long do you have a cemetery plot for?
What else do I need to know before buying a cemetery plot?
1. If you have to buy a headstone through the cemetery
2. If there are stipulations for markers and headstones
3. If there any rules regarding cemetery decorations
4. Consider your relationships and close family ties
Where do I include information on decisions related to my cemetery plot?
A Last Will and Testament leaves clear instructions regarding the distribution of the assets in your estate after you pass away.