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Purchasing a Family Grave

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ProfilePosted byOptionsPost Date

Amanda S

Amanda S Report 11 May 2007 00:52

Linda, If the burial is in a municipal cemetery rather than a churchyard, you can find out by contacting the local council. One hundred years seems to be the most common period, though I have seen that some cemeteries only allow as little as fifty years, which seems very unseemly to me. Having said that, it doesn't mean that anything will necessarily happen to the grave once that time has elapsed, in fact it is very unlikely that it will. It just means that the ownership of those rights reverts back to the council unless an application for an extension is made by the owner or their next of kin. I think churches have their own policies. Amanda x

Linda in the Midlands

Linda in the Midlands Report 11 May 2007 23:00

Thanks very much for that Amanda,I've not long found where my great grandparents were buried, I'd hate to think of anything happening to the grave :(

Yorkshire Pud

Yorkshire Pud Report 12 May 2007 00:00

I seem to think you buy a plot for 99 years, after which it is deemed that there will be no living relatives left who actually remember the deceased. Having just buried my Uncle I can tell you it cost £1200 to open up a new plot, which we have been told will hold two coffins. The cost for opening up a plot is around £600. My great Grandmother was buried in 1969 and her grave contains four people. There are regulations in place for how many coffins and how many ashes can be buried in a plot. When we get the headstone I'm sure we have to pay the council again for allowing us to put it up and again there are strict guidelines. Hope this is of some use to you. Kind regards Melanie

Devon Dweller

Devon Dweller Report 12 May 2007 00:10

They can be longer my Great Grandparents paid for the family plot in 1896 and we have had a burial in 1933, 1960, 1995 and cremation in 2003 and have been told there is still room for one more cremation for the future.

Amanda S

Amanda S Report 12 May 2007 19:11

It may depend on the size of the cemetery, demand on space etc. If there is plenty room remaining and with less than one in four funerals currently being a burial, some cemeteries can permit burial rights for longer periods of time. It's only where space is rapidly running out and where burials are still popular that older graves are at risk.

Linda in the Midlands

Linda in the Midlands Report 13 May 2007 11:46

The cemetery where my great grandparents are no longer does burials it's full. From speaking to the caretaker the only thing they do now is you can have cremated ashes buried in a plot you already own. He said 6 per grave. So am hoping that means my great grandparents (and my nan) wont be disturbed