Cemeteries

First: Undertand your Burial and Cemetery options.

Start with our Burials & Cemeteries page to learn about your choices and warnings.

Second: Understand who does what

Know that you will likely be paying a funeral home AND a cemetery, so who does what?

  • Casket burial: The cemetery opens and closes the plot, but the funeral home puts the casket in the ground.  The cemetery charges, but it could be added to the funeral home bill as a pass-through cost.
  • Urns: if the plot is easily accessible, the family places the urn inside, otherwise the cemetery may place it. Either way, there will be an opening and closing cemetery charge.
  • Grave liner or vault: the cemetery dictates what they require; it is not a law. The funeral home sells the grave liner and the cemetery installs it. ???
  • Headstone or marker: The cemetery dictates the sizes and shapes it allows. Cemeteries or the funeral home may pressure you to select their preferred vendor. Who installs it???

Third: Understand there are parts to every cemetery purchase

THIS PAGE explains the components of your cemetery purchase.

Purchasing a stone or marker is yet another purchase, covered on our page Markers and Everything Else.

Whole Body "Traditional" In-Ground or Mausoleum Above-Ground

  • The plot: single, side-by-side, double-deep, family area. Varies wildly. Usually higher prices where real estate is higher.
  • Interment: Opening and closing the grave. For a public cemetery, expect $350 and $1000. For a private cemetery, expect $600-$3000.
  • Burial Permit: Required by some local governments. Expect less than $50.
  • Grave liner or vault: Many cemeteries require these for easy of site maintenance. Grave liner, expect $500-$1400. Vault, expect $900-$4000
  • Maintenance: WATCH OUT, this could be a yearly charge.

Cremated Remains

  • The plot:
  • Interment: Opening and closing the grave. For a public cemetery, expect $350 and $1000. For a private cemetery, expect $600-$3000.
  • Burial Permit: Required by some local governments. Expect less than $50.
  • Grave liner or vault: Many cemeteries require these for easy of site maintenance. Grave liner, expect $500-$1400. Vault, expect $900-$4000
  • Maintenance: WATCH OUT, this could be a yearly charge.

Ways to Save

  • The plot: shop around
  • Interment: Do it yourself. Option available only for green and natural burials.
  • Burial Permit: No savings options
  • Grave liner or vault: Find a cemetery that does not require this, usually a green or natural burial.
  • Maintenance: a natural site maintenance should be minimal.
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