Owning a grave
When purchasing a grave, you are not purchasing land but are purchasing the exclusive rights of burial for an agreed lease term. This right is assigned with a legal document called a Deed of Grant.
Rights of owning a grave:
The grave deed, grants you the right to:
- Be buried in a designated grave or cremation plot where space allows (includes cremated remains).
- Authorise further burials in the grave where space allows, or for the interment of cremated remains.
- Apply for a permit to place a headstone on the grave or give permission for an additional inscription to be added to an existing headstone.
By law, a purchased grave may only be opened for the burial of the deed owner or for the burial of another person with the written permission of the deed owner. If the deed owner is deceased, a transfer must be made by legal process should somebody else wish to arrange a further burial.
Responsibilities of owning a grave.
- Providing consent and signing paperwork for all future interments.
- Ensuring the memorial is in a safe condition and pay for repairs required should the council deem the memorial as unsafe.
- Notifying the council of any change of address so we may contact you at the end of a burial lease term, memorial lease term or other matters relating to your grave.
- Abiding and adhering to all cemetery regulations including memorial regulations as required by the council.