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Original poster

Burial advise legal HELP needed

61 replies

Pumpkinpie1 · 21/01/2025 08:38

This is a real dilemma
X and y were married over 50 years
x bought burial plot 600 pounds .
Y died first was cremated her ashes put in plot waiting for beloved x
x has just died
Council are now saying they want 1000 to open grave on top of burial costs
x was never notified of changes , if he had y would never have been put in grave , she’d. have waited in an urn at his home

Any thoughts . This represents a fortune to the family

OP posts:
ohtowinthelottery · 21/01/2025 12:32

Just checked the current fees for the cemetery where my parents are buried. It's quoting £897 for 2nd burial in existing grave.

I suppose you could try arguing that, if this is a newly introduced charge then the holder of the grave deed should have been notified. But then what are they going to do, as not burying the deceased there is going against their wishes.

BilboBlaggin · 21/01/2025 10:59

If they allowed the burial of the urn at the surface for later removal, it should have been explained to the grave owner that the removal is basically an exhumation and a licence would be required.

emmax1980 · 21/01/2025 10:44

I would change the burial to a cremation and get the urn back and scatter the ashes on the same grave. Unless the person only wanted burying.

Lettucepray1 · 21/01/2025 10:41

Write to your county councillor and ask to speak to them about this as a matter of urgency. If you have a good councillor they may be able to help you or at least clarify the situation.

LIZS · 21/01/2025 10:37

I wonder if it is classed as an exhumation?

JessicafelloffTheKnappett · 21/01/2025 10:37

Sorry for the loss of your loved one, but this is a normal charge.

caramac04 · 21/01/2025 10:37

Opening for a burial is a lot more work than for ashes. For H&S there should be two men, the grave has to be boarded and dressed then backfilled . There can be difficulties with the geography of the plot and weather.
its the best part of a day for two men,
Saying that I do think £1k is too much.

Calmhappyandhealthy · 21/01/2025 10:37

Obviously I dont know where you are. Take a look at this 🥰
www.sstaffs.gov.uk/bereavement-services/cemetery-fees-and-charges

stillljh · 21/01/2025 10:35

I'm afraid I still don't really understand this.
They bought exclusive rights to the grave and the urn was interred.
Now there's a 1000 pounds cost to open the grave in addition to the burial fee (which would be around 1000 anyway)?
Makes no sense.

Can you google your local authority's burial and grave fees and that might give you more of an idea of what you are actually being charged for?

LIZS · 21/01/2025 10:34

Undertakers should be used to this and aware of charges. They can liaise between you and explain. £600 would not cover cost of interment in advance.

Original poster
Pumpkinpie1 · 21/01/2025 10:06

LIZS · 21/01/2025 08:58

If it was transferred into another's name does x have legal right to be buried there? Were the undertakers who interred y made aware that a burial would follow, if so why was the issue of cost and placement not explained at the time. A burial is always deeper , especially if first of double depth. Or was it meant to be an ashes plot?

Yes
Yes undertakers were aware (same undertakers ).
The undertakers are shocked that the council is charging an extra £1000 for a plot that will already be open , there’s no extra work just an extra charge that they haven’t encountered before.
Its never been just an ashes plot it was a plot for a burial and was purchased as such.

OP posts:
Original poster
Pumpkinpie1 · 21/01/2025 10:01

Calmhappyandhealthy · 21/01/2025 08:58

£600 is the cost of the plot

I'd be utterly AMAZED if burying/interring two bodies/ashes was included in the £600 plot purchase

I've never ever heard of this and I've worked in the industry

If the original contract DOES say £600 for everything, I'd be interested to know where you are in the UK (rough area, not postcode!!)

No the £600 was just for the burial plot , purchased many many years ago. Burial costs like you say are a known extra , it’s an additional cost £1000 that we are questioning

OP posts:
Original poster
Pumpkinpie1 · 21/01/2025 09:59

midgetastic · 21/01/2025 08:54

1000 does seem a lot to essentially dig a hole and make good after burying an urn

The death business is like weddings I suspect - overpriced because of what it is

Sorry if it’s not clear
y died 15 years ago was cremated , her ashes were put near surface of grave awaiting x . Now x has died and will be buried in coffin at the grave he purchased .

The cost is an additional £1000 to the council just because the urn is there . The grave will be dug to put coffin in so this represents no extra work just an extra cost that x and family were never notified of.

Thr undertakers think this extra cost is ridiculous

Hope that makes more sense

OP posts:
ohtowinthelottery · 21/01/2025 09:33

I'm assuming this is a Local Authority run graveyard. Both my parents are buried in one. When my DM died, 2 years after DF, we had to pay for the reopening of the grave. From memory it was around £600 and that was nearly 9 years ago.

OneDeftPombear · 21/01/2025 09:12

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GrannyAchingsShepherdsHut · 21/01/2025 09:04

I'm confused.

The plot was bought for £600.

An urn was interred for £?
Now there is to be a burial of a coffin, (not ashes?)

The fee for that is £? which you're happy with

But there's also a fee of £1000 to - what? Remove the urn and rebury? And that's what you're saying is unexpected?

Is that right? Because I think some PP are reading it as the £1000 is to bury x, but I don't think that's right?

OneDeftPombear · 21/01/2025 09:03

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stanleypops66 · 21/01/2025 09:00

It's normal to pay to open a grave.

Calmhappyandhealthy · 21/01/2025 08:58

£600 is the cost of the plot

I'd be utterly AMAZED if burying/interring two bodies/ashes was included in the £600 plot purchase

I've never ever heard of this and I've worked in the industry

If the original contract DOES say £600 for everything, I'd be interested to know where you are in the UK (rough area, not postcode!!)

LIZS · 21/01/2025 08:58

If it was transferred into another's name does x have legal right to be buried there? Were the undertakers who interred y made aware that a burial would follow, if so why was the issue of cost and placement not explained at the time. A burial is always deeper , especially if first of double depth. Or was it meant to be an ashes plot?

caramac04 · 21/01/2025 08:57

Reopening a plot is chargeable and im
sure the council would have made this clear at the time of the plot purchase. It sounds like there has been misunderstanding/miscommunication within the family.
It is a lot of money considering what the grave diggers are paid but there is also admin to consider.

midgetastic · 21/01/2025 08:54

1000 does seem a lot to essentially dig a hole and make good after burying an urn

The death business is like weddings I suspect - overpriced because of what it is

OneDeftPombear · 21/01/2025 08:53

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Original poster
Pumpkinpie1 · 21/01/2025 08:50

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X put the grave in a family members name . She has never received any amended contract and knows x never did , they had discussed what both x and y wanted.
The undertakers have said this is a recent change they hadn’t encountered before

OP posts:
OneDeftPombear · 21/01/2025 08:47

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