Can I be buried in an old family grave? How?

[ruperto]

Bit morbid, sorry!

I am preparing to write my will, and have decided that I want to be buried. I much prefer this to the idea of cremation. However my town cemetery is full already and as I am only 35 and in good health I very much hope that I will not need to be buried for some time. Quite likely there will be no burial plots left by the second half of this century.

My grandparents were all cremated, as my parents intend to be, however a set of great-grandparents were buried in the 1970s and 80s, in a graveyard about twenty miles from where I live.

How likely is it that I can be buried in that old grave in hopefully 50-odd years time? How would I prove that they are my grandparents / that I have the right to be buried there (as opposed to any of my cousins).

Thanks to anyone who can shed light.

When my mum died she was buried in the same plot as her parents, who had died years ago. I just told the undertaker the family name and he checked the records at the graveyard to identify the right plot. This particular graveyard had 3 person plots. I don’t know if they are all the same.

Wouldn’t they have had to buy the plot? It only lasts so many years. But the local authority should know. Check there first.

You could buy a plot and then it will be saved for you.

You could bu the plot (unless nither relative has go in there first and bought it)

Another

Who has the deeds? I have four plots, three are being used. These are some of my rights as deedholder...
I have burial rights for 100 years.
Up to three can be buried in each plot but that has to be decided with the first burial. DB's is a single, my parent's a double.
As many cremated remains can be interred as you'd like. Mine will be a double...

Thanks, I’ve looked into pre-purchasing a plot, but the cemeteries near me don’t allow that unless you’re over 80 or terminally ill. Buying my great-grandparents grave is an interesting idea, I will look to see if it’s possible, thanks. I’m not aware of any deeds or paperwork and neither are my parents.

There will be deeds to the plot and a register of whose remains are interred, including any ashes, and whether there is space for more.

is it in a churchyard?
if so, contact the church office. They will be able to help.

If it's a Churchyard it will be owned by the Church and they will be able to assist you.

The answer is maybe. You would need the permission of the grave owner, this might be you if you are the only direct descendant, or agreement of the co owners. Now for the technical issues, you would need permission from the church or local authority to reopen the grave (confusingly some church yards are local authority maintained) depending if it's a closed grave yard or not, then you need a funeral director to rod the plot to see if there's space. It's very common for ashes to be buried in old graves, far less common for whole bodies but I get one or two a year at work.

If it's a church yard they can give you information similar to what I have written but only a funeral director can check the plot and more crucially, you are young and rules could change in the intervening years - for instance we only have 15 plots left at the open yard I manage, we don't take advanced reservations

Graves which are expecting another guest are generally dug to 9' deep rather than 6'.
To go in with your great grandparents their plot needs to be deep enough or are you planning on asking for them to be disinterred and reburied deeper to fit you in?

Have you looked into all your options?

Obviously we don't know what your decision is based on, but my choice to be buried is about returning to the earth rather than adding to the greenhouse gasses, so I don't need a coffin and a hearse. I've booked a natural burial in a bag with a young tree going in over me. I quite like the idea of my body becoming part of a new forest when I don't need it any more. If that appeals to you google natural burials to see if there's something near you that you like.

Hi, I think there are two aspects here for you to explore. Firstly, you need to find out who is the deedholder. This may well be one of your grandparents, in which case, you would just explain that you are the granddaughter. Secondly, you would need to enquire if there is room in the grave for a full body burial and if there is any lease on the grave.

Apologies, I meant great-grandparents where I have said grandparents.

My DH's family have two plots side by side. Inside them are buried one aunt, one grandmother, one brother. (I don't know how brother ended up tucked in with his aunt but both would have been happy with it). Both of DH's parents have had their ashes interred in the plot which only has one occupant. The cemetery have said there's no more room at the inn so my DH will just be scattered in the rose garden at the crem.

I have the plot numbers and paperwork and have had for a long time.

If your great grandparents were buried in 1970 they have 100 years for the ot from the date of the first burial. You need to ask your grandparents who would likely hold the plot certificate if the plot was for 2 people or more.

When my father died (1990s), I asked the rector of the parish church where he and my mother were married and I was christened if he could be buried in the churchyard. The church is fairly ancient (1600s) and the churchyard is not large. The rector said 'no' as the remaining space is reserved for church-goers, which my family aren't but he also asked if there were any family plots in the churchyard. I told him that there were several including my father's mother. He immediately said 'no problem, we can put him in with his mum'. When I asked if other family should be consulted he said that it might be polite but that the decision was his alone. That's what happened. Couldn't have been easier. I guess it depends on the local rules for each place of burial.