Buying a grave plot in advance

vonsworld

Hello

I would like to ask a question on behalf of my Mum who is 83 and would like to make plans for her funeral in the future.

My Mum would like a burial rather than a cremation, and would like to know can she buy or reserve a plot in the local cemetery now for use in the future? I know this used to be an option in the past, but have also heard that nowadays local councils do not allow you to buy plots in advance? Please could someone advise me if this is correct?

Obviously this may vary from area to area and so we may need to contact our local council to find out their policy.

Also is there really an advantage to paying for a funeral now at a fixed price, so that you do not face increased prices in the future? What happens if the funeral provider goes bust in the meantime, would you loose the money you have invested?

Thanks for your advice

G6JNS

vonsworld wrote: »

Hello

I would like to ask a question on behalf of my Mum who is 83 and would like to make plans for her funeral in the future.

My Mum would like a burial rather than a cremation, and would like to know can she buy or reserve a plot in the local cemetery now for use in the future? I know this used to be an option in the past, but have also heard that nowadays local councils do not allow you to buy plots in advance? Please could someone advise me if this is correct?

Obviously this may vary from area to area and so we may need to contact our local council to find out their policy.

Also is there really an advantage to paying for a funeral now at a fixed price, so that you do not face increased prices in the future? What happens if the funeral provider goes bust in the meantime, would you loose the money you have invested?

Thanks for your advice

As you say there is no general rule re grave plots. If your mum is likely to have enough money when she dies to fund the funeral then there is little advantage in paying now. Good pre-pay schemes include insurance cover in case the undertaker goes bust.

BobQ

vonsworld wrote: »

Hello

I would like to ask a question on behalf of my Mum who is 83 and would like to make plans for her funeral in the future.

My Mum would like a burial rather than a cremation, and would like to know can she buy or reserve a plot in the local cemetery now for use in the future? I know this used to be an option in the past, but have also heard that nowadays local councils do not allow you to buy plots in advance? Please could someone advise me if this is correct?

Obviously this may vary from area to area and so we may need to contact our local council to find out their policy.

Also is there really an advantage to paying for a funeral now at a fixed price, so that you do not face increased prices in the future? What happens if the funeral provider goes bust in the meantime, would you loose the money you have invested?

Thanks for your advice

It really does not matter what most councils do. If your Mum wants to be buried in the local cemetery, all that matters is whether THEY sell plots in advance. So ask them.

You can buy funeral plans in advance. They are generally unregulated so you need to be clear what happens if the provider goes bust. They tend to guarantee to pay funeral director's costs but not the disbursements like the burial costs and church fees. They often have exclusions too ( eg no chapel of rest) and may not be easily changed.

Personally I would just pay at the time. I recall there was an article on them in the Which? Magazine last June/July.

bongonaut

As the others have said, if your Mum wants to be buried in a specific cemetery, contact them to see if she can arrange to purchase the plot in advance. Cemetery costs above all others do tend to increase at a rate above inflation, so it can be financially beneficial as well.

There are no funeral plans to my knowledge that cover this initial cost of purchasing the grave. Most plans though will then make a contribution to the admin/digging fees at time of the funeral. I would recommend speaking to the funeral director that your Mum would like to use. If you are considering buying a plan from anywhere, do make sure that the provider is registered with the Funeral Planning Authority (FPA).

thorsoak

My OH is buried in the local woodland cemetery, and I found out recently that automatically, the plot next to him is "reserved" - in case I wish to buy it. A nice idea - but I don't intend to move there in the next few years!

Savvy_Sue

thorsoak wrote: »

My OH is buried in the local woodland cemetery, and I found out recently that automatically, the plot next to him is "reserved" - in case I wish to buy it. A nice idea - but I don't intend to move there in the next few years!

I have just been to a funeral in a woodland cemetery and the staff were talking to the deceased's spouse about 'your plot', but they only have one. The first to die has been buried, and the second intends to be cremated and to go on top.

If Mum very strongly wishes to be buried in a particular place, then that's the place to start, however bear in mind that there are other options. My parents are in a more open green burial site than the one I've just been to, they have a tree and the four plots around that are 'ours', but that's following cremation. There are burials in other parts of the site.

charliewocka

As a 'gift' my mum bought the family a burial plot in our local churchyard. I was 17 at the time and we can see it from our sitting room window at home. It may be that this is because it's a church rather than a cemetery but definitely worth asking the local council.


On the aside, it seems buying a plot was a good investment. My parents have been asked a couple of times if they want to sell their plot to people coming home to be buried - at about 10x what they paid for it! Crazy.