Deciding where to lay your loved one to rest can be a deeply personal, and heartfelt decision. With changing circumstances like moving states or aging relatives, you may decide to move your loved one from one burial plot to another.
This could mean moving your loved one to another section within the same cemetery, to a different type of memorial (like a mausoleum), or to a different cemetery entirely.
This process, known as disinterment, can seem daunting but with the right support and planning, relocating your loved one can be done. Continue reading to discover the steps to take to start the disinterment process.
Reasons for Moving Your Loved One
Although the original memorial for your loved one may be seen as their final resting place, this may not be the “final” location after all. The decision to move your loved one to another area involves many considerations but ultimately brings peace to families.
There are several reasons for moving your loved one’s burial plot to a new location. Here are a few common ones.
- Close to other family plots. One of the most common reasons to move a burial plot is to be closer to other family burial plots. Many families will move a recently deceased relative closer to the rest of their family’s existing burial plots to keep them together.
- Purchasing or designing a new memorial. After a loved one is buried, families may decide to move the burial into a new memorial, like a mausoleum. In other cases, families may want to update the headstone of loved ones to include the additional member plot.
- Staying close to surviving family members. If family members have moved cities or states and want to remain close to their loved one’s final resting place, they may choose to move them to a new burial plot.
- Religious or cultural reasons. Certain religious or cultural practices may necessitate the relocation of a burial plot, especially if the initial burial did not align with these traditions.
- Cemetery closure or relocation. If a cemetery is closing, being repurposed, or if the land is being sold, families may need to move the remains to another location.
- Grave maintenance concerns. If the original cemetery is not being well-maintained or if the grave is at risk of environmental damage (e.g., flooding, erosion), families may choose to move their loved one to a more secure and well-maintained cemetery.
- Overcrowding. If a cemetery becomes too crowded, families may choose to find a new cemetery plot in another location so the entire family can be buried near each other.
The Process of Moving a Burial Plot
Due to different cemetery rules and regulations, the process of moving a burial plot can look different depending on your cemetery. However, these items are typically what would be required for a disinterment, this process can look different. However, these items are typically what would be required for a disinterment:
- Obtain permission from the cemetery. To initially move your loved one to another cemetery, you will need permission from the original cemetery and the one they are moving into for the process to move forward.
- Secure legal documents. This may involve applying for an exhumation license, contacting a transportation service and hiring an exhumation team for the procedure. This license may take one to three months to be filed, and the exhumation must be complete within one year of obtaining the license.
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Ensure necessary funds. Moving your loved one to another plot is a costly process ranging from $8,000 - $20,000, including documents, transportation, exhumation services, and working with cemetery directors.
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Schedule the transportation and exhumation. After you have secured the funding for the exhumation, you must schedule the necessary casket and headstone transportation and exhumation. Be sure to ask if your current cemetery can schedule and connect you with a transportation service or hearse. Once you have transportation planned, you can coordinate the actual exhumation, which you do not have to be present for. The exhumation should take between one to two days, while the entire exhumation and transportation process can take anywhere between two to four months.
The Cost to Move a Grave
Because the disinterment process can be costly, we want you and your family to understand the different costs you may face when moving a loved one’s grave.
Exhumation license:
- Varies from state to state
- Cost ranges from $50 to $500
Funeral director services:
- Costs for memorial service and ceremony planning
- Range from $1,000 to $3,000 depending on needs
Disinterment fees:
- Physical exhumation and transportation costs
- Range from $1,000 to $5,000
New cemetery costs:
- Purchase a new burial plot and headstone if needed
- Range from $5,000 to $10,000
Learn More About Relocating Your Loved One’s Grave
Want to learn more about the disinterment process and how the Milano Monuments family can guide you to ensure your loved one is moved safely and respectfully? Contact us to discuss additional questions or if your family is in need of this service.
