Q&A for How to Sell a Burial Plot

Another great site for selling burial plots of land is Zillow. Though it's mainly known for residential real estate, Zillow also allows you to list burial plots. Plus, when you list on Zillow, your ad also gets exposure on its affiliate sites, such as Trulia, so it spreads and has more visibility to people.

As proof of ownership? No. At time of need, they will require proof of transfer. It has to be deeded to the new buyer.

Cemeteries can buy back if they want and they set the prices. You are better off selling it through a third party source. (Craigslist, for example). To sell a plot, you need to write the ad in a very unique and appealing way. Usually people don't react to cemetery ads.

Easy, call the cemetery and ask for the price, they are obligated to give you that. Cemeteries usually have a discount every month. For example, if a plot is being sold for $10,000 you could get a discount of 10 to 20% depending on the incentive for the month. That means the plot is being sold for around 8-9K. Keep in mind that cemeteries give benefits and payment plans, so you might want to sell for less than that. You can probably sell it for 5-6k.

Start with Craigslist, but keep in mind that you have to almost let them go for 50% of current pricing.

The cemetery office can help you with that. Take your IDs. The rights are always given to the next of kin. Usually the person that can help you with that is a Family Service Counselor. Just ask if you can meet with one of them, but again, it will be at the cemetery office. The mortuary would probably just direct you to them.

The cemeteries buy at their discretion. It has to make sense financially. For example, if the current price is $1300, then they will offer you no more than 50% for those or even 30% which is usually the case. Cemeteries are not obligated to buy back though. If they have plenty of inventory in that section, usually they say no to buying back. They can credit you an amount to buy something else, sometimes including funeral packages.

The cemetery where I own property has a $250 transfer fee. However, this varies, so you should contact the cemetery you are referring to and ask about the transfer fee.

We recommend either cash, or certified check or cashier's check. Once you receive your funds, you need to take a few minutes and contact the bank on the check and verify that it is a valid account and that there are funds to cover it.

Yes, you can also be on the deed (right of interment). You never own the space, you only own the right to be buried there.

It sounds like she had a double space. If that is the case, it is not possible to sell it because a double space is one property made double, same space for double burial, they just dig a little deeper for the first burial. I am assuming your great aunt is using the first one at the bottom. You can only sell it if it's a side-by-side (next to each other), that is two separate properties.

I wanted to answer your question but I don't know if I understood correctly. Cemeteries do buy plots back at about 30% (average) of current pricing unless they have no more spaces available in that section and it is a hot selling area. In that case, they might go a little higher but not much more. On the other hand, if they have plenty of inventory in that section (not the whole cemetery, just that specific section) they only buy it back if you are buying more property within the park.

Yes. Of course you can only sell a grave space that is unoccupied. It is very difficult today to sell traditional burial property, since so many are opting for cremation. If you are going to sell your cemetery property, be open to selling individually.

You ultimately own the deed and interment rights to your cemetery property in CA. Your son can certainly list your property for sale, but you will need to check with the cemetery to see what paperwork the need from you ahead of time so they can act as your proxy when you finally present a buyer.

Try listing them online instead. There are a handful of websites out there that specialize in the resale of cemetery plots. Unlike brokers, these websites will not charge a commission to sell your plots. They range quite a bit in price and some are definitely better than others. After comparing them all, I found gravesales.com to be affordable and easy to use, but you can obviously advertise on more than one site if you'd like.

If you are the next of kin and actual owner, yes. If other relatives own part of it, you need to get them to accept transferring the property to the new buyers.

No; that would be a waste of time and money. An attorney is not needed unless there are extenuating circumstances. Generally, once you have a buyer, you simply need to meet them at the cemetery office and a cemetery employee will help you with the transfer. There is usually a fee related to the transfer. Many cemeteries charge between $100-$300 to do the paperwork. Don't waste more money on an attorney when you don't need to.

When you let the cemetery know that you are selling your interment rights on the open market, let them know that you are out of state and could not be present for a deed transfer once you secured a buyer. Ask the cemetery if there is anything that you can complete ahead of time so the cemetery can transfer the deed in your absence. Some cemeteries will have you complete affidavits, etc. beforehand, while some cemeteries tell you to wait until you have an interested buyer.

Not necessarily any laws, but the restrictions and regulations of Catholic cemeteries. Many Catholic cemeteries do not allow you to sell your interment rights on the open market. Just verify with the cemetery and ask them what they need from you ahead of time so that when you do find a buyer, they can act as your proxy and transfer the deed in your absence.

Yes. However, you cannot sell them for more than what the cemetery charges the public.

Yes. You should always give your cemetery a courtesy call to let them know and to find out if the cemetery will allow you to sell your interment rights on the open market. There are some cemeteries that do not allow it.

Not true. This is called a companion space. It means that when the original grave space was purchased, a second right of interment was also purchased. However, if it is a companion space and it is already occupied by one casket, you cannot sell the second right.

Power of attorney is only good if the person who owns the trust is alive. You must have power of administration and Letters of Administration, and you must be the appointed personal representative of the estate of the decedent to perform the above (at least in the state of Florida).

If the cemetery has provided you with a deed, this means that you have paid for your interment right(s) in full. When the term "cemetery property" is used, it does not mean that you actually own property. You own the right to bury someone in that space.

Absolutely not! They should pay fair market price today, minus a percentage. Don't let the cemetery rip you off!

Yes. The purchaser sets the rights holders, and then whoever are the rights holders control the property. In some states that also extends to the spouse's of any rights holders.

Assuming the cemetery won’t buy them back, decide if you want to try to sell them on your own or contact a broker. Selling on your own in bulk is difficult, most buyers want one or maybe two, but you could try craigslist.org or eBay.com. Some brokers will purchase them outright depending on location at no cost to you. This online broker is free to list with and may make a cash offer, buyorsellaplot.com, while there are others who may charge a listing, or transaction fee such as plotbrokers.com.

Check with your cemetery. Each cemetery has their own policies and procedures for the transfer of deed.

Donate your body to science, e.g., local medical university or place like MedCure.