5 Options If You Move After Purchasing A Burial Plot In A Local Cemetery

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Prepaying for funeral expenses is becoming a popular way for people to prepare for their death and make sure their loved ones are taken care of once they pass away. One of the most common pre-purchased items is the burial plot. This is because burial plots are often purchased in cemeteries where your ancestors were buried, close to or next to your loved ones. Pre-purchasing a burial plot ensures that you will get the placement you want and that you will be able to afford the burial plot. However, it is also common for many people to move far away from their original home during their life. If you have moved, you may decide that you would rather be buried in your new location. Below are some options for dealing with your burial plot if you have moved away from the town it is in. 

Sell Your Plot Privately 

Once you purchase a cemetery plot, you will own the deed to that section of land and, in many cases, you can resell the land to a third party. Because cemeteries are continually filling, if you purchase a burial plot in a somewhat empty cemetery and then sell it twenty years later, the cemetery will likely be more crowded and you may get a better selling price than you paid for it. However, it is important to keep in mind that some cemeteries and districts do not allow individuals to sell their burial plot to a third party. Before you try to sell your plot, make sure that you are allowed to by checking with the cemetery you purchased it from. 

Sell Your Plot Back to the Cemetery 

If you are not allowed to sell your burial plot to a third party or you simply do not want to deal with a private sell, then you may consider selling your plot back to the cemetery. Most cemeteries will buy back a burial plot; however, they will often offer you slightly less than you originally paid for it. 

Give Your Plot to a Family Member 

If your burial plot is located in an area of the cemetery where your extended family is buried, then you may not want to sell it to a stranger or return it to the cemetery. In this case, you should consider giving the plot to someone in your family. You may have to consult with the cemetery in order to change the name on the plot deed, but there should not be any rules disallowing a transfer to a related family member. 

Exchange Your Plot for One In Your New Location 

Most cemeteries are part of a network of cemeteries with members in several areas across the United States. If your cemetery is part of a network, they may be able to exchange your plot for you. In some cases, the plot you currently own will be re-valued and you will be able to exchange it for its current worth. In other cases, you will be able to exchange your plot for a plot that is worth the original purchase price you paid. Either way, you may be able to exchange your current plot for a plot near your new location. 

Return to Your Plot to Be Buried

In some cases, you may decide that your best option is to return to your original home to be buried there. If you own a double plot with a spouse, this may be your best option. Similarly, if you want to be buried near your relatives, you may choose this option. The fee for transporting a body from one funeral home and receiving it at another varies from $1,800-$5,500

Purchasing a burial plot ahead of time is a good way to make sure you are buried where you want to be. However, it is important to consider what you will do with your burial plot if you move. You can continue reading more about this topic by following the link in this sentence.


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