Burials and graves

Buying a grave

The cost of arranging a burial is made up of 2 elements:

• the cost of leasing the section of land or grave
• the cost of opening the grave which is the burial or interment

At present new graves are allocated as required from section F. This is in the centre of the cemetery. You may select a grave but there will be a selection charge. There is an extra cost for graves alongside pathways or at the front or end of a row.

Graves are sold on a 75-year lease period.

The maximum number of burials that can take place in a purchased grave is 2, or 6 for cremated remains.

Burial (interment)

Fees are trebled where the deceased was not a resident in the borough. Fees for non-residents can be found on our fees page.

Cost of lease - exclusive rights of burial (deed of grant)

These costs are for a period of 75 years. This can be extended towards the end of the lease but cannot exceed 99 years.

Refer to the full list of cemetery fees for any associated fees and fees for non-residents.

Exclusive Right of Burial

When you buy a grave at Easthampstead Park Cemetery, what you are buying is the Exclusive Right of Burial for a specific period of 75 years. You are not buying the grave freehold. It is more like purchasing a lease.

During the period of Exclusive Rights, you must get the grave owner's written permission:

• for a burial to take place in the grave
• to place a memorial on the grave

Deed of Grant

The council’s records contain the details of the registered grave owners. However, it is important that the grave owners keep their Deed of Grant somewhere safe.

We issue the Deed of Grant when the grave is first purchased. It should be produced for each burial. Possession of the Deed does not in itself signify ownership of the Exclusive Rights.

Transfer and surrender of grave ownership

Ownership can be transferred either during the owner’s lifetime or after their death. The current deed transfer fee is £99.

The grave owner can assign the Exclusive Rights of Burial to another person during their lifetime. To do this, the owner will need to fill in an assignment form.

If the grave has not been used for burial, the owner can surrender the Exclusive Rights of Burial. To do this, the owner will need to fill in a renunciation form.

The surrender value is the original purchase price as specified on the Deed of Grant.

If the original owner has died, the process for establishing grave ownership depends on whether they had a will. A solicitor may need to find a resolution if there is a family dispute.

Transfers 

A valid will is in place

Ownership of the grave can be transferred to the named executor of the will.

If the owner's estate needs a grant of probate, the applicant must:

• provide a sealed copy of the grant of probate
• complete a transfer form

If the estate does not need a grant of probate, the applicant must provide:

• the will
• a completed Statutory Declaration

It is then the executor’s responsibility to identify the correct person for the transfer of ownership.

To find out if a will was made and how to search for it visit finding a person's will on GOV.UK.

A valid will is not in place

The grave can be transferred to the personal representative of the deceased if:

• there is no will
• the will is not valid and the value of the estate requires a Grant of Letters of Administration

The person applying must provide a sealed copy of the Grant of Letters of Administration form.

It is then the applicant’s responsibility to identify the correct person for transfer of ownership.

There are no executors or Letters of Administration

When there are no executors or Letters of Administration, the rules of intestacy apply.

The person applying for the transfer of ownership should complete a Statutory Declaration.

The Statutory Declaration must clearly set out the facts about:

• the original purchase of the Exclusive Rights of Burial
• the death of the registered owner
• intestate or otherwise
• the relationship of the person applying to the registered owner

Along with the declaration, the applicant must also include:

• the original Deed of Grant
• a certified copy of the owner’s death certificate
• written permission from all members of the deceased owner's next of kin

Where the Deed of Grant has been lost, an explanation must be included in the declaration.

Read about the rules of intestacy on GOV.UK.

Examples of transfers