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

Burial (interment)

Fees are trebled where the deceased was not 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 actually 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.

No burial may take place in the grave and no memorial may be placed on the grave without the written permission of the grave owner during the period of the Exclusive Rights.

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 £94.

The grave owner can assign the Exclusive Rights of Burial, during their lifetime, to another individual. The owner should fill in an assignment form.

If the grave has not been used for burial the owner can surrender the Exclusive Rights of Burial. The owner should fill in a renunciation form. The surrender value is the original purchase price as specified on the Deed of Grant. Contact us for guidance about surrendering rights.

The procedure for establishing grave ownership when the original owner has died, depends upon whether there is a will. If there is a family dispute solicitors may need to resolve this.

Transfer where there is a valid will

If the deceased grave owner has made a valid will and left an estate of sufficient value to require the grant of probate to executors, ownership of the grave can be transferred to the executor.

The person applying must produce a sealed copy of the grant of probate. They must also fill in the transfer - grant of probate form.

If the estate is not of sufficient value, ownership may be transferred to the executor named in the will by Statutory Declaration and the production of the will.

It is the executor’s responsibility to identify the correct person for the transfer of ownership. They must fill in the assent form to agree to the transfer.

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

Transfer where there is no valid will

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

• there is no will
• the will is not valid and the estate is of sufficient value as to require a Grant of Letters of Administration

The person applying must produce 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. The person applying must fill in the assent form to agree to the transfer.

Transfer where there are no Executors or Letters of Administration

If there are no Executors or Letters of Administration have not been granted, the rules of intestacy apply as laid down in the Administration of Estate Act 1925.

The person applying for transfer of ownership should complete a Statutory Declaration. Statutory Declarations are legal documents and must be signed in the presence of a Magistrate or Commissioner for Oaths.

The Statutory Declaration should 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

The original Deed of Grant and a certified copy of the owner’s death certificate should accompany the Declaration. Where the Deed has been lost, suitable wording should be incorporated within the declaration to the effect.

It is essential that the written agreement of all the next of kin of the deceased owner to the transfer of ownership are obtained and attached to the Declaration.

Examples of transfers