Here’s what else you need to know as you plan for your future and that of your loved ones:

• Family burial plot costs
• Cemetery property options
• Options for creating a mixed estate
• How your choices will impact the cost
• How to buy cemetery space
• How to save on family burial plots

Family burial plot costs

The cost of burial plots can vary significantly based on several factors, including the options you choose, the location of the cemetery and the location of the plots within the cemetery. For example, plots in the central part of a cemetery near a small pond will be pricier than plots near the back of a cemetery at the fenceline. Prices are also influenced by the city or region, with plots in urban areas or more desirable locations generally costing more than those in rural cemeteries.

Additional factors, such as whether a plot is double-depth or side-by-side, and whether you're building out an estate to include ground-burial spaces along with different types of cremation memorialization, will also affect the overall cost.

Discuss your preferences with a cemetery advisor to understand all the available options and how they will impact the price of the arrangements you choose. Typically, post-like cremation memorials are the least expensive option, while large, private mausoleums are the costliest. We can help you learn more about costs and find options for your budget.

Your options: family burial plots, companion graves and estates

Families who want to be memorialized together have a few options.

Family burial plots—or simply family plots—are groups of individual plots adjacent to one another in a community garden. When the family burial plots are enclosed by fences or surrounded on three sides by hedges or stone walls, family plots are sometimes referred to as family estates.

Companion graves are plots designed for two individuals, typically spouses, partners or close friends. These plots may allow for side-by-side caskets or urns or two caskets or urns stacked one above the other, which are also referred to double-depth plots. They may be part of a family estate.

When people in the same family want different things

People are different, and not everyone wants the same thing. Some family members may choose cremation, while others may prefer casket burial. A mixed estate keeps families who have different preferences together by incorporating cremation memorials with traditional casket burial, creating a cohesive, meaningful tribute within the family plot.

Cremation memorials include posts that hold one or two urns. These compact granite structures have beveled tops and can be easily personalized with a bronze plaque or engraving. Similarly, families may choose cremation benches, pedestals or boulders that hold urns and integrate seamlessly in an estate that includes traditional ground burials and other cremation memorials.

When you think of upright granite monuments, you likely think of stately granite blocks that mark the graves of loved ones. However, some also have bases designed to hold urns. A small monument to mark the burial of one person may also hold two or four urns in its base; a larger monument designed for a couple could mark a companion grave and accommodate the urns of six or eight family members.

A personal estate columbaria is generally a step up in size and cost from posts, benches pedestals or boulders. These cremation memorials are designed for two or four urns and can be installed alongside individual or companion burials. They are a truly elegant way to memorialize ashes.

Personal estate mausoleums are an exceptional addition to a family plot. These granite structures for private aboveground entombment come in a range of styles and generally include one to six crypts.

A private mausoleum is the grandest choice for families who want to be buried together. Often built to order, these walk-in structures can combine traditional above-ground burial crypts and niches for urns. They may include a place to sit inside or out, as well as other architectural details. 

How to buy cemetery space for yourself and your loved ones

When you’re ready to buy cemetery space for yourself and your family, first talk to your family.

Here are a few questions to ask before you contact a cemetery associate. Circulate the questions among family members via email or create a survey using a Google form.

1. What are your end-of-life preferences? Would you prefer to be buried in a casket or cremated?
2. If you prefer cremation, what type of cemetery memorial would you like?
3. Do you want to be buried or memorialized alongside other family members?
4. If yes, what is your preferred cemetery location (name, city, state)?
5. At that cemetery, do you have preferences regarding the environment, such as a certain garden?
6. What is your budget for cemetery space and memorialization?
7. How flexible are your preferences and budget?
8. How many generations should we plan for?
9. Do we want to consider a hedge estate or a gated estate?

Once you've gathered everyone's responses, have a family meeting to decide on the next steps. If there's not already a strong group consensus, this may include researching cemeteries and then reaching out to the cemetery for a visit. 

How to fund and save on family burial plots

According to the most recent data from the National Funeral Directors Association, the median cost of a funeral is $6,280 for a cremation with a viewing and memorial service, and $9,995 for a funeral with a viewing, service and vault. When adding in cemetery costs, the total median can exceed $10,000.

For many families, that's a hefty sum, especially if there's a sudden death and it's an unforeseen expense. A prepaid plan helps you avoid that budget shock and saves you money in the long term by locking in today’s prices. Buying cemetery property now also means your family has one less thing to worry about during a difficult time. 

Think about it. Talk to your family. When you're ready, your Dignity Memorial^® provider is here to help. We’re with you every step of the way until you're fully planned and prepared for the future.

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