Wednesday, 20 August 2008
Graves have to be dug to a sufficient depth to allow for future burials to take place. Therefore the grave needs to be deep enough to allow not only for the depth of coffins/caskets that will be buried but also to accommodate legal requirements of undisturbed earth to be between each coffin and the amount of earth that must cover the last interment.
Graves are prepared for burial at least one full day before the funeral and are covered overnight. The ICCM Guiding Principles for Burial Services states that immediately after the mourners have departed the graveside, the grave shall be entirely backfilled and made tidy.
Some cultures require that the grave is filled in while the family watch or they may wish to undertake the backfilling of the graves themselves. When families want this, it is essential that the cemetery staff are made aware of their requirements when the burial is first arranged. This will ensure that the family’s wishes are met.
Yes, but we need to be advised of this before the funeral takes place so that we are prepared.
With lawn graves, ‘almost’ immediately. You’ve probably heard rumours that the grave needs to sink for a year, and so you must wait for that time before putting up a memorial. This is not strictly true with regards to lawn graves. Most of our lawn sections have concrete grips that the headstone sits on, so there is no waiting for settlement.
The law stipulates that graves cannot be sold for more than 100 years and we cannot go against the law. However the law does permit grant of ownership to be extended and we accordingly write to owners every five years offering the opportunity to ‘top-up’ their lease. In this manner, the grave can stay in the family for a long as they wish, though ownership will never be issued, within Doncaster, for more than 75 years.
No. Graves cannot be opened without the permission in writing of the registered owner of the grave. The only exception to this is where the burial is to be that of the registered owner in which case no written authority is required.
When a grave is purchased to take two full body burials, the depth to which the grave is excavated for the first burial must take into account the need for the second burial. There are legal requirements as to how much earth must be left on top of the last coffin, and it is therefore not physically possible to put an extra coffin into the grave without breaking the law.
When you buy a grave you purchase the exclusive Rights of Burial in that grave for a set period of time. Should you not renew your lease options, then the exclusive rights of burial will eventually run out.
When you buy a grave you purchase the exclusive Rights of Burial in that grave for a set period of time. After the time has elapsed the grave then becomes the responsibility and property of Doncaster Council.
Ownership of the exclusive Right of Burial in a grave can be transferred from a deceased owner via that owner’s estate. The means of transfer can be very complex and while there is a set procedure to follow, each case must be looked at individually. If you need to transfer ownership when all owners are deceased you will need to contact us.
When a new grave is purchased it is not the ownership of the land itself that is purchased, but the rights to have burials take place in that grave. These rights are sold, or to be more correct, ‘granted’, together with the rights to erect a memorial on the grave in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Cemetery.
Prior to a memorial being erected on a grave space, the written authority of the owner of the grave must be given on the permit form, authorising the proposed erection. Memorials need to conform to cemetery regulations with regard to size and fixings, and the memorial also needs to be checked for stability under health and safety regulations.
It is against the law to disturb human remains without licence (including cremated remains in a casket or urn), and therefore no further burials will be possible in the grave until a licence has been obtained. Cremated remains can be buried in the grave at full depth, in which case they will not be disturbed by further full body burials, but by having to excavate a grave to this full depth there will be additional charges for opening the grave.
If you wish to trace your family tree or would just like to know where someone you knew has been laid to rest, you can enquire to Bereavement Services to find out more details.
To arrange this you will need to complete and return the form that is available below.
Bereavement Services staff will then carry out a record search, however this is only possible if the search relates to one of the sites listed below.
A fee of £5.00 will be charged for each individual search and Doncaster Council can not guarantee that the search will be successful.
To arrange this you will need to complete and return the form that is available below.
