Planning a Family Plot

A family plot keeps generations together. Planning it well — before it's needed — saves stress and often money.

How many graves?

Think about:

• Parents and any unmarried children.
• Married children — will they want to be with their spouse's family?
• Cremation — several urns can often go in one grave; see burying ashes in a family grave.
• Double-depth graves — see double-depth burial.

Monument options

• A central family monument with the surname, plus small individual markers.
• A large monument carrying every name.
• Individual headstones in a row.

See family monument vs individual markers.

Rules and costs

Ask the cemetery about:

• Lot sizes available.
• Monument size limits for the section — see height limits.
• Care fund contributions.
• Who can be buried — some require family relationships.

See cemetery plot cost factors.

Paperwork

Name who holds the rights and who decides after you're gone. Record it in your will and tell your family. See how to transfer plot ownership.

Leaving room for the future

Family plots are often used over decades. Leave space on a central monument for names yet to come, record the font and layout, and choose granite your monument company can match in the future. See matching a new headstone to an existing one.

Key Takeaways

• Plan for parents, children and cremation space.
• A central monument with markers is a classic layout.
• Check lot sizes, monument limits and care funds.
• Record who holds the rights.

Next Step

See pre-need headstone planning and family mausoleums.