How to Plan on Companion Headstones or Family Plots

Are you or your family members interested in making an eternal investment? Pre-planning is one of the smartest things you can do when it comes to those end-of-life services that no one likes to discuss. While both the costs of burial and cremation continue to rise, many families are purchasing burial plots well in advance of death or any burial need. These preemptive purchases are made for many reasons, but the hope of keeping a family together is one that is too attractive to waste. In this article, we explain how to plan companion headstones or family plots so that you can make the most of your final resting place. With this information, you can proceed with confidence and make the best decision for you and your spouse or family.

What Is a Companion Plot?

Companion plots are two burial plots that are sold together, usually to couples. Companion options consist of either two side-by-side burial plots or a single plot in which two caskets can be buried on top of each other. Otherwise known as “double depth” plots, these type of companion plots are often more affordable than their side-by-side counterparts.

What Is a Family Plot?

Family plots are small cemetery areas that are purchased by a single family. Family plots contain one large headstone that is engraved with the family name or surname. Each family member will have an individual headstone or footstone to identify every buried location. Family plots might also be easier to purchase than multiple plots or crypts.

Purchasing Companion or Family Plots

When you buy a burial plot or a mausoleum crypt from a cemetery, you are not technically purchasing the land that is used for burial. Instead, you are purchasing the right to be buried in that plot or crypt. Interment rights give investors the right to determine who can be buried in the grave or crypt and what kind of memorialization will be placed there. The land, however, remains the property and responsibility of the cemetery. Right of first refusal refers to the right to be offered a deal on cemetery plots before it is offered to anyone else. Most cemeteries do not offer right of first refusal on the plots or crypts that surround a group of plots or crypts you purchased, so there is a chance that you might not be able to secure any adjacent burial properties in the hope of expanding your family plot.

Deciding between purchasing a companion or family plot can be difficult, but funeral property real estate is a profitable investment with a bright future no matter which way you choose. As the cost of cremation services continues to rise and cemeteries continue to run out of burial space, your decision to buy is a critical one. In five to 10 years, you might decide that you don’t want to be buried after all or that a communal plot is not right for you. Whether you are purchasing a burial plot to use yourself or sell for a profit, research suggests that plots will only continue to appreciate in value. Buying a burial plot is not a decision to take lightly or make hastily. Before making a purchase, you should discuss any plans with other family members to ensure that your arrangements suit everyone’s needs. If you have any questions about this article or our selection of memorial markers, please contact Legacy Headstones today for additional information or further assistance.