Cemetery Terms Decoded — What They Mean and Why They Matter

September 9, 2025

Cemetery terminology can feel unfamiliar at a moment when clarity matters most. This guide explains the most common property types in plain language, so you can compare options, plan with confidence, and avoid surprises—whether you’re buying, selling, or simply preparing for the future.

Quick Glossary (At a Glance)

Grave Plot: Traditional in-ground burial space.
Double/Companion Plot: Two adjacent in-ground spaces (side-by-side) or a single space designed for two interments (double depth).
Niche: Small enclosure for an urn, typically within a columbarium (indoor or outdoor).
Columbarium: A structure that contains many niches.
Crypt: Above-ground burial space for a casket, usually within a mausoleum.
Mausoleum: A building that houses crypts (and sometimes niches). Can be public (community) or private (family).
Interment Rights / Burial Rights: The right to be interred in a specific space (not necessarily land ownership).
Transfer: The legal process of changing ownership/rights from seller to buyer, with cemetery approval.

Grave Plots (In-Ground Burial)

What it is:
A defined space in the ground for a casket or urn burial. This is the traditional option most people envision.

Considerations:

Location: Sections, gardens, religious or veterans’ areas may affect availability and price.
Markers: Flat markers vs upright headstones; some sections limit style/size.
Double depth: One plot designed for two interments (one above the other) can be cost-efficient and space-saving.
Maintenance fees: Many cemeteries charge perpetual care or maintenance fees.

Good fit for: Families who value tradition, personal monuments, or a connection to a specific section or faith area.

Double/Companion Plots

What it is:
Either two side-by-side plots or a single plot permitted for two interments (double depth).

Considerations:

Rules vary: Not all cemeteries allow double depth; confirm in advance.
Monument planning: Companion headstones are common—check size/type rules.

Good fit for:
Spouses or family members who want to be interred together in one place.

Niches (Cremation)

What it is:
A small compartment for cremated remains (an urn). Typically found in a columbarium, indoors or outdoors.

Considerations:

Fronts: Glass, bronze, marble, or granite fronts; personalization rules differ.
Capacity: Some niches allow companion urns; verify dimensions.
Setting: Indoor chapels vs garden walls affect ambiance and visitation preferences.

Good fit for:
Families choosing cremation who want a permanent, dignified place for visitation and remembrance.

Columbaria

What it is:
A freestanding structure or chapel wall composed of many niches.

Considerations:

Environment: Climate-controlled indoor spaces vs open-air garden settings.
Aesthetics: Architecture, artwork, and landscaping may be meaningful factors.
Availability: In sold-out cemeteries for plots, niches within a columbarium may still be available.

Good fit for:
Those seeking a serene, often beautiful shared space with lower footprint and typically lower cost than in-ground plots.

Crypts & Mausoleums (Above-Ground Burial)

What they are:
A crypt is an above-ground burial chamber for a casket. A mausoleum is the larger structure that houses many crypts (and sometimes niches). Mausoleums can be public/community or private/family.

Considerations:

Cost: Typically higher than in-ground plots due to construction and maintenance.
Environment: Clean, dry, and accessible in all seasons; often preferred for comfort during visits.
Privacy: Private family mausoleums offer exclusivity at a premium.
Personalization: Plaques, bronze fronts, and family name engravings vary by cemetery rules.

Good fit for:
Families who value above-ground interment, a controlled environment, and the symbolism of permanence and dignity.

Other Terms You’ll Encounter

Opening & Closing: The cemetery’s fee for preparing a space (e.g., digging a grave, sealing a crypt) and closing it afterward.
Perpetual Care / Endowment Care: Ongoing maintenance fee for grounds and structures.
Outer Burial Container / Vault: A protective container for the casket; some cemeteries require it.
Deed / Certificate of Interment Rights: Documentation proving rights to the space; required for transfers.
Section/Block/Lot/Space: The coordinates identifying the exact location.

Costs & Availability: What Drives Price

Cemetery popularity & location: Historic or urban cemeteries may command higher prices.
Property type: Mausoleum crypts generally cost more than plots; niches are often less than in-ground.
Rules & personalization: Marker styles, engraving, and niche fronts influence total cost.
Demand cycles: Seasonal factors and local demographics can affect market price and time-to-sale.

Tip: On the secondary market, buyers often see savings compared to retail cemetery pricing, and sellers can recover meaningful value from unused property—especially in sold-out cemeteries.

How Transfers Work (Plain English)

Verify ownership: Seller provides proof of interment rights.
Cemetery approval: Cemetery confirms the rights and approves the new owner.
Paperwork & signatures: Cemetery-specific forms (sometimes notarized).
Record the new owner: Cemetery updates records; buyer receives documentation.

Timelines vary by cemetery, but many transfers complete within 3–10 business days once paperwork is in motion.

Common Misconceptions (And the Reality)

“Buying secondhand isn’t legal.”
Transfers are legal with proper documentation and cemetery approval.
“Resale buyers get fewer rights.”
Once transferred, buyers receive the same interment rights the original owner held.
“Only plots can be resold.”
Many rights types (plots, niches, some crypts) can be transferred—check cemetery policy.

Using Modern Marketplaces

Online marketplaces make it easier to search by property type, compare options, and understand rules before you inquire. Platforms like Eturnal Rest™ surface details such as cemetery name, section, property type, and transfer notes—so families can move forward with clarity.

FAQs

Q: What’s the difference between a niche and a columbarium?
A niche is the individual compartment for an urn; a columbarium is the structure that contains many niches.

Q: Can two people be interred in one plot?
Often yes—through double-depth arrangements or companion plots. Always confirm with the cemetery.

Q: Do resale buyers pay cemetery fees too?
Usually yes. Fees like opening/closing, transfer, and perpetual care may apply regardless of where you purchased the rights.

Q: Are private mausoleums different from community mausoleums?
Yes. Private mausoleums are family-owned structures; community mausoleums are shared buildings with individual crypts.

Key Takeaways

Cemetery property types differ in cost, space, personalization, and availability.
Understanding terms helps families compare options with confidence.
Transfers are legal and secure with cemetery approval and proper documentation.
Modern marketplaces (like Eturnal Rest™) make browsing, filtering, and transferring more straightforward.

Next Steps

Ready to explore options that fit your family’s wishes?

Back to blog