Transferring ownership of a grave

You will need to transfer ownership if the registered owner of the grave has died and you want to do any of the following:

• reopen the grave again for future interments;
• install a new memorial;
• install a new memorial to replace an existing memorial;
• install a new memorial on an existing memorial (for example, installing a vase or book memorial within the kerbing of an existing traditional grave);
• add an extra inscription to the memory of the grave owner on an existing memorial; or
• renovate an existing memorial.

We encourage the transfer of ownership for many reasons:

• It protects the rights of grave owners and their next of kin. This means that the correct person is entitled to full burial rights, which includes the right to put up a memorial.
• Although there may not be room for more burials, there is often space left to bury the remains of up to six cremations.
• We keep our records up to date so we can let the grave owner know if a memorial becomes dangerous or needs repairing.
• The Cemeteries Service can continue to provide a burial service within the legal regulations.
• The registered owner may want to extend the period of right to burial.

More information:

• Access to graves
• British Register of Accredited Memorial Masons (BRAMM)
• Fixing memorials
• Inscriptions and materials
• Memorial benches
• Memorial permits
• National Association of Memorial Masons
• Regulations (PDF 77Kb)
• Restrictions applying to areas in our cemeteries
• Safety, maintenance and insurance
• War memorials
• Who can authorise work to a memorial?

Contact us at:

Cemeteries Administration Office
St Edmundsbury Borough Council
West Suffolk House
Western Way
Bury St Edmunds
Suffolk
IP33 3YU

Phone: 01284 757068 or 757635
Fax: 01284 757066 
Email: cemetery.service@stedsbc.gov.uk