How to Choose a Cemetery

The Big Picture

Why Your Choice Matters

Choosing a cemetery is one of the most permanent decisions a family will ever make. Unlike most purchases, you cannot easily switch cemeteries once a loved one has been laid to rest. This is a choice that lasts for generations — and one that your children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren will live with every time they visit.

There are over 144,000 cemeteries in the United States, and the quality varies enormously. Some are beautifully maintained memorial parks with professional landscaping, paved roads, and dedicated staff. Others are poorly funded, understaffed, and showing visible signs of neglect. The difference between the two often comes down to a few key factors: perpetual care funding, length of operation, and the company behind the cemetery.

The cost of cemetery property, the services offered, and the level of ongoing maintenance differ widely from one provider to the next. A cemetery that looks appealing in a brochure may have restrictive policies or an uncertain financial future. The right cemetery provides lasting comfort and peace — a place where your family genuinely wants to visit and reflect.

Taking the time to ask the right questions before you buy can save your family from lasting regret. This guide walks you through the 10 most important questions, the red flags to watch for, and what to look for when you visit in person.

The Essential Checklist

10 Questions to Ask Before Choosing a Cemetery

These are the questions that separate a wise choice from a regrettable one. Ask every one of them — and pay close attention to how the cemetery responds. A reputable provider will welcome your questions and answer them clearly.

1. Is Perpetual Care Included?

Perpetual care is a commitment by the cemetery to maintain the grounds indefinitely — mowing, landscaping, road repairs, drainage, tree care, and building maintenance. It is the single most important factor in whether a cemetery will still look beautiful 50 or 100 years from now.

Some cemeteries include perpetual care in the price of every property purchase. Others charge it as a separate "endowment fee" on top of the plot price, which can add hundreds or even thousands of dollars to your total cost. Ask exactly what perpetual care covers and whether the funds are held in a state-regulated trust.

At Life Remembered, perpetual care is included in every property purchase. There are no surprise endowment fees, and our perpetual care funds are state-regulated to ensure the grounds are maintained regardless of what the future holds.

2. What Services Do They Offer?

Not all cemeteries offer the same range of services. Some provide only traditional ground burial. Others offer burial, cremation placement, and mausoleum entombment. If your family has not yet decided between burial and cremation — or if different family members prefer different options — it is important to choose a cemetery that offers all three so everyone has flexibility.

Beyond the type of interment, ask about memorialization options, family estate sections, and whether the cemetery coordinates with local funeral homes. A full-service cemetery can simplify the entire process for your family.

If you are still weighing your options, our burial vs. cremation guide can help you compare. You can also explore the full range of services Life Remembered offers across our 26 memorial parks.

3. Do You Understand the Full Cost?

Before committing to any cemetery, make sure you understand the complete cost picture. Cemetery pricing can vary widely depending on the location, the type of service, and the specific section within the park. Ask the cemetery to walk you through what is included in the price and whether there are any additional fees you should be aware of.

Some common costs to ask about include opening and closing fees, foundation or installation charges for memorials, and whether perpetual care is included or charged separately. The goal is not necessarily to get a line-item breakdown of every charge, but to make sure you have a clear understanding of the total investment before you move forward.

At Life Remembered, our Family Advisors will walk you through all costs upfront so there are no surprises. Visit our pricing page for general cost ranges across burial, cremation, and mausoleum options, or contact us for a personalized quote.

4. What Payment Plans Are Available?

Cemetery property is a significant purchase, and not every family can pay the full amount upfront. Ask about monthly payment options, credit requirements, and how long you have to pay. Understanding your financing options helps you plan confidently.

Life Remembered offers flexible payment plans on many cemetery property purchases, making it possible to secure your family's future resting place without financial strain. Our Peace of Mind Package bundles cemetery property, memorialization, and opening and closing fees into one simple plan starting at just $250 per month — less than $9 per day.

Learn more about the Peace of Mind Package and how it can work for your family.

5. How Long Has the Cemetery Been Operating?

Cemetery companies can and do go bankrupt. When they do, the grounds can fall into disrepair, records can be lost, and families are left without recourse. A cemetery with decades of continuous operation under stable management is a much safer choice than a newer operation with an unproven track record.

Ask how long the cemetery has been in business, whether ownership has changed hands recently, and what the company's long-term plans are for the property. Frequent ownership changes can be a warning sign of financial instability.

Life Remembered has been serving families since 1956 — over 70 years of continuous operation. That kind of longevity does not happen without a deep commitment to the families we serve and the properties we maintain.

6. Can I Visit the Grounds Before Purchasing?

Always visit a cemetery in person before making a purchase. No brochure, website, or sales presentation can substitute for walking the grounds yourself. When you visit, check the overall maintenance: Are the lawns mowed and edged? Are the roads paved and in good condition? Is the landscaping professional? Are headstones level and clean? Are water features functioning?

Walk the specific section where you would purchase — not just the showcase area near the entrance. Ask to see both the newest and oldest sections of the cemetery. The oldest sections will tell you a lot about how well the cemetery maintains its perpetual care commitments over time.

Ready to see the difference for yourself? Find and visit a Life Remembered park near you.

7. What Are the Rules on Memorials and Decorations?

Every cemetery has its own policies about what types of markers, flowers, flags, and personal decorations are permitted. Some cemeteries are very restrictive — requiring flat, flush markers only with no upright monuments. Others allow a wide range of memorial styles, including upright granite headstones, bronze markers, benches, and custom monuments.

Ask for the written decoration and memorial policy before you buy. Make sure you understand what is and is not allowed in the specific section you are considering. Policies can vary even within the same cemetery depending on the section.

At Life Remembered, we offer a variety of memorialization options to help families honor their loved ones in meaningful ways. For specific guidelines, visit our floral policy, flag policy, and cemetery etiquette pages.

8. Do They Have Options for Veterans?

If you or your spouse served in the military, the cemetery you choose should have experience working with veterans and their families. Ask about dedicated veterans sections, coordination with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs for burial benefits, assistance with military honors at the graveside, and help with government-issued headstones and markers.

Not all cemeteries have the staff expertise or the infrastructure to properly serve veterans. A cemetery with a dedicated veterans program can help ensure your service is honored with the dignity it deserves — and that your family takes full advantage of the benefits you have earned.

Life Remembered is proud to maintain dedicated veterans sections at many of our parks and provides full VA benefit coordination for eligible families. Learn more about our veterans services.

9. Is the Location Convenient for Your Family?

Think carefully about who will visit most often and how far they will need to travel. A stunning cemetery two hours from your family's home may receive far fewer visits than a well-maintained park just 15 minutes away. Over the years and decades ahead, convenience plays a surprisingly large role in how often your family actually visits.

Consider the driving routes, parking availability, and whether the cemetery is in an area your family feels comfortable visiting at different times of day and in different seasons. If multiple family members live in different areas, a centrally located cemetery can make visits easier for everyone.

Life Remembered operates 26 memorial parks across Pennsylvania, Ohio, Maryland, South Carolina, and North Carolina. Search by state or zip code to find the park nearest to your family.

10. What Happens If the Cemetery Changes Ownership?

This is a question most families never think to ask — but it is one of the most important. Cemetery property is purchased with the expectation that it will be cared for permanently. But what happens if the cemetery is sold, merged, or the operating company faces financial difficulty?

The answer lies in the perpetual care trust fund. Ask whether the cemetery's perpetual care funds are held in a state-regulated trust, how much is in the fund, and whether it is sufficient to maintain the grounds in perpetuity. A properly funded, state-regulated trust ensures that grounds maintenance continues regardless of who owns or operates the cemetery in the future.

Life Remembered's perpetual care trust funds are state-regulated in every jurisdiction where we operate. This means the money set aside for grounds maintenance is protected by law and cannot be diverted for other purposes — giving families confidence that their loved ones' resting places will be cared for indefinitely.

Protect Yourself

Red Flags to Watch For

Most cemeteries are reputable operations run by people who genuinely care about the families they serve. But not all of them are. Here are the warning signs that should give you pause:

• Poorly maintained grounds. Overgrown grass, sunken graves, damaged or toppled headstones, crumbling roads, and broken infrastructure are signs that the cemetery's perpetual care fund may be underfunded or mismanaged.
• No perpetual care guarantee or vague language about maintenance. If the cemetery cannot clearly explain what perpetual care covers and how it is funded, proceed with caution.
• No physical office or hard to reach by phone. A cemetery should have a staffed office, regular business hours, and responsive communication. If you cannot reach anyone, imagine how difficult it will be when your family needs assistance.
• Will not let you visit the grounds. You should be free to walk the grounds during operating hours. A cemetery that restricts access may be hiding maintenance issues.
• Unclear total cost. You should be able to get a clear understanding of what your total investment will be before making a commitment. If a cemetery is vague about costs or you keep discovering additional fees, that is worth noting.
• No clear policy on decorations, flowers, or markers. If the cemetery cannot provide written policies, you risk discovering restrictions after you have already purchased.
• Recently changed ownership multiple times. Frequent ownership changes can indicate financial instability and may result in inconsistent maintenance and service quality.

Practical Advice

Visiting Before You Decide

An in-person visit is the single most important step in choosing a cemetery. Photos and brochures can be misleading — nothing replaces the experience of walking the grounds yourself and seeing the maintenance, landscaping, and atmosphere firsthand.

How to Make the Most of Your Visit

• Visit at least 2-3 cemeteries before deciding. Comparing multiple locations gives you a frame of reference. What looks acceptable on its own may pale in comparison to a better-maintained property — or vice versa.
• Go on different days. Visit on a weekday and again on a weekend to see whether maintenance quality is consistent. Some cemeteries look their best on weekends when they expect more visitors, but fall behind during the week.
• Walk the specific section where you would purchase. Do not just tour the showcase area near the main entrance. Ask to see the exact sections that are available for sale, and walk them thoroughly.
• Ask to see both the newest and oldest sections. The oldest sections reveal how well the cemetery honors its perpetual care commitments over time. If the oldest areas are neglected while the newest sections are pristine, that tells you something important.
• Look at the infrastructure. Are the roads paved and well-maintained? Is the landscaping professional? Are water features clean and functioning? Are the buildings in good repair? These details reflect the overall management quality.
• Talk to families visiting. If you see other visitors, a polite and respectful conversation can provide invaluable insight. Ask about their experience with the cemetery, the staff, and how well the grounds have been maintained over the years.
• Bring a camera. Respectfully photograph the sections you are considering so you can compare them later. Do not photograph other visitors or active services — focus on the grounds, markers, and infrastructure.

The Life Remembered Difference

Why Families Choose Life Remembered

When you measure Life Remembered against the 10 questions above, we believe the answers speak for themselves. Here is why over 3,700 families choose us every year:

• 70+ years of continuous operation. Life Remembered has been serving families since 1956. Our longevity reflects a deep, generational commitment to the families and communities we serve.
• 26 memorial parks across five states. We operate beautiful, professionally maintained cemeteries across Pennsylvania, Ohio, Maryland, South Carolina, and North Carolina — making it easy to find a location convenient for your family.
• Perpetual care included in every purchase. There are no surprise endowment fees. Perpetual care — covering lawn maintenance, road repairs, tree care, drainage, and building upkeep — is included in every property purchase, period.
• All service types available. Whether your family chooses traditional burial, cremation placement, mausoleum entombment, or a private family estate, we offer the full range of options so you never have to compromise.
• Clear pricing with flexible payment plans. Our Family Advisors walk you through all costs upfront, and we offer flexible monthly payment plans on many purchases so you can plan on your terms.
• Dedicated veterans sections with VA benefit coordination. We are proud to honor those who served with dedicated veterans sections, military honors assistance, and full coordination with the Department of Veterans Affairs.
• Peace of Mind Package from $250/month. Our most popular pre-planning option bundles everything into one simple monthly payment — cemetery property, memorialization, and opening and closing fees — starting at just $250 per month.
• 3,700+ families served annually. Year after year, thousands of families trust us with this important decision. That trust is earned through consistent service, transparency, and genuine care.
• State-regulated perpetual care trust funds. Our perpetual care funds are held in state-regulated trusts in every jurisdiction where we operate, ensuring grounds maintenance continues in perpetuity regardless of future ownership changes.