Many cemeteries are owned and managed by the relevant local authorities in that area. The availability of grave spaces is regulated by the council who run the cemetery and some may operate a resident/ non-resident system of charging for the purchase of a grave and the cost of opening up ground for a burial. This system of resident / non-resident does not operate in Edinburgh.

When arranging a burial in an existing grave, we need to establish who is the legal owner of the grave – either by production of the Certificate of Right of Burial (Title Deed) or a search of cemetery records. To search the records, we will need the details of any person who is in the grave and the dates of their burial. Some local authorities insist that, where the grave owner is deceased, the grave is legally transferred into the ownership of the person arranging the funeral and there is usually a charge to do this. The grave also needs to be checked to ensure there is enough room for a further burial.

Your funeral director or arranger can advise you of the procedures required.