Common Cemetery Terminology

Care and Maintenance Trust Fund

The trust fund established by the cemetery for the purpose of care and maintenance of the cemetery grounds and improvements thereon.

Certificate of Interment Right

The document by which the cemetery conveys to the owner the exclusive right of sepulture in a particular grave, lawn crypt, crypt or niche.

Crypt

A space in a mausoleum of sufficient size used, or intended to be used, to entomb human remains.

Endowment Care

Sometimes referred to as "Permanent Care" or "Perpetual Care" represents funds deposited into a fund established by Section 301 of the State of Pennsylvania Cemetery Laws for the purpose of care, maintenance and preservation of the lots and grounds, and the repair and renewal of the buildings and property connected with and forming a part of the cemetery.

Entombment

The placement of human remains in a crypt.

Grave

A space of ground in the cemetery used, or intended to be used, for the interment of human remains.

Interment

The disposition of human remains by burial, entombment, or inurnment.

Interment Right

The particular right to inter the remains of a deceased person in a specific interment space within a cemetery, subject to the limitations set forth by the cemetery.

Interment Services

The opening and closing of a particular interment space. Some cemeteries include some or all of the following as part of the opening and closing charge: tent, greens, matting, a lowering device, periodic tamping or compaction of the grave dirt, periodic leveling and seeding.

Interment Space

The particular grave, crypt, niche or lawn crypt with the cemetery to which a particular Interment Right relates. An owner of an Interment Right, does not, by virtue of such ownership, acquire ownership of the interment space or of any land or improvements within the cemetery.

Inurnment

The placement of cremated remains into a niche.

Lawn Crypt

Preplaced, below ground chambers, either side-by-side or multiple depth, covered by earth and sod.

Memorial

A monument, tombstone, grave marker, tablet or headstone identifying a grave or graves or a nameplate or inscription identifying a crypt or niche.

Niche

A space used, or intended to be used, for inurnment of cremated human remains.

Outer Burial Container

A rigid outer container used to surround a casket or a cremated remains container, and shall include the products commonly known as vaults and grave liners. Although not required by Pennsylvania law, they are required by most cemeteries to reduce sinkage and collapse of the earth above the casket.

Owner

The owner of an Interment Right or Rights within the cemetery, as reflected in the cemetery's records.

Plot

A space in the cemetery used, or intended to be used, for the interment of human remains. The term includes and applies to one or more adjoining graves, one or more adjoining crypts, or one or more adjoining niches.

Purchase Agreement

The written contract between the cemetery and a purchaser pursuant to which the cemetery agrees to sell and the purchaser agrees to buy Interment Rights in the cemetery.

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