Are Traditional Earth Burial Plots the Right Decision?

Traditional Earth burial Plots are the type of burial that most of us are familiar with. In many traditional funeral services, the casket goes from the funeral home to the church and then onto the cemetery where it is then lowered in the ground. This type of burial is the most common as of this writing, although cremation services are likely to become the preferred method of burial in the near future.

Traditional Earth Burial Plots

Most of us have seen, attended, and have even witnessed on TV the use of traditional Earth burial plots. These are plots that are dug into the ground to receive the casket. The grave itself is usually reinforced somehow to ensure that the ground stays even from the top once the burial is complete.

Historically, burial plots were more like mounds of dirt used to cover up the body of a loved. This made cemeteries difficult places to walk because the grave sites were highly uneven. Today, with the help of the reinforcement, you can visit a loved one and find that over time the only way to discern his or her burial is from the grave marker.

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It's not uncommon for people to purchase their plots while they are alive, often reserving more than one space in the event a loved one opts to lie in rest for eternity next to their spouse, partner, parent, or child.

Single Plots

Single Earth burial plots have often been the tradition up until the last few decades when using a church cemetery. This is a plot that is set up for an individual to rest, and the plots on either side of him or her can be sold to the next individual regardless of whether they ever knew each other in life. This is still a common way to bury friends and loved ones that have no immediate family, but there are alternatives for families that wish to remain together forever.

Unless the deceased has no family or friends that wish to join them in peaceful slumber, this is also generally the most expensive method of buying plots. It is often considered to be the most expensive option when the plot is not purchased until after the loved on has passed away.

Couple Plots

A more common method of using traditional Earth burial plots is known as a couple's plot. This is a single site that is dedicated to burying two caskets on top of each other or beside one another. There are different laws governing your burial options that are unique to each state. Only a few states have the option of allowing the couple to choose their preference.

In such cases these plots are often more cost effective because at least one of the plots I being purchased in advance. If the unfortunate event of burying a couple together arises, this type of burial plot is still less expensive than two individual plots.

It is also much more convenient for visitors to have a couple interned this way as it is easy to visit each grave site. A cemetery can be quite large and it can be difficult to find the plot of loved ones that are throughout the grounds. Keeping couples together is also one of the more traditional preferences of surviving family members.

It is also possible to purchase couple's plots for those who wish to be cremated but would prefer that their ashes are buried instead of held in a crypt of any type. Burying cremains is relatively common and often if one or both people wish to be cremated the size of the plot needed is smaller, and therefore can be less expensive.

Family Plots

Family plots are another type the traditional Earth burial plots. Family plots are individual plots that are set aside for a select number of people within a family. The same rules and regulations of the state will govern if the remains can be buried side by side or stacked two high under the ground.

Family plots are most common when a couple faces the distress of losing a child, couples or individuals that commit to laying eternally beside parents, or makeshift families of unrelated individuals that want the burial rights of other families.

Family plots are the least expensive way to purchase the plots when you break down the cost of each individual's cost. Often this is done in a traditional sense. When burial services were not mandated by law the farmers, pioneers, and frontier families had family plots right on their property. The changes in laws were made to allow for development of properties without disturbing the final resting places of families.

The same discretion for burying urns on family plots applies in most cases to family plots as to the couple's plots. Different states will permit different types of urn burial services and it's best to check with the cemetery directly if you are unsure.

Cremation Plots

There are many cemeteries that offer cremation plots among their Earth burial plots. These are often smaller plots that are designed to hold a single urn.

Thus, the space that is needed is trimmed down significantly from the size of the plot needed for the casket. This idea was started as cemeteries started to find themselves filling up and needed a way to preserve the space that was left. Not all cemeteries will offer this option.

Before You Purchase Multiple Plots

Purchasing Earth burial plots for other people, even if you are married to them, is not a good idea unless the idea has been thoroughly discussed. It is impossible to tell what the future might bring for any family member and they may not feel that their eternal resting place should be in the same location.

*Earth burial plots are traditional burial areas that provide you and your family members with numerous options when it comes to keeping a family together after death. Silly as they may seem , for some they can be quite comforting.