06/09/2026
Public Service Announcement: Buyers Beware of Cemetery Graves being Sold on Open Marketplaces
Thinking about purchasing a cemetery plot or grave space through an online marketplace or classifieds site?
The purchase, sale, or transfer of cemetery graves, crypts, or niches through any online marketplace or e-commerce platform is prohibited by the Catholic Cemeteries of Chicago and must be conducted directly through our cemetery office.
Before you exchange any money, please understand the facts. Buying a grave is not like buying a used piece of furniture, and proceeding without caution can lead to significant financial loss and heartache.
⚠️ Key Risks & Regulations
Easement Rights from the Catholic Cemeteries of Chicago, are not transferable, except with the prior written consent of the grantor (Catholic Cemeteries). When you buy a cemetery plot, you aren't actually purchasing the physical land; you are purchasing a Right of Burial. This right is conveyed by an easement. Cemetery Rules and Regulations strictly regulate these rights. An easement cannot be transferred, gifted, or donated to a new owner without the explicit, written consent of the Catholic cemetery authority. An easement cannot be sold to a new owner.
There is a risk of fraud when purchasing graves, crypts, and niches without verifying the lot holder through the official Catholic cemetery office. There is no guarantee that the online seller actually controls the interment rights, or that the space hasn't already been used or promised to someone else.
📋 What You Should Do Instead
If you find a plot for sale online that you are interested in, protect yourself by taking the following steps:
Contact the Catholic Cemetery Directly: Before agreeing to anything, contact the specific cemetery's administration office.
Complete the Official Transfer: All legal transfers of interment rights must be processed directly through the Catholic cemetery office, subject to their specific rules, paperwork, and transfer fees.
Bottom Line: Never hand over cash or electronic payments to a private seller on an open marketplace for a Catholic cemetery grave. If the transfer does not happen officially in the cemetery office, your purchase is invalid.
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