Grave and lair ownership
When a lair owner dies it is usual for the Funeral Director to ask the family which individual wishes to take over the sole ownership responsibilities for the lair. This will often be a close relative who lives in the area, but must be agreeable to the rest of the family to avoid future family disputes.
Upon request, the Council can then transfer the ownership of the lair to the above agreed family member and issue a new lair certificate which enables that person to have sole responsibility for the lair, its future use and its headstone.
If the lair owner is still living and wishes to transfer the ownership of a lair, then this is also possible and can be arranged as above.
Even when a lair has no room for further coffins, there is still the ability for the lair owner to allow the burying (interring) of caskets of cremated remains or the scattering of those remains under the turf. All such activities must however be arranged in advance with the Council.
If a family wishes to sell back to the Council a lair which is completely empty and has never been used and the lair owner is deceased, then a lair transfer and sale can be organized with the Council and the balance can then be paid to the transferee.
No private sales between individuals are allowed but ownership transfers through the Council would be permitted with the written agreement of the lair owner.
Contact can be made about these issues by emailing
ESBurials@pkc.gov.uk or by phoning 01738 446865
