When I buy a plot, do I own the land? No. What you own is the right to determine who may be buried in your lot. These rights are called "interment rights". The land remains the property, and the responsibility, of the cemetery.
How long do I own my interment rights? You and your heirs will own the interment rights to your grave forever. Cemeteries in Ontario are maintained in perpetuity. A percentage of the purchase price of each interment right sold is placed in a care and maintenance trust fund to underwrite this.
Do you resell the land after a long time? No. In Ontario, cemeteries are intended to be operated in perpetuity. Once you purchase a grave, the interment rights are registered in the name of the owner forever.
Can anyone in my family use the grave/crypt? The written permission of the registered interment rights holder is required before anyone can make use of a grave, crypt, niche or urn space.
What happens if I pre-purchase at a cemetery, but change my mind or move away from the area? In accordance with provincial law, money received for pre-planned cemetery services such as a burial is deposited in a trust fund. If you change your mind within the first 30 days, you will receive a full refund. After 30 days, you can still cancel as long as the supplies or services contracted for haven't been provided, but an administrative fee is charged — again, as allowed by law. With respect to the purchase of interment rights (grave, lot, urn space, crypt or niche), if you should change your mind for any reason within 60 days of purchase and before the interment rights are used, Mount Pleasant Group of Cemeteries will refund 100% of what you paid. After 60 days, you may still cancel as long as your interment rights haven't been used and we will refund what you paid, less the portion contributed to the Care and Maintenance Fund, in accordance with the law.
Can I sell my plot to someone else? No. Provincial law prohibits the private resale of interment rights. However, should you choose not to use your interment rights, the cemetery will be pleased to buy them back from you, in accordance with provincial law, or you may transfer your interment rights to a third party through the cemetery office.
I'm making a family tree. What information can you give me? For genealogical information, check our Genealogy Requests page.
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