1. Do I own the land when I buy a plot?
No. You own the interment rights, not the land. This gives you the right to decide who is buried there and what memorials are placed, following cemetery by-laws.
2. How long do I own my Interment Rights?
Forever. Current Ontario law requires interment rights to be sold in perpetuity, meaning they stay in your family indefinitely.
3. Will the cemetery be maintained forever?
Yes. A portion of your purchase goes into a Care & Maintenance Fund, which ensures the cemetery is maintained permanently even if ownership changes.
4. Can there be more than one Rights Holder?
Yes. Interment rights can be held by one person or jointly by multiple individuals.
5. How can I change the Rights Holder?
Bring your Interment Rights Certificate to the cemetery office. Written consent from current rights holders is required. A fee applies for updates.
6. What happens when a Rights Holder dies?
- Sole owner: Burial is automatic; rights pass to the estate.
- Joint owner: Surviving owners must approve future burials or memorials.
- Estate process: If no will or after three years, rights pass to next of kin in legal order (spouse, children, etc.).
7. Can I pre-authorize who can be buried?
Yes. You can complete an Allocation Document to pre-approve burials and memorials. This avoids delays later.
8. Can anyone use my plot?
Yes, but only with written permission from the registered rights holder(s).
9. What if I pre-purchase and then move or change my mind?
- Within 30 days: Full refund if unused.
- After 30 days: Refund minus care fund contribution and admin fee, if unused.
10. Can I sell my cemetery plot?
Yes. MPG allows private resale of interment rights, unlike some Ontario cemeteries. To sell, the rights must be fully paid, unused and memorials removed. The sale must be registered with MPG and an admin fee applies.
Options:
- Transfer back to MPG at a mutually agreed upon amount
- Sell privately (not above the cemetery’s current selling price)
- The cemetery must be advised of the new ownership
Process:
- Submit the Interment Rights Certificate and duly signed transfer form
- Pay admin and any restoration fees
- MPG will issue a new certificate to the buyer within 30 days
Lost certificate? A duplicate can be issued for a fee.
11. What if the Rights Holder is incapacitated?
A valid Power of Attorney (POA) for property or general matters allows someone to act on the Rights Holder’s behalf. MPG reserves the right to request additional documentation before acting on the Attorney’s instructions.
12. What if the Rights Holder changes their name?
Provide proof of the legal name change (e.g., marriage certificate, driver’s license, health card) so MPG can update its records.