Are gravestones covered by homeowners insurance?

Asked by: Ressie Ankunding III  |  Last update: June 16, 2025
Score: 4.6/5 (54 votes)

Though it's a bit grim, if you purchased the cemetery plot where your loved one was buried, their tombstone or grave marker is considered your property. As such, it is covered under your homeowners insurance if any damage is sustained. Usually, your insurance company will pay for repairs up to $5,000.

Does homeowners insurance cover headstones?

Most likely, yes. Most homeowners policies provide coverage for headstones and funerary items, at least up to a certain amount. Coverage limits would apply to the contents coverage section of your policy, but you can always increase these limits.

Who is responsible for damage to a headstone?

The Cemetery's Role: Cemeteries generally have policies covering their liability and responsibilities. In cases of vandalism or accidental damage by cemetery staff, the cemetery might bear the repair costs. However, this varies significantly depending on the cemetery's policies and the specifics of the damage.

What is coverage for grave markers under the homeowners forms?

Tombstones: Believe it or not, the grave markers at a cemetery are considered "personal property" and are covered by most homeowners insurance policies.

What types of things are typically not covered by homeowners?

Perils Generally not covered by a Homeowners Policy if Damage is caused by:
  • Flood.
  • Earthquake.
  • Earth movement.
  • Termites.
  • Insects, rats or mice.
  • Water damage cause by seepage or leaks.
  • Losses to house vacant for 60 days or more.
  • Mold.

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What not to say to home insurance?

Avoid any admissions of fault or liability when talking to your adjuster. Such statements can be used to shift blame, potentially decreasing the amount you might be compensated. Instead, focus on describing the damage and the events as they happened, without inserting personal opinions about who might be at fault.

Does homeowners insurance cover bullet holes?

If your home is struck by multiple bullets, most insurance policies will cover it, but if your home is struck by one bullet, it may not be covered. “So if you have multiple bullet holes and a lot of siding damage, it probably makes sense to file a claim,” Erickson said.

What is the difference between a grave marker and a headstone?

People use the terms interchangeably, but there is a difference between grave markers and headstones. In general, grave markers lie flat on the ground while headstones rise above the grave in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. Neither flat markers nor raised stones are “better.” Both have their places.

What if you have a cemetery on your property?

People often make the mistake of thinking that when they buy property with a private cemetery on it, they own the plot - but they don't, at least not to the extent that they can do anything they want with it. It is illegal to dismantle cemeteries or remove gravestones.

Are headstones covered by the estate?

If you paid for the funeral, you will be paid back by the estate, as long as the costs were reasonable. The estate will not pay for things like family members' transportation to the funeral. Headstones are also not covered. Reasonable costs of administering the estate are also paid from its assets.

Can you claim a headstone on your taxes?

Eligible expenses include cremation, the price of caskets, urns, headstones, burial costs, and other related funeral costs. To claim eligible funeral expenses, they must be itemized on Schedule J of Form 706.

Who is responsible for paying for a headstone?

No one is obligated to pay for a headstone. The deceased's estate pays for the funeral unless there are no assets in the estate. Then the immediate family covers the costs.

Who owns the headstone on a grave?

The headstone is considered the personal property of whoever purchased it, presumably the owner of the plot in the cemetery... If you own the plot where the person is buried, you can put whatever marker you want on it, as long as it complies with any rules that they have for markers/headstones..

Who is responsible for headstone damage?

While most headstone construction is solid and of great quality, headstone damage can still occur due to environmental forces such as weather conditions or vandalism. In this case, the monument builder should cover any repair costs associated with headstones that were damaged after installation.

How much does it cost to replace a headstone?

Headstones are one of the more costly parts of funeral and burial plans. The average family pays between $1,000 and $3,000 for the headstone, which includes installation costs. The cost varies depending on several factors, including the size, material, style, and level of detail in the engraving.

How do I get help paying for a headstone?

MemorialFunding.org supports families by easing the financial burden of up-front costs for the purchase, installation and engraving of any Headstone, Monument or Grave-marker. A headstone, tombstone, or gravestone is a marker, usually stone, that is placed over a grave.

Can you sue a cemetery for negligence?

When a cemetery's negligence or carelessness is so egregious as to cause severe emotional trauma, a lawsuit may be necessary for the injured party to receive fair compensation. The plaintiff should seek a civil attorney who is experienced and knowledgeable in California tort law.

Does a cemetery lower property value?

A house near a cemetery is typically valued at 12.3% less than a home elsewhere in the same neighborhood. According to Realtor.com, a cemetery is on the list of things that drag down the value of a home. The complete list includes the following: Bad schools.

Can you avoid taxes if you bury someone in your yard?

However, if you're hoping that burying one relative in the backyard will significantly reduce your taxes, think again. The exemption applies only to properties used exclusively for graveyards—meaning no dual-purpose homesteads or recreational spaces allowed.

What does pennies on a grave marker mean?

A coin left on a headstone lets the deceased soldier's family know that somebody stopped by to pay their respect. A penny means you visited. A nickel means you and the deceased veteran trained at boot camp together. A dime means you and the deceased veteran served together in some capacity.

What is a cheaper alternative to a headstone?

Flat grave markers, also called flush markers or grave plaques, are another economical option. These markers lie flat on the ground, ensuring ease of maintenance and providing a clean and unobtrusive aesthetic.

Who can legally put a headstone on a grave?

Despite any other directives, written or verbal, the only people who can decide on the gravesite, including the monument that is placed there, is the person or people who own the Deed of Grant.

Which two are not usually covered by homeowners insurance?

Earthquake and water damage

In most states, earthquakes, sinkholes, and other earth movements are not covered by your standard policy.

What voids homeowners insurance?

Common exclusions in even the most comprehensive homeowners policies include: earth movement, such as earthquakes; sinkholes or landslides that damage your home; water damage, such as floods or sewer back-ups that leak through a pipe or seep through the foundation causing damage to your home; damage resulting from ...

Which of the following are not covered by homeowners insurance?

Homeowners insurance typically doesn't cover damage from floods, earthquakes, landslides, sinkholes, wear and tear, animals or insects, or water backing up from sewers, drains, septic tanks and sump pumps.