Fees and Terms & Conditions

Plot Purchase and Burial Fees.

The scale of fees charged for plot purchase are the same for the Original Formal and New Formal Burial Grounds. The Council requests that when plots are purchased they are notified of the contact details for the next of kin, or the person to which ownership of the plot will transfer, if known.

Different scales of fees are charged as follows:
A: If the residence of the deceased or the plot owner is in Parish of Chesham Bois at the date of death or at the date of reservation; or where a resident has passed away in a nursing home or hospice outside of the parish having moved from the parish in the previous 24 months, or longer at the Clerk’s discretion – Single Fees apply
B: If neither the deceased nor the plot owner is a resident of the Parish of Chesham Bois – Double Fees apply

1. For the exclusive right of burial for 99 years (maximum 4 owners at any one time).

                                                                                     A              B              

A full-size adult plot:                                                £550          £1,100         
A small plot for an ashes casket:                              £350          £700         

2. For the interment of coffins and caskets of ashes: 

For burial in full sized plot:                                       £375         £750        
For casket of ashes:                                                  £250          £500       
The scattering of ashes is not permitted

Since July 2019 the cost of burial for children under 18, including stillborn babies, are free to parents.  The associated costs are reclaimed from The Children’s Funeral Fund for England (CFF) by the funeral providers.  Further information is available from the Clerk or your Funeral Director.

3. Gravedigger’s Fee: paid directly.

4. Minister’s Fee: paid directly.

5. Hire of the Chapel: £100.

The Council must approve gravediggers.  All fees due to the Council are payable in advance of the burial.

Burial Records Fees.
Fees associated with Burial Records should be paid as specified by the Clerk of the Council.

Search Fees for copies of Burial Record: £10 per hour or part thereof.

Transfer of Exclusive Right of Burial: £10

The Council reserve the right to charge an appropriate administration fee (£10 per hour or part thereof) for frequent, or non-standard transfers.

Terms and Conditions

1. The Exclusive Right of Burial is a Deed of Grant issued to the purchaser of the grave and is valid for a period of 99 years. The deed entitles the holder to determine who is buried in the grave and apply for a Memorial Permit.

         The ownership of an Exclusive Right of Burial Deed may be transferred and an administrative fee is             payable to the Parish Council.

2. Full payment for plots and interments must be received by the Parish Council prior to a burial taking place.
3. The application form and price list for interments in the Burial Ground are published on the Parish Council website and copies can be obtained by contacting the Clerk.
4. At the end of the 99-year period of the Exclusive Right of Burial, the owner/s can renew that right subject to the applicable rules and regulations.
5. Memorial headstones are the sole responsibility of the registered owner of the burial plot and owners must apply to the Parish Council and pay for a Memorial Permit before a memorial headstone can be installed. The application form is published on the council website and copies are available from the Clerk.

         Please note that memorial headstones are not permitted in the Woodland Burial Ground. 

6. To provide a memorial for those interred in the Woodland Area of the Burial Ground, memorial plaques may be fixed to the Memorial Wall opposite the Chapel. A permit from the Council must be obtained in advance and the fee paid before the plaque can be installed. The application form is published on the council website and copies are available from the Clerk.
7. Please note that:
8. Minimum and maximum specifications apply to all memorial headstones and plaques to be installed on the Memorial Wall. Please refer to the Terms and Conditions for Memorial Headstones and Plaques published on the council website or contact the Clerk for information.
9. Kerbs and fences around a grave as well as permanent, solid fixtures that cover an entire grave, such as a stone slab, are not permitted.
10. It is recommended to allow 12 months after an interment before installing a permanent headstone to allow for ground settlement. Temporary memorials at the head of a grave are allowed with permission from the Council and should be removed when a permanent memorial is installed. 
11. The Council is required to carry out a safety inspection on all memorial headstones every five years. The registered owner will be contacted following a safety inspection if a memorial headstone is not in a satisfactory condition and the owner will be required to make the headstone safe at their own cost.

         The Council reserves the right to remove, make safe or lay flat any memorial that has been assessed           as being unsafe if necessary.

9. Formal Areas: Planting on graves is allowed with permission from the Council. Plants with the potential to grow into large shrubs will be removed by the Council as these can affect the foundations of memorials nearby. Please contact the Clerk for a list of suitable plants for the location.  

         No trees are permitted to be planted in the Burial Ground.

         It is recommended to allow at least 6 months after an interment before any plants or decorations               are placed on a grave  to allow for ground settlement.

10. Woodland Area: Planting on graves is permitted but only in accordance with the Planting Regulations for that area. It is preferable to allow 6 months before any planting to allow for ground settlement and permission must be obtained from the Council in advance. Please contact the Clerk for a list of suitable plants for the location or refer to the information on the website.   
11. To help protect the natural environment of the cemetery and local wildlife, please note that solar or battery powered lights and candles are not permitted in the Burial Ground and may be removed by the Parish Council. Please also refrain from decorating graves with plastic items.
12. The Council reserves the right to specify the location of an available space in the Burial Ground when an application is received to arrange an interment.
13. Reservations of plots in the Burial Ground are not permitted in advance of a booking for an interment.
14. To allow for the natural development of trees in the Woodland Area over time, the Parish Council reserves the right to specify the location for an interment. This provision does not apply to requests for additional interments in an existing grave if access is available.

Please note that the Council is not currently accepting any new applications for a plot in the Woodland Area.     

15.  Please note that the Council reserves the right to revise these terms and conditions from time to time and without prior notice.