Financial Assistance
If you are facing burial costs you cannot cover, you are not on your own. Here is what a burial costs, where it can cost less, the programs that help, and how to ask us for help.
Start with a discounted plot
This is what CemSpace is for. Families who bought plots years ago and no longer need them list those spaces here, so buyers can often pay well below what a cemetery charges for a new plot at today's prices. Every active listing shows the cemetery, the location of the space, and the asking price, so you can compare before you ever pick up the phone.
Buying a plot this way lowers the largest single cost of a burial, and leaves more room in your budget for the remaining expenses below.
See available plotsWhat a burial typically requires
There are usually five separate costs, and each one is billed by a different party. Knowing them up front is the easiest way to spot where you can save.
1.The plot
The burial space itself — in ground, a mausoleum crypt, or a cremation niche. Buying from a family who no longer needs their space is usually far less than cemetery retail pricing.
2.Outer burial container
A vault or grave liner that surrounds the casket, often required by the cemetery. It is frequently the second-largest line item on a burial bill.
3.Interment / opening and closing
The cemetery's fee to open the grave, set up for the service, and close and mark it afterward. Prices vary widely from cemetery to cemetery.
4.Headstone or marker
The memorial that marks the grave. Cemeteries almost always permit an outside monument company, which can cost far less than one bought on site.
5.Mortuary arrangements
Funeral home services such as care of the body, casket or urn, transportation, and any viewing or service. These are arranged separately from the cemetery.
You are not required to buy everything from the cemetery
Many cemeteries let you purchase the headstone or marker and the outer burial container from a private provider, and doing so is often significantly cheaper than buying them at the cemetery office. Ask the cemetery for their specifications first — they typically have size, material, and installation requirements, and some require the monument company to be licensed or approved to work on the grounds. Get the requirements in writing before you order, then compare at least two outside quotes against the cemetery's price.
If the cemetery's own rules prohibit outside containers or markers, that is worth asking about in writing. Rules vary by cemetery and by state, so always confirm before you commit.
Burial assistance programs
Several organizations help families with burial costs. What you qualify for often depends on the age of the deceased and the U.S. state where the burial will take place, so it is worth checking more than one.
Infants and young children
Some nonprofit foundations cover burial or funeral expenses for infants. The Pierced Forever Foundation provides burial assistance for infants and can be reached at piercedforever.org .
State and county programs
Many states and counties fund burial assistance for residents who cannot afford funeral costs — often called indigent or pauper burial assistance. Eligibility usually depends on the decedent's age and residency, and on the family's income and available assets. Start with the county human services, health department, or medical examiner's office where the burial will take place, and ask the funeral home whether they work with those programs.
Local and religious organizations
Churches, mosques, synagogues, fraternal organizations, and local funeral assistance charities often help members and neighbors with burial costs. Ask your faith community, and ask the funeral director — they usually know which local funds actually pay out.
Request a CemSpace grant
CemSpace offers financial assistance grants to cemetery buyers of currently up to $1,000 to help with burial costs. Grants are awarded based on available funding, so submitting a request does not guarantee an award. Tell us what you need below and our team will follow up by email.